Victoria successfully ran its first-ever STI Testing Week, from 10-16 September.
The STI testing week was announced by the Minister for Health, the Hon Jill Hennessy, at the Annual BBV/STI Sector Forum in June against the backdrop of increasing STI rates in Victoria, and persistent stigma and shame about testing and prevention.
With STI rates on the rise, the sexual health sector has emphasised the need for all sexually active Victorians to get tested regularly, particularly those who have never been tested, or have higher risk factors.
The week saw the Department collaborate with community and funded agencies to raise awareness of sexual health for all Victorians, particularly those at increased risk of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and blood-borne viruses (BBVs).
Ads ran on Facebook and other social media reminding Victorians to get tested, directing them to the Better Health Channel for information about STIs and BBVs and linking them to nearby sexual health clinics and other services that offered testing.
Initial feedback about the week has been positive, with the campaign set to be an annual event.
To coincide with the STI Testing Week, Minister Hennessy hosted a Ministerial Roundtable on Sexually Transmissible Infections on 11 September 2017 which heard directly from leaders and experts in the sector about sexually transmissible infections in Victoria and actions required to reduce infections and address demand pressures.
Twenty-three invitees representing clinicians, researchers, key populations and community organisations attended the Roundtable, together with Departmental observers. Issues discussed included health literacy, education and training, rural and regional access to services, data completeness and stigma and discrimination.
A summary report of the robust discussions from the Roundtable will be prepared for the Minister.
For more information on STI visit the Departments website
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