Policy context

Good sexual health is important for young people’s physical health and overall wellbeing. Sexual health includes not only safe sex practices to reduce the risk of sexually transmissible infections (STI) and pregnancy but also appropriate access to information and services that are inclusive and culturally safe.

STIs are most commonly contracted through unsafe sexual practices and can be either bacterial or viral and have serious long-term complications if left untreated.¹ These consequences include chronic abdominal pain, infertility and genital, heart and brain damage.¹ They are often undiagnosed as they can have no symptoms.¹

The most common STIs that are considered a health risk for young people are chlamydia, syphilis and gonorrhoea. All these conditions are notifiable under Australia’s National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System (NNDSS), which monitors diseases of public importance.

According to national data, the incidence of STIs has risen significantly over recent decades. Chlamydia rates have increased substantially over time. Gonorrhoea notifications have more than tripled in recent years, and syphilis rates have also more than doubled. HIV rates have remained relatively stable over the past decade.

These trends underscore the need for ongoing investment in sexual health promotion, STI prevention, and accessible testing and treatment services—particularly for young people who are often at increased risk due to lower levels of health literacy, inconsistent condom use, and barriers to care. Evidence-based policies and education campaigns are critical to reversing upward trends and improving long-term sexual health outcomes across Australia.