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There are more than 17,000 Australians now living with the HIV virus, and some are speaking out ahead of World AIDS Day.
The five reside across Sydney, but they are just like people who are living with HIV in every Australian state.
They chose to speak out ahead of World AIDS Day (December 1), in the hope of improving public acceptance and reducing stigma that still surrounds the virus.
Here are their stories:
Gary Taylor. Diagnosed in 2007. Age 31.
Time has come for a community-wide rethink on HIV, Mr Taylor said.
Despite more than 20 years in which HIV/AIDS has become part of the landscape in Australia, he said people with the virus still suffered discrimination.
That would not change until Australians could think of HIV without automatically picturing the 'Grim Reaper image' of the 1987 television campaign, Mr Taylor said.
'The new campaign should emphasise how serious it is but it should also highlight the fact that people who are HIV Positive are not going to die,' he said.
'The reality is that with the new HIV drug treatments available you will survive... it is still in the back of my mind but I will probably die of old age before I die of HIV.'
Mr Taylor described his diagnosis as 'earth shattering' and said this was compounded when he also then felt pressured into leaving his job.
He has found a new work, and said the collective experience had made him stronger.
'I did something stupid but I am not going to let it be a hindrance for me,' Mr Taylor said.
'It has made me a lot stronger, made me look at my life.'
Mia Dawson (not her real name, picture not supplied). Diagnosed in the early 1990s. Aged in her late 40s.
Mia contracted the virus from a man she later married.
She has taken time out from her career to write a doctoral thesis, but otherwise felt she could not disclose her HIV-Positive status to colleagues.
'Managing the illness has never affected the way I work... I've been one of the lucky ones,' Ms Dawson said.
'I have only ever taken one sort of medication and not had the side effects others have had but employers are happier to manage someone with diabetes than someone with HIV because of stigma and ignorance.'
Ms Dawson said her message to any woman who may dismiss the possibility of contracting HIV was to ask 'how many times have you had unprotected sex?'.
'It may only take one contact to contract the virus... (and) because most women still think of HIV as a disease for gay men, intravenous drug users or sex workers they don't take precautions.'
Ms Dawson is now in a new relationship and her partner was told early of her HIV-Positive status.
She cherishes this 'acceptance' but said it was not widespread in the community.
Freddy (Last name not supplied). Diagnosed in 2005. Age 34.
Once a month, Freddy goes to speak to students at suburban Sydney schools about his experience living with HIV.
'Oddly enough, I have also been part of sessions to educate doctors about HIV and it was interesting to see the difference,' Freddy said.
'The doctors seemed more confused than the kids.'
Freddy said he first learned of his HIV status in London, where he became sick and his relationship broke down. He returned to Australia where he said he underwent a year of 'medical hell'.
His condition is now stable, though there are still tough mental periods to get through.
'Yes there are periods of depression... I can't plead ignorance of how you contract HIV,' he said.
'So I have to deal with a certain feeling of stupidity.'
Freddy has returned to work, which can make it difficult to access the in-hospital clinic which dispenses HIV-related medication during office hours.
'It is interesting - before I was diagnosed with HIV all I heard was how bad it was... suddenly I have HIV and everyone is saying Oh it's perfectly all right it can be managed,' he also said.
'I find that mildly insulting... it is serious and I haven't forgotten all the things people said so don't start buttering me up.'
