HIV/AIDS Advocate Mark Reid Appointed Member of the Order of Australia

"An amazing surprise" — Mark Reid on receiving the King's Birthday Honours

Mark Reid, an HIV/AIDS advocate with over four decades of service, has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2026 King's Birthday Honours.

A Lifetime of Advocacy

Reid, who was diagnosed with HIV over 40 years ago, helped form the WA AIDS Council (WAAC) and currently serves as its deputy chair. His roles at WAAC have spanned peer support, fundraising, marketing, and event organization. He has also served on national boards including the AIDS Trust of Australia and the National Association of People with HIV Australia.

Reid began his advocacy during the early AIDS crisis in the 1980s, when the disease was often fatal. In the first 15 years, he attended over 170 funerals.

From Fatal Illness to Manageable Condition

With the advent of effective treatments, HIV shifted from a fatal illness to a manageable chronic condition. Reid recalled early efforts to include HIV-positive people in decisions about their care, as well as the establishment of care teams that allowed individuals to die at home instead of hospice.

Regarding the present, he noted that support now focuses on comorbidities for people living with HIV.

A Platform for Continued Education

Reid called the award "an amazing surprise" and said it provides an opportunity to highlight ongoing HIV stigma and the need for continued education.

"The fight isn't over — stigma persists, and education remains vital."