“ I realised that in my 13 years of schooling HIV has only come up now... after a class discussion where it became painfully obvious that the common idea amongst my friends was that HIV is only for "gay men and African babies" I figured it's something that definitely needs to be addressed because that kind of ignorance can be dangerous. ”
- Laura, 17 year old High School Student, NSW
Looking for reliable information? Check out these places on the web for STI facts, contact details for sexual health clinics and much, much more.
STI information
If you want information on STIs, these websites have got you covered - they can tell you everything you need to know about STIs (including HIV) and how to protect yourself against them.
 | It's Your Sex Life This website is funded by MTV, so it can't be too bad, right? Lots of good information about everything related to sexual health - how to say no to sex, ways to have safe sex and information on STI testing. This website is great, so check it out! |
 | The Pleasure Project This very sexy website is all about giving people sexy tips on how to protect themselves. The clever folks who run the Pleasure Project also work with the erotic film industry, trying to make sure that their films promote messages about safe sex. |
 | Get Clued Up This website has lots of information about Chlamydia, the most common STI in young Australians. Did you know that you can have Chlamydia without knowing it? Check out this page for lots of facts, written by doctors in Sydney and funded by the Federal Government. |
 | I Stay Safe Run by the Queensland Government, this website can tell you all about sex, contraception and STIs. Come here for simple info that could help you when you least expect it, as well as links to Queensland statistics about STI rates. |
 | Victorian AIDS Council This page contains information about STIs, with a big focus on HIV/AIDS. Come here to find out about the science behind HIV, as well as HIV testing and treatment. |
 | Drama Down Under This site is aimed at gay men, and contains information about STIs (like signs and symptoms) and details for sexual health clinics across Australia. They also have a reminder service (can send you an SMS to remind you to get a sexual health check) and "let him know" service (where you can send an anonymous SMS or e-card to a partner and warn them about your diagnosis). WARNING: this site contains some sexually explicit material. |
 | AIDSinfo This website is run by the National Institute of Health, part of the US Government, and provides up to date information about HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and research. |
 | HIV/AIDS - WHO This is a information page on HIV/AIDS, created and maintained by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which is part of the UN. |
 | The Body This is a very detailed website with lots of facts about HIV/AIDS - it has everything you wanted to know (and didn't want to know). Along with information, The Body also has videos, links to the latest news and research and a Q&A section. |
Information about sex, health and your body
Looking for some more general info about your body and the changes that happen when you're a teenager? Maybe you'd like some facts about how alcohol and drugs can affect your body? Try these places.
 | Somazone This website is run by the Australian Drug Foundation, and has lots of facts about sex, health, relationships and drugs. Come here to find all sorts of info, as well as stories from other young people. |
 | The Hormone Factory The Hormone Factory can tell you all about puberty, sex, and how babies are made. This website is run by La Trobe University in Melbourne, and is great for people in the first couple of years of high school, who are looking for information that is nice and simple. |
 | Your Sex Health This website is very funky, designed and run by people working at the University of Melbourne. Come here to find info and stories about sex, communication, pregnancy and much, much more. |
 | Like It Is Come here for info about sex, sexuality, periods and contraception. This website also has some information on STIs, though it isn't as detailed as other websites. |
 | Sextxt By texting "sexinfo" to 19SEXTXT, you can receive an immediate response to any questions you might have related to sex, contraception and sexuality. This service is run by Marie Stopes International, a global sexual health organisation, and is great in emergency situations - like when the condom breaks, for example. |
 | Not So Straight This website is run by the AIDS Council of NSW, and has lots of info about sex, sexuality, homophobia and more. They also have links to other websites with information, and to services (like doctors and counsellors) who can help you out in the real world. |
Are you at risk?
Want to know if you're really having safe sex, or if you're at risk of having an STI? Look here.
 | Check Your Risk This Aussie site, run by the Melbourne Sexual Health Clinic (scroll down for more info about them) asks you a series of questions about your sexual activity. At the end, you can print off a report, and take this to your doctor and have a chat about your sexual health. |
Sexual health clinics
Think you could have an STI, but not sure where to go? Try these sexual health clinics...
