About

Background

NSW STI Programs Unit was established in 2007 to assist coordination and, where appropriate, to directly implement certain statewide aspects of the NSW Sexually Transmissible Infections Strategy 2006-2010.

Specifically, the core activities of the unit are to:

  • Coordinate certain activities related to the implementation of the NSW STI Strategy
  • Provide leadership to the sexual health clinical and health promotion workforce
  • Establish dedicated sexual health projects to support actions and directions identified in the strategy
  • To strengthen contact tracing in clinical settings

NSW STI Programs Unit Organisational Setting

The Unit receives recurrent funding from NSW Health AIDS and Infectious Diseases Branch. It is co-located with Sydney Sexual Health Centre within Sydney Hospital and is administered through South Eastern Sydney Local Health District. An advisory group provides the unit with expert advice and guides direction, while working groups guide specific projects.

Activities

The current focus of the unit is:

  • to assist publicly funded sexual health services to orientate service delivery toward priority populations;
  • to strengthen the capacity of general practitioners to manage STIs within the primary care setting; and,
  • to promote community awareness through statewide STI social marketing and information campaigns.

The Unit manages the following projects:

1. General Practice Project

Supporting GPs to manage STIs within their practice by:

  • Improving access to STI information, training and resources
  • Strengthening links to sexual health services

2. Sexual Health Services Project

Supporting publicly funded sexual health services to target priority populations and complex STI cases by:

  • Improving access to STI information, training and resources
  • Encouraging partnerships with general practice

  • Enhancing contact tracing measures within PFSHS by ensuring access to information and education resources for clinicians and patient

3. HIV/STI Health Promotion Resource Project

  • Increasing community awareness of STIs by coordinating the NSW World AIDS Campaign and regular targeted STI awareness initiatives

 

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