About VARCS

Victoria AIDS Resource & Community Service Society (VARCS), started its life in November 1991 as Victoria AIDS Respite Care Society.

In the early 1990s, many people with HIV/AIDS were ending up in hospital and hospice earlier than necessary, often because family, partners and friends were burning out from providing 24 hour care. The founder of VARCS remembered that, in his family, when someone was ill other family members would pitch in and help out to give their family member a break.

VARCS started with the simple idea that the community could act as that extended family for people with AIDS and their caregivers. Initially, five respite homes were available - volunteers who had a second bedroom who opened their home so that a person with HIV could receive the care they needed and the caregiver could get the much needed break they required to continue providing care.

Since then, much has changed with HIV/AIDS. Since the advent of protease inhibitors, more people are doing well and requests for respite have gone down, while the need to provide connections to the community and respond to the needs of people dealing with addictions, homelessness and complex social and health situations has increased. VARCS has evolved to meet these changing needs but always with that sense of extended family and the belief that people will make the best health care decisions when given enough information about all of their options.

VARCS membership is only for those who are HIV+ (they can have other issues but as long as HIV is one of them). Members automatically go on our newsletter (VARCS Beat) subscription list.

To become a member, fill in the online membership form or if you would feel more comfortable talking to a real person call to set up an appointment to come in and register. You may also register over the phone. Contact information.

There is no cost for membership.