Sexual Health and Blood Borne Viruses
The Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus (SHBBV) Unit sits under the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) NT Health and aims to reduce the prevalence and impact of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and blood borne virus infections (BBVs) in the Northern Territory (NT). We aim for prevention, testing and treatment with equity and access to care for STIs and BBVs.
To contact NT Heath’s Sexual Health and Blood Borne Viruses, Public Health Division, email Sexual Health and Blood Borne Viruses on SHBBV.NT@nt.gov.au.
To contact Clinic 34, a specialised sexual health service that provides testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and blood borne viruses in the NT, go to the Northern Territory Government website.
Policies and strategies
| Title | Description | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Territory Sexually Transmissible Infections and Blood Borne Viruses Strategic and Operational Plan 2019-2023 | The NT Sexually Transmissible Infections and Blood Borne Viruses Strategic and Operational Plan aims to improve the sexual health of Territorians by its focus on health promotion, prevention, testing, early treatment and preventing the onward transmission of STI and BBV. | NT Health Library Services ePublications |
| National strategies for blood borne viruses and sexually transmissible infections | This collection contains national strategy documents that address the impact of blood borne viruses and sexually transmissible infections on the Australian community. Together they form a framework and agreed direction for a high-quality, coordinated national response to these diseases. | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care |
Guidelines
Learn more about notifiable conditions to be reported in the NT.
| Title | Description | Website |
|---|---|---|
| NT Guidelines for the Management of Sexually Transmitted Infections in the Primary Health Care setting | Provides a reference to assist with sexual health service delivery by primary health care clinicians. | NT Health Library Services ePublications |
| Congenital Syphilis Guidelines for the Northern Territory | For assessment and management of syphilis in pregnancy and the neonatal period. | NT Health Library Services ePublications |
| CDNA National Guidelines for Public Health Units | The SoNG collection contains nationally consistent advice and guidance to help Public Health Units respond to notifiable diseases. | Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care |
| Remote primary health care manuals |
The Remote Primary Health Care website provides downloadable manuals for the:
| Remote Primary Health Care Manuals |
| The Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM) |
A comprehensive range of resources to support the HIV, viral hepatitis and sexual health workforce. Guidelines include:
| The Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM) |
Surveillance data
| Title | Description | Website |
|---|---|---|
| NT SHBBVU surveillance updates | This twice yearly surveillance update presents the epidemiology of notifiable sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and blood borne viruses (BBVs) in the Northern Territory (NT). The data used for this report are extracted from the NT Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NT NDS). Caution should be taken when interpreting notification data, as the amount of testing can influence notification trends over time, and between different populations. | NT Health Library |
| Australian annual surveillance reports | The annual surveillance report provides an analysis of HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmissible infections in Australia. It includes estimates of incidence and prevalence of HIV and viral hepatitis, by demographic and risk groups, patterns of treatment for HIV and viral hepatitis infection, and behavioural risk factors for HIV and hepatitis C infection. | Kirby Institute |
Training resources
| Title | Description | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM) |
The ASHM website delivers a range of high-quality HIV, viral hepatitis and sexual health education sessions and workforce development programs. Programs are available on demand as well as through online video conferencing sessions.
| ASHM |
| Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) | Online courses on contact tracing, transgender primary care, women’s health amongst other CPD. | ACRRM |
| Australian Professional Association for Trans Health (AusPATH) | AusPath offers eLearning modules on Trans Primary Care for general practitioners, practice nurses and medical students to become familiar with and sensitive to the diverse terminology, experiences, health issues, standards and referral pathways with respect to trans clients (binary and non-binary). | AusPath |
| Family Planning Welfare Association (FPWNT) training | Family Planning Welfare Association (FPWNT) is a registered training organisation that offers a range of accredited training courses in reproductive and sexual health matters for doctors, nurses and Aboriginal health practitioners. Courses are offered throughout the year at a number of centres across the Northern Territory. | FPWNT |
| Remote Area Health Corps (RAHC) |
RAHC has a suite of online eLearning modules to increase awareness about various aspects of working within remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, including modules about:
| RAHC |
| Sexual assault referral centres (SARC) training |
Online NTG training modules open to non-NTG staff:
| myLearning |
Health professional tools
| Title | Description | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Sexual health information | General information for community members that lists sexual health services, safer sex, STIs, contraception, pregnancy options, PEP and PrEP and free condom access in the NT. | Northern Territory Government |
| Syphilis audio fact sheets in language | The resource is an audible fact sheet for patients about syphilis. It is available in several different Aboriginal languages across the NT. It is intended to be used by health professionals to access and play during a consult. | NT Health Library Services ePublications |
| Hep B Story App | The Hep B Story app is a visual, interactive app designed for patients living with chronic hepatitis B (hep B) and their families. | Menzies School of Health Research |
| NTAHC Living Well Program |
The LGBTI Living Well Program is a digital information, training, and resource program covering topics about:
| Northern Territory AIDS and Hepatitis Council Inc |
Sexual Health Promotion resources and tools
| Title | Description | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Sexual health information | General information for community members that lists sexual health services, safer sex, STIs, contraception, pregnancy options, PEP and PrEP and free condom access in the NT. | Northern Territory Government |
| NTAHC Health Promotion | NTAHC's Health Promotion and Communications team works to generate awareness within the community about BBVs and STIs, in particular by creating health promotion campaigns and resources targeting NTAHC priority populations. | Northern Territory AIDS and Hepatitis Council Inc |
| The Syphilis Story | The Syphilis Story is an online story board that teaches how syphilis can be caught and spread developed by Terrence Guyula, AHP | All Good |
| Play Safe Pro | Play Safe Pro has a collection of tools for talking with young people about sexual health. | Play Safe Pro |
| True or Gammon campaign | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander resources on sexually transmissible infections. | Department of Health and Aged Care |
| Young Deadly Free | Young Deadly Free resources and activities designed with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations to increase testing and treatment of STIs in young people in remote and very remote Aboriginal communities. | Young Deadly Free |
| TAKEBLAKTION | TAKEBLAKTION is a website with helpful information for the Koori community about STIs and safer sex. | TAKEBLAKTION website |
Harm reduction
SHBBV manages and funds two key harm reduction programs in the NT.
Needle Syringe Program
The NSP aims to prevent the spread of blood borne viruses and other harms from injecting drugs.
It does this by
- reducing the sharing or
- reuse of injecting equipment.
The Northern Territory AIDS and Hepatitis Council (NTAHC).
Read more about the NSP, go to the Northern Territory Government website.
Take Home Naloxone
Take Home Naloxone program allows people to access Naloxone free of charge and without a prescription from all participating community pharmacies, hospital pharmacies and approved medical practitioners.
Read more about the Take Home Naloxone program, go to the Northern Territory Government website.
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