Services and support
Sexual health program
Supporting safe sexual health across the NT.
AMSANT’s sexual health program supports Aboriginal community controlled health services (ACCHSs) to strengthen sexual health care, education and systems across the Northern Territory.
The program focuses on sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and blood-borne viruses (BBVs) and on building a strong, connected sexual health workforce so our mob can access safe, respectful and culturally grounded care.
What we do
We provide practical support to sexual health leads and coordinators within member services, helping to strengthen local sexual health programs, screening, treatment and follow-up.
The program also brings sexual health workers and clinicians together through networks and communities of practice, supports improved sexual health data and recalls in systems like Communicare, and shares tools, resources and training opportunities with services across the NT.
Why this program matters
Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory continue to experience higher rates of many STIs and BBVs than the non-Indigenous population, and the 2024/2025 syphilis outbreak remains a serious concern, including the risk of congenital syphilis. Sexual health care needs to be culturally safe, shame-aware and guided by Aboriginal leadership to work well in the community.
The sexual health program helps services rebuild and strengthen sexual health work after COVID-19 disruptions, increase testing and follow-up, and support healthy relationships and safer communities for current and future generations.
Our focus areas
The program focuses on supporting local sexual health action plans, increasing STI and BBV testing (including syphilis in pregnancy), and strengthening systems for recalls, follow-up and contact tracing.
We support a strong sexual health community of practice, promote accessible testing options (including point-of-care testing and cervical screening self-collection where available), and help services stay up to date with guidelines, reporting requirements and funding or training opportunities.
How we support member services
We work with member services to review local data, identify gaps in testing or follow-up and strengthen sexual health care pathways. This includes mentoring new sexual health workers, linking staff into network meetings and workshops, and sharing practical tools suited to Aboriginal community controlled primary health care.
Where needed, we also support services to raise issues with government and sector partners, and to advocate for the resourcing and system changes needed to sustain strong sexual health programs.
Who we work with
The sexual health program works with:
- Aboriginal community controlled health services (ACCHSs) across the Northern Territory
- sexual health leads, coordinators and portfolio holders within ACCHSs
- Aboriginal health practitioners, nurses, GPs and other clinicians working in sexual health, youth health, women’s and men’s health
- key partners such as the Centre for Disease Control, NT Health, NT PHN and other public health and sexual health programs
- community organisations, schools and local groups involved in sexual health promotion and education.
Our impact
Through the sexual health program, AMSANT is helping services to:
- increase STI and BBV testing and improve follow-up and contact tracing
- strengthen the sexual health workforce through regular network meetings, workshops and mentoring
- improve the capture and use of sexual health data in clinical systems to support recalls and reporting
- rebuild and sustain sexual health program delivery across the sector after COVID-19 related disruptions.
Over time, this work aims to reduce infection rates, prevent congenital syphilis and support safer, healthier relationships and communities across the Northern Territory.
Current projects & initiatives
Sexual health community of practice and network meetings
regular opportunities for sexual health workers and clinicians to connect, share experiences and build skills.
Support for STI, BBV and syphilis testing
working with services to monitor and increase testing and follow-up, including use of point-of-care testing where appropriate.
Training and education for sexual health workers
coordinated training on STIs, BBVs, syphilis and practical sexual health skills, with a focus on new workers.
Sexual health data and Communicare support
helping services improve sexual health data capture and use it for recalls, quality improvement and reporting.
Resources & downloads
From this page, you might link to STI and BBV clinical guidelines, syphilis outbreak resources, culturally tailored sexual health promotion materials, cervical screening self-collection resources, point-of-care testing information and templates for local sexual health action plans.
Get in touch
To find out more about the sexual health program, upcoming training or support for sexual health work in your service, please contact: