Sexual health
Sexual health is an important part of wellbeing for adults. Find out what we’re doing to help prevent and manage sexually transmissible infections in Australia.
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Good sexual health includes being aware of how to protect yourself and your sexual partners from sexually transmissible infections, seeking testing and treatment if you do get a sexually transmitted infection (STI), and having access to contraception.
In Australia:
- about 16% of Australians report having a sexually transmitted infection in their lifetime
- over 23,000 Australians are living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
What we’re doing about sexual health
Australia leads the world in preventing cervical cancer through our human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program.
We also manage policies and programs to improve sexual health and prevent and monitor sexually transmissible infections. These include:
- monitoring gonorrhoea, chlamydia, donovanosis, syphilis and HPV in Australia through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System
- developing and implementing blood‑borne virus (BBV) and sexually transmissible infections (STI) strategies
- subsidising the HIV prevention pill and medicines to treat HIV
- running campaigns promoting safe sex
- responding to an infectious syphilis outbreak affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living in northern Australia
Key strategies
National Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Strategies 2018–2022
The 5 BBV and STI National Strategies were released on 29 November 2018.
Together they outline a framework for a high-quality and coordinated national response to BBV and STI in Australia. The 5 strategies are:
- Eighth National HIV Strategy
- Fifth National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander BBV and STI Strategy
- Fifth National Hepatitis C Strategy
- Fourth National STI Strategy
- Third National Hepatitis B Strategy
Initiatives and programs
National Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Program
Human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccines are given as a needle. Most recognised immunisation providers can provide the vaccine. If you're eligible, you can get the HPV vaccine for free under the National Immunisation Program.
Support services
There are many sexual health support services available throughout Australia. To find services in your area, use the healthdirect service finder.
You can also contact a family planning organisation in your state or territory.