AFAO is the national federation for the HIV community response. We provide leadership, coordination and support to the national policy, advocacy and health promotion response to HIV/AIDS. Internationally we contribute to the development of effective policy and programmatic responses to HIV/AIDS at regional and global levels.

AFAO's work is primarily directed towards population groups where we have the highest level of expertise and where the incidence of HIV or the risk of HIV is greatest, namely: gay men, HIV positive people, injecting drug users, sex workers and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Our vision:

Living in a world with AIDS, working for a world without AIDS.

In delivering our work program, we seek to:

• advocate for policies, services and programs that address the needs of specific communities in the broader context in which affected communities and populations experience HIV View the list of bodies which have AFAO representatives 
• address HIV issues in a whole of community context, where this is appropriate, particularly inAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
• value and ensure the involvement of affected communities in our own work and advocate for affected community involvement in the HIV response more broadly
• ensure that activities are well matched to the needs, culture and values of particular communities and population groups affected by HIV
• work in partnerships built on clear roles, common objectives, reciprocity and mutual trust
• consult closely with and draw on the knowledge and expertise of our member base
• complement the strategies of our member organisations, while mutually respecting each other’s independence and acknowledging differences
• develop policy through transparent and inclusive consultative processes
• promote and support harm reduction principles
• communicate widely, connecting our partners to our work and ideas
• be independent and non-party political.