Victoria
| Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC) The MSHC is located in Melbourne CBD, and offers people a range of services - medical, nursing, counselling. They also have an onsite pharmacy and pathology testing, as well as a telephone information line. You don't need to make an appointment, and all their services are free. The MSHC is open weekdays (late on Thursday nights), and they have special clinics for men, women, people who are living with HIV, and men who have sex with men. They also have a great website, with lots of information about STIs and sexual health, and can refer you to sexual health clinics all over Australia! |
| | Centre Clinic (Victorian HIV/AIDS Council) As well as running a website, the Victorian HIV/AIDS Council also has 2 clinics - in St Kilda and Northcote - which specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of HIV/AIDS and other STIs. All people living with HIV are welcome, though there is a focus on people who are attracted to the same sex (gay or lesbian) or to both sexes (bisexual). The St Kilda clinic is open late on Monday nights, as well as Saturdays, and all appointments are bulk billed through Medicare. |
 | Marie Stopes International Marie Stopes International is a organisation which provides sexual and reproductive health services all over the world. They have clinics in most Australian capital cities, which offer services related to contraception and STIs, as well as performing abortions and vasectomies. |
 | Family Planning Victoria Family Planning Victoria has sexual health clinics in Box Hill and Melbourne CBD, which offer a range of services including contraceptive advice, STI testing and pap smears. They also conduct regular outreach clinics in other parts of Melbourne. Check out their website for reliable information on STIs and sexual health. From a different state? Try looking up your local Family Planning clinic. |
NSW
| Albion Street Centre This sexual health clinic is located in Surry Hills, Sydney, and specialises in the care of people living with HIV. They can help in many ways, as they have medical, nursing and psychological services, as well as an on-site nutritionist and pharmacist. |
Other states
Please go to the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre or Marie Stopes International websites, and search for your closest clinic there.
Telling your partner
Just been diagnosed with an STI, but can't bear to tell your partner face-to-face? Start the conversation with help from this website.
 | Let Them Know This page is run by the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (scroll up for more info about them), and gives you ways - email, SMS and letter - to tell your partner that they could be at risk of Chlamydia. |
Self help groups
Want to talk to someone about your diagnosis? Try these groups, so you can chat to someone who actually knows how you feel.
 | National Association of People Living with HIV/AIDS (NAPWA) NAPWA is the peak non-government organisation in Australia representing people living with HIV/AIDS. NAPWA is involved in advovacy, education and policy - so making sure that people living with HIV/AIDS have the support and services that they need. Their website has lots of detailed information about living with, treating and preventing HIV, and they can also put you in touch with loca support groups. |
 | People Living with HIV/AIDS Victoria This organisation is for people living with HIV/AIDS. Their website has info on a range of topics - from HIV law, to links to HIV support groups across Australia. |
 | Positive Women Positive Women is a support and advocacy group for HIV positive women living in Victoria. They help in a number of ways, as they provide information, support and counselling services, as well as running social events. |
 | Straight Arrows Straight Arrows is a support group for heterosexual people living with HIV, which aids HIV positive people through information, support, financial assistance, advocacy and social events. |
 | Positive Counselling Positive Counselling provides free, confidential counselling for people who who have been diagnosed with Hepatitis C and HIV, as well as their family and friends. The Positive Counselling Centre is located in Windsor, Victoria. |
 | Melbourne Herpes Self Help Group This is a support group for people who have genital herpes, which offers friendship, information and support. The group meets monthly in Melbourne's CBD. |
 | Young, Pregnant and Parenting This website (run by the Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne) links together young pregnant women and young parents across Australia, and provides relevant information on health, sexuality and practical matters (like how to apply for Centrelink). |
HIV/AIDS Councils
Here are links to HIV/AIDS Councils across Australia and the globe. Many of these sites will be useful if you're looking for more detailed information on HIV/AIDS.
International HIV/AIDS organisations
 | | Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS (GYCA) GYCA is a global network of young leaders who are involved in youth and HIV/AIDS. GYCA helps these leaders by providing knowledge, skills, resources and opportunities to aid their initiatives, particularly by linking them to financial, mentor and political support.
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Still haven't found what you're looking for?
Try some of these informative places.
 | Education Resource Centre (ERC)
This library is part of the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne, and allows members to borrow books, magazines and more. |
 | Australasian Society of HIV Medicine This is the peak body for doctors who specialise in the diagnosis, treatment and management of people living with HIV. They create policies and guidelines, and run training programs for doctors. |
 | NSW STI Program Unit This website is dedicated to the NSW STI strategy. What can it help you with? It has a great link to a sexual health info line (during business hours) as well as STI facts and help for GPs. |
 | STIs This website is run by the Department of Human Services, part of the Victorian Governmen. It has information about the government perspective on STIs - for example, their policy on the management of Chlamydia. |
 | World AIDS Campaign This website gives a snapshot of the World AIDS Campaign: how you can get involved, what is happening around the world to help stop HIV/AIDS, how big the issue really is and key dates including World AIDS Day (on December 1st!). |
 | HEP C & Me A fun and interactive way to learn about Hepatitis C and how you can protect yourself, aimed at primary and early high school students. |
 | South East Sydney Illawarra Area Health Service As well as the Albion Street Centre, this website also provides more useful links for services in NSW and other states which may help. |