Sex and sexuality are fundamental components of the sense of well-being experienced by people in their every day lives. Together they are powerful drivers of a variety of social behaviours and remain central to important aspects of contemporary life, including personal and social identity. All communities have particular cultural, structural and moral positions in relation to sex and sexuality that impact on efforts to address the challenges of sexually transmissible infections.

This inaugural Victorian Sexually Transmissible Infections Strategy 2006–2009 aims to improve the overall sexual health and well-being of Victorians by reducing STIs in the community.

The STIs identified as being of particular concern and which receive the greatest attention in this strategy are chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis. A separate Victorian HIV/ AIDS strategy already exists and therefore Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) are not discussed in detail in this strategy. This strategy recognises that there is no one-size-fits-all response to reducing STIs in the Victorian community. Thus this strategy adopts a broad approach and identifies a variety of key methods for action at a number of different levels.

This strategy identifies a number of priority population groups that are at increased risk of STIs or carry a higher burden related to STIs. The priority population groups are young people, men who have sex with men, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, sex workers and people living with HIV/AIDS.

The strategy recognises that these groups should be a priority for sexual health promotion activities, testing and treatment.

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Victorian Sexually Transmissible Infections Strategy 2006–2009 (573kb, pdf)