The Victorian Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) plan outlines priority actions to strengthen the sexual health and wellbeing of Victorians and reduce the transmission and impact of STI through prevention, testing and treatment and care.
This plan is 1 of 7 plans in the Victorian sexual and reproductive health and viral hepatitis strategy 2022–30. It builds on the objectives, focus areas and actions in the Victorian STI action plan 2018–2020.
It outlines the priority actions implemented to date, and includes new and refocused priority actions needed to reduce the transmission and impact of sexually transmissible infections (STI) in Victoria.
Our vision
Victorians are supported to achieve optimal sexual health and wellbeing and to reduce the transmission and impact of STI.
Goals
- Systems support individuals and communities to enjoy positive sexual health and wellbeing.
- Victorians are supported to reduce their risk of acquiring an STI.
- Victorians with an STI know their status.
- Victorians with an STI have access to best-practice evidence-based treatment and care.
- The morbidity and mortality associated with STI among Victorians is minimised.
- Stigma, racism and discrimination are not a barrier to STI prevention, testing or treatment and care.
System enablers
- reducing stigma, racism and discrimination
- strengthening workforce capacity
- fostering partnerships and collaboration
- strengthening and supporting data and research.
Monitoring and measuring progress
We will develop an indicators and monitoring framework in collaboration with key research partners and affected communities.
A mid-point review in 2025-26 will assess progress against achieving our 2030 targets.
Findings will be used to refresh and refocus priority actions and activities in this plan.
Achievements since 2018
STI testing week is an annual campaign to remind all sexually active Victorians to look after their sexual health and wellbeing through regular testing.
Targeted communication campaigns have been delivered in partnership with funded statewide agencies for:
- young people
- culturally diverse communities
- Aboriginal Victorians LGBTIQA+ community
Promotion of syphilis awareness for people planning or starting a family has also occurred since 2019.
The Melbourne Sexual Health has introduced innovations in STI testing and service delivery to respond to increasing STI rates and service demand.
The Centre has also established 6 general practice sexual health clinics,to further increase primary care capacity for STI testing and treatment:
- 3 in metropolitan Melbourne
- 3 in regional Victoria.
The Sexual Health and Viral Hepatitis Service at Sunraysia Community Health was established to deliver local sexual and reproductive health services in Mildura, Victoria.
It has played a vital role in increasing local testing, treatment and case management services in response to the increase in notified infectious syphilis cases in the area.
They promote community engagement and awareness of syphilis through local partnerships, with a focus on people and populations at a greater risk of infection.
2030 targets
- Eliminate congenital syphilis.
- Achieve and maintain HPV adolescent vaccination coverage of 80 per cent.
- Increase STI testing coverage in priority populations (compared with 2019).
- Reduce the prevalence of chlamydia, gonorrhoea and infectious syphilis (compared with 2019).
- Reduce the reported experiences of stigma, racism and discrimination for people living with or affected by STI in health and social support settings to less than 10 per cent.
Details
- Date published
- 28 Sep 2022
- Size
- 48 pages
Reviewed 11 December 2023