JOY Media is saddened to hear of the passing of veteran AIDS activist, Phil Carswell OAM. Phil was a longstanding community advocate, beginning his advocacy in the 1980's during the AIDS crisis. He was the Founding President of the Victorian AIDS Action Committee, later the Victorian AIDS Council, and Thorne Harbour Health. In 2015, Phil received a Medal in the Order of Australia for services to public health, particularly for people with HIV/AIDS. His leadership, advocacy, dedication, and contribution to the LGBTQIA+ communities were instrumental to the Victorian and national responses to the HIV/AIDS crisis, and helped to shape the community as we know it today. He will be deeply missed.