Linking HIV positive young people to health care and support has traditionally been difficult, says the founder of a new support organisation aiming to provide services specifically for New Zealand youth aged 17 to 27 living with HIV/AIDs.

Steven McTague says Now What? will provide accessible and confidential one-to-one peer support as well as a host of other services.

"We estimate that of all the people with HIV in New Zealand that we know of, 35% are youth," he says.

"We're looking to become a single point of contact for them, so they're not being passed from pillar to post all the time."

Barriers to health care for HIV positive youth include lack of financial resources, mistrust of health care professionals, difficulty negotiating complex health care systems, complicated medical regimens, a shortage of providers with expertise in both HIV and adolescent medicine, and concerns about confidentiality, explains McTague.

"Also, fear, denial, and cultural perspectives may contribute to a young person's reluctance to go for care."

Now What? is currently piloting services in Auckland, with support meetings in cafes and through telephone and email contact. However, McTague hopes that by early 2008 it will become a nationwide organisation "because we want to be able to support positive youth in other centres as well."

The organisation's services will soon include safe group meetings, one-to-one peer support, discrete email support, working with family, friends and communities to help understand HIV/AIDS, a free 0800 number, TXT support and secure website allowing members can log in and share experiences within the group. Funding is now being sought for several of these goals.

"We're also looking, in due course, at operating a safe house," says McTague.

Now What? can be contacted via email: steve.nowwhat@gmail.com .