01 June 26

Ending HIV

HIV testing in regional NSW

You might be forgiven for thinking it’s harder and vastly different to get tested for HIV and STIs in regional NSW compared to the larger cities, but things have changed. Even outside of larger cities, there are many ways you can now get tested for HIV and STIs, and the process is much the same as what you’d find in the big smoke. Let’s look at what testing in regional NSW can look like and some tips to make it easier.

Find out where to get a test for HIV and STIs

Getting tested for HIV and STIs starts with finding a place near you that can offer a comprehensive sexual health screen! This involves testing for HIV and a range of STIs, including syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhoea. You can get tested at sexual health clinics, community-based testing sites, through a doctor (or General Practitioner) or even through an online sexual health service!

Finding a place to get tested can be as simple as punching in your postcode into our Where to Get Tested tool, or you can have a look through a great set of regional community information guides, which include testing sites across NSW’s regional areas.

Aboriginal people can also access an Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS), of which there are multiple available throughout NSW. You can find a list of sexual health clinics and AMS sites (all marked with Aboriginal Flags) here.

Too far to test?

If the distance to a nearby service is a problem, be assured you still have some testing options!

Order a free HIV self-testing kit

You can order a free HIV self-testing kit, delivered to your home anywhere in Australia. These HIV self-test kits can be completed anywhere, and have your HIV testing results in as little as 15 minutes! Learn more about HIV self-tests here.

Book an online sexual health service

It’s now possible to get your sexual health testing and PrEP through online sexual health services. These services will involve a virtual doctor’s appointment and will usually require you to visit a nearby pathology centre to complete your testing.

Some of these services include:

The above services include both bulk billing and private billing services. Bulk billing is entirely free for those who have Medicare, and private billing services will require a co-payment from you, along with your Medicare card, to complete payment.

See a GP elsewhere & get follow-up testing via telehealth

Some folks will prefer to test outside of the area where they live. This can be for ease, privacy concerns or because they hope to use a known LGBT inclusive service elsewhere.

Many GPs will offer an annual in-person appointment, followed by telehealth appointments throughout the remainder of the year as needed. Practically, this can look like planning a visit to your preferred service when next travelling to the city or other location. Then you’d be able to have the remainder of your 3 monthly check-ups via telehealth.

Make sure to call ahead and ask if this service is available at the service you’d like to attend to avoid disappointment!

Confidentiality and HIV/STI testing

If you feel anxious about going to a GP due to concerns around confidentiality, that’s fair enough. Doctors and other staff who work in a general practice deal with different clients’ sensitive health information every day, and be assured that they are legally required to keep that information confidential.

Discussions around sex and sexually transmitted infections happen one-on-one within the privacy of a consultation room, and you don’t need to disclose the reason for your visit to reception staff beyond requesting a regular check-up. While in the consultation room, you can also ask any questions related to sex, staying safe from HIV and STIs or even personal questions about your body. It’s all confidential!

Waiting room worries

For some guys living in tight-knit communities, being spotted or recognised in a sexual health clinic is a genuine concern. So when you call and book your appointment, you can mention any apprehension you are feeling to reception staff, and they may be able to offer advice about entering the clinic discreetly or offer an appointment during a less busy period.

If you are struggling with anxiety when it comes to going to the clinic, another strategy could be to bring someone along with you. Their support can make a huge difference to your experience, and being there at your request should not be an issue for most sites.

Getting tested for HIV and STIs

Before you arrive at your destination, there are a couple of things to consider. If you are attending a general practitioner, be prepared that they might not specialise in gay/bi men’s sexual health, so it’s a good idea to be ready to ask for a comprehensive sexual health screen and be your own advocate.

The comprehensive sexual health screen for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men should involve a:

  • Blood test for HIV and syphilis
  • Bum swab for chlamydia and gonorrhoea
  • Mouth swab for chlamydia and gonorrhoea
  • Urine sample for chlamydia

While your health professional will collect the blood and mouth swab samples, you also have the option to self-collect the bum swab. You’d usually do this at the same point when you head to the bathroom to collect the urine sample.

Remember that many STIs don’t show symptoms even when you have them, so the best way to know if you have any is to get tested up to four times a year while sexually active. You can use the testing calculator to work out how frequently you should be testing.

Receiving HIV and STI test results

Receiving HIV and STI test results varies from site to site, but the best way to find out about how and when to expect your results is to ask during your visit.

Many sexual health clinics offer free SMS or email notifications of your results, while some will call and deliver your results over the phone. Some may also only alert you if you’ve tested positive for an STI.

If you test positive for an STI you should take a break from having sex until you are treated.

Once you’ve received your results, it can also be a good idea to set a reminder for your next test, using our Remind Me service here.

Have some questions about HIV and STI testing?

Do you still have questions about getting a HIV or STI test in your neighbourhood? ACON has a number of regional sites as well as an active regional outreach team who you can get in touch with directly!

ACON Hunter

(Hunter, New England, Central Coast, Central West)

ACON Hunter branch have a drop-in clinic that operates on Tuesday’s 3:30pm-6:00pm and Thursday’s 11:30am-6:00pm.

Find the clinic at the ACON Hunter Office:
129 Maitland Road
Islington 2296

Tel: 02 4962 7700
Email: hunter@acon.org.au

ACON Northern Rivers

Suite 4P Conway Court,
17 Conway Street,
Lismore 2480
(next to Lismore Post Office and near Lismore Memorial Baths)

Tel: 02 6622 1555
Email: northernrivers@acon.org.au

ACON Southern, Far West & Blue Mountains Outreach

Tel: 02 9206 2114
Freecall: 1800 063 060
Email: regionaloutreach@acon.org.au

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