Born in Brazil, and of African origin, Harry O’Brien went on a voyage of discovery to witness the horrors of HIV/AIDS first-hand in mid-October. He went as the Burnet Institute’s youth ambassador, spending a week in Mozambique, then five days in the Congo.

Harry, why did you choose to go to Mozambique?
I was approached at the start of the year by the Burnet Institute, they approved me as a youth ambassador. They said there was an opportunity for me to go over and gain an understanding of the work they do in Mozambique and I jumped at the opportunity.

What kind of work did you personally do on the ground?
I went to gain an understanding of the different ways that the Burnet Institute works. We visited orphanages where the Burnet Institute had given funds to help, we worked with the education and protection of sex workers through condoms, and child sex workers by giving them a choice. We tried to decrease the stigmatisation that occurs with HIV/AIDS because for the older generation it’s still a taboo. But now because so many people are affected you have to try to recognise it. They can’t pretend it doesn’t happen.

How did you see HIV/AIDS as an impact on the country?
Not only does it impact the 14 per cent that’s infected, but you can imagine the families and so many other people that are suffering, indirectly and directly. It’s a large problem.

What personal impact has this trip had on you?
I suppose it has strengthened my ideas. I didn’t know a great deal about capacity development or the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa, or even the HIV/AIDS problem around the world. Now I see that it’s a reality, and it’s not something that we should shy away from in society. It’s a reality for all people from all walks of life and it’s a problem that we need to continue to address.

How much difference do you think your work made to the people you encountered?
Certainly when a foreigner goes to a rural area of Mozambique like Chimoio, where foreigners and tourists don’t really go, I think it gives the people there an immediate spark to show that there are others in the world that do care about them. I could certainly see that people were delighted to have us visiting and interacting with them. I’m not too sure if I could personally do anything to change the problem, but what I’ve pledged to do is be a voice for the many people I saw, because their story needs to be told.

What’s your most significant memory from the trip?
Probably hearing the screaming and the wailing of a mother who had just lost her three-year-old son to HIV/AIDS. It was so uncomfortable I didn’t want to stay around, but after that I couldn’t stop crying. I just looked around and asked myself, ‘Why does this happen? Why?’

What role has your Brazilian/African heritage played in your international aid work?
Perhaps I’ve grown up with different views culturally. I was brought up with a Brazilian mother and maybe we look at the world in a different way as opposed to the majority of Australians. I’ve always seen it as my life purpose to help people that are in need, and Africa’s certainly a continent that is in need.

Have you maintained contact with people in Mozambique?
I do have contacts there and I will be sending emails to see how everyone is going.

What would you say to gay men who still practice unprotected sex?
Just from what I’ve seen in Africa, it doesn’t matter what your sexual orientation is, HIV/AIDS is a problem for all people regardless of whether you’re gay or straight. If you practice unsafe sex, you are running a risk and HIV/AIDS is a serious problem. Not only does it affect the people it infects, it affects everyone from your family to the wider community. I just can’t stress how important it is to practice safe sex.

What steps have the AFL taken in regards to homophobia?
I’m not sure if it’s called the discrimination policy, but everything from religion, sexual orientation and race is covered. Every year we have someone come in and speak about discrimination and it’s quite interactive.

Have you ever had any racial prejudice directed towards you at an AFL match?
Certainly not in an AFL match. I think that’s well and truly out of the game.

African Celebration!

The Burnet Institute invites you to 'Celebrate Africa' a fundraiser to commemorate World AIDS Day and raise money for HIV work in Mozambique. Dance to the rhythms of African band Musiki Manjaro, hear Collingwood footballer Heritier ‘Harry’ O’Brien and Age Journalist Jo Chandler talk about their recent visit to Mozambique to see Burnet’s work first-hand.

When: Friday, November 28, 7pm onwards.
Where: Upstairs, Retro Café, 413 Brunswick St, Fitzroy.
Cost: $35.
Tickets: Hazel Squair at Burnet on (03) 9282 2135 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

The Burnet Institute is one of Australia’s leading medical research and public health institutes.

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