Jim Hyde

James Hyde (died August 2018), known as Jim, was an Australian LGBTQI rights and health activist, community leader, public health policy adviser, and former political adviser for the Australian Labor Party. He is the title character of the 2025 family drama film, Jimpa, made by his daughter, Adelaide filmmaker Sophie Hyde.

Early life and education

James Hyde grew up in country towns around South Australia.[1]

Career

Hyde worked in the Politics Department of the University of Adelaide in 1983.[2]

In the 1980s, Hyde was a political adviser for the Australian Labor Party (ALP) as well as serving on its LGBTI policy committee.[3]

He worked as a researcher, policymaker, and librarian in the Parliament of South Australia.[1]

He stood for the Australian Senate as an ALP in the 1990 Australian federal election.[4][3] He worked with and for Peter Duncan for the 13 years he served in the Australian Parliament, undertaking a variety of roles.[1]

Hyde was a leader in HIV and AIDS policy and legislation in both South Australia and Victoria.[1] In 1990, at the height of the AIDS epidemic in Australia, he moved to Victoria and became general manager of the Victorian AIDS Council (later renamed Thorne Harbour Health), a role he kept until 1994.[5][3] In this role, he liaised with Health Minister Marie Tehan and the (Liberal Party) Kennett government, always stressing the need for evidence-based health policy.[3] Hyde was at the helm when the AIDS Council moved to South Yarra and at the time of the opening of the Positive Living Centre in St Kilda in 1993, and was involved with the organisation for nearly 30 years.[6][7]

Hyde also served as a campaign manager for Frances Bedford in South Australia in 1997.[1] He became a senior public servant in both New South Wales and Victoria,[3] including as Victoria's director of public health[6] (2011).[8]

Activism

Hyde advocated for LGBTQI rights, speaking out when homosexuality was still criminalised in Australia.[1] He also advocated for remote and rural students, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and socially disadvantaged young people.[1]

He was a founding member of the AIDS Council of South Australia and the South Australian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby.[7]

Academia and other roles

Hyde was a member of the University of Adelaide Council and the board of the Centre for Aboriginal Studies in Music, and a founding member of the Graham F Smith Peace Trust.[1]

He was an adjunct chair at the University of Western Sydney, an honorary senior lecturer at the Monash Centre for Ethics in Medicine and Society, and a professor of public health policy at Deakin University[5] from sometime before at least 2013[9] He is referred to as a professor in many sources,[7][10] from at least 2004.[11]

He was president of NSW Branch of Public Health Australia in 2004.[11] In 2005, he was director of policy and communications at Royal Australasian College of Physicians.[10]

He was a life member of Thorne Harbour Health,[6] and described as "an active and vigorous board member" up until the time of his death.[5]

Recognition and honours

In 1993 Hyde received the inaugural Rainbow Award for Leadership in the Gay Community.[6]

In 2008, he was awarded PLWHA Victoria President's award for Services to the Positive Community in 2008.[7]

In 2016 Hyde was made a fellow of the Victorian chapter of the Institute of Public Administration Australia.[3]

He was also a Fellow of the Australian College of Health Service Executives (FACHSE).[10]

Personal life and death

Hyde was married to Patricia before coming out as gay, and they had two daughters, Alice and filmmaker Sophie Hyde.[12][3][13] After his death, Sophie made a film called Jimpa based on their family's unusual life, as a tribute to him. He is played by John Lithgow in the film, while Sophie is played by Olivia Colman. Hyde's grandchild, Aud Mason-Hyde, who is nonbinary in real life, plays the character based on themselves.[14]

His life partner in later life was Glenn. He died in August 2018,[6][3] after suffering a series of strokes,[13] and was honoured with tributes both in the federal and South Australian Parliaments, by Julian Hill and Frances Bedford respectively.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Bedford, Frances (17 October 2018). "Hyde, Dr J." Hansard Daily: House of Assembly. Archived from the original on 17 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  2. ^ "Politics Department, 1983". Adelaide University. 1983. Archived from the original on 11 October 2025. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Hill, Julian (10 September 2018). "Hyde, Professor James". Parliament of Australia. House of Representatives statements by members. Archived from the original on 17 February 2026.
  4. ^ Hill, Julian (10 September 2018). "Hansard, House of Reps". Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  5. ^ a b c Annual Report 2017-18 (PDF) (Report). Thorne Harbour Health. 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 January 2025. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  6. ^ a b c d e Wade, Matthew (20 August 2018). "Gay activist and HIV community leader Jim Hyde passes away". Star Observer. Archived from the original on 17 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  7. ^ a b c d "Thorne Harbour Health mourns the loss of HIV/AIDS community leader Professor Jim Hyde". Thorne Harbour Health. 20 August 2018. Archived from the original on 15 August 2025. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  8. ^ Finniss, Susan (March 2011). "Healthy living switch a tough solo ask" (PDF). Swinburne (12). Swinburne University of Technology: 15. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  9. ^ Irlam, C.B. (February 2013). "LGBTI Data: developing an evidence-informed environment for LGBTI health policy" (PDF). National LGBTI Health Alliance. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 June 2024. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  10. ^ a b c "Inequity and Health: a call to action: Addressing Health and Socioeconomic Inequality in Australia" (PDF). Policy statement. Royal Australasian College of Physicians. 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 March 2025. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  11. ^ a b "Signatories to the statement". The Sydney Morning Herald. 5 September 2004. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  12. ^ "Australian film director Sophie Hyde was a baby in the 1970s when her dad came out to her mum". Facebook. Australian Story. 15 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  13. ^ a b "Out in the Open - Sophie Hyde" (video). ABC iview. 16 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
  14. ^ Scott, Leisa; Gorman, Vanessa (14 February 2026). "Director Sophie Hyde unpacks long-held family secrets in her latest film Jimpa". ABC News. Australian Story. Archived from the original on 17 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
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