NSW Sexually Transmissible Infections Strategy 2022-2026

Summary

The NSW Sexually Transmissible Infections Strategy 2022-2026 outlines the priorities for STI prevention, testing, treatment and management, and how NSW may improve equity and access to services. The Strategy focuses primarily on syphilis, gonorrhoea, and chlamydia due to increasing notification rates and attributed harms.

Key priority settings include general practice and primary care, antenatal services, schools, and services that support culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) populations. This Strategy describes how NSW Health and our partners will work together to develop, implement, and evaluate programs to reduce the prevalence and impact of STIs.

Targets include the elimination of congenital syphilis and reduction of syphilis and gonorrhoea notification rates by five per cent by 2026.

The strategy sets out four key focus areas to achieve ambitious targets:

Prevent new infections through education, health promotion and utilising new and existing methods, such as condoms, vaccines and health promotion.
Test often, normalise testing, and promote innovative testing models such as peer-based testing and point-of-care testing.
Treat STIs rapidly and reduce onward transmission and enhance partner notification and contact tracing; and
Equity and access to services to reduce STI-related stigma and remove barriers affecting health seeking behaviour.

Key priority populations include: