Things to do once you’re sexually active:
Talk to your sexual partners about STIs before having sex
Use a condom or other protection methods
Find an STI testing location
Get tested regularly for STIs
Once you become sexually active, STI testing should become a regular part of your sexual health routine. STIs don’t always have symptoms and the only way to know if you have one is to be tested. Testing regularly is a great way to stay on top of your health and detect an infection early. STIs are treatable and early diagnosis can help you avoid some of the health problems that can result from having an untreated infection. Being diagnosed with an STI isn’t the end of the world. During the check-up, your doctor can give you advice on how to treat the infection and prevent infection for you and your partners in the future.
STI testing is easy, free or low cost. An STI test is confidential and all health professionals are required by law to keep what you discuss private, no matter how old you are. This confidentiality can only be broken under serious circumstances. More information on your healthcare rights is available at ReachOut.
For tips on talking about sexual health with your doctor, click here.
Finding a clinic
Finding a place to get an STI test is easy! Your local doctor, Family Planning or sexual health clinic can offer STI testing.
Additionally, some states—South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia, and Victoria—have their own government supported, online testing services which provide chlamydia and gonorrhoea testing for free. There are also two national services which are private and provide a range of tests at a cost. Find more information about what online testing is and where it’s available here.
Below is a list of sexual health and Family Planning clinics throughout Victoria. Click on one of the links below to find clinics in your area of Victoria and check STI testing off your to do list.
Other Victoria health services and resources
Other national health services and resources
Metropolitan Victoria
| Suburb | Address |
| Box Hill | Sexual Health Victoria Box Hill 901 Whitehorse Road Box Hill VIC 3128 (03) 9257 0100 or 1800 013 952 www.shvic.org.au |
| Carlton | Melbourne Sexual Health Centre 580 Swanston Street Carlton VIC 3053 (03) 9341 6200 or 1800 032 017 www.mshc.org.au/ |
| Fitzroy | PRONTO! 175 Rose Street Fitzroy VIC 3065 (03) 9416 2889 www.pronto.org.au/ |
| Fitzroy North | Northside Clinic 370 St Georges Road Fitzroy North VIC 3068 (03) 9485 7700 www.northsideclinic.net.au/ |
| Melbourne CBD | ERA Health 563 Bourke Street Melbourne VIC 3000 (03) 9944 6200 www.erahealth.com.au/ |
| Melbourne CBD | Sexual Health Victoria Melbourne CBD Level 1, 94 Elizabeth St Melbourne VIC 3000 (03) 9654 4766 or 1800 013 952 www.shvic.org.au |
| Prahran | Prahran Market Clinic Prahran Central Shopping Centre Mezzanine Level, 325 Chapel Street Prahran VIC 3181 (03) 9514 0888 www.prahranmarketclinic.com/ |
| St. Kilda | The Centre Clinic Rear of 77 Fitzroy Street St Kilda VIC3182 (03) 9525 5866 www.vac.org.au/lgbti-health/centre-clinic |
Regional Victoria
| Suburb | Address |
| Ballarat | Ballarat Community Health Centre Sexual Health Clinic 710 Sturt Street Ballarat VIC 3350 (03) 5338 4540www.bchc.org.au/services/sexual-health-clinic |
| Belmont | Sexual Health Clinic , Kardinia Health 2-18 Colac Rd Belmont VIC 3216 (03) 5202 9333 https://kardiniahealth.com.au/ |
| Bendigo | Bendigo Sexual Health Clinic, Bendigo Community Health Services 171 Hargreaves Street Bendigo VIC 3550 (03) 5448 1600 www.bchs.com.au/sexual-health-clinic |
| Bendigo | Bendigo Primary Care Centre 123 Arnold St Bendigo VIC 3550 (03) 5441 8622 www.bendigoprimarycarecentre.com.au/ |
| Eaglehawk | Eaglehawk Sexual Health Clinic, Bendigo Community Health Services 3 Seymoure Street Eaglehawk VIC 3556 (03) 5434 4300 www.bchs.com.au/sexual-health-clinic |
| Wangaratta | Clinic 35-Wangaratta Gateway Health Sexual Health Clinic 5-47 Mackay Street Wangaratta VIC 3676 (03) 5723 2000 https://www.gatewayhealth.org.au/services/gp-clinics/sexual-and-reproductive-health-clinic-35/ |
| Wodonga | Clinic 35-Wodonga Gateway Health Sexual Health Clinic 155 High Street Wodonga VIC 3690 (02) 6022 8888 www.gatewayhealth.org.au/services/sexual-health-clinicshttps://www.gatewayhealth.org.au/services/gp-clinics/sexual-and-reproductive-health-clinic-35/ |
Other Victoria health services and resources
| Name | Description |
| Jean Hailles | www.jeanhailes.org.au/
Jean Hailes is a women’s health organisation that believe in physical and emotional health and wellbeing for all women in Australia throughout their lives. |
| Victorian AIDS Council | www.vac.org.au/
VAC leads the fight against HIV/AIDS in Victoria by providing care and support for people living with HIV, health promotion, and advocacy. |
| Youthcentral | www.youthcentral.vic.gov.au/
Victorian Government’s initiative for young people aged 12–25, offers information and advice on issues like jobs, study, travel, money and events in your local area. |
Other national health services and resources
| Service | Description |
| Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet | www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/
The Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet makes comprehensive, up–to–date information accessible to people interested in the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians |
| all good | allgood.org.au/
The all good website includes information, resources and service directories on STIs and BBVs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It includes a ‘find a service tab’ to find a local doctor, clinic or a testing centre that provides STI and BBV testing. The website also includes links to local support services. |
| Better to Know | www.bettertoknow.org.au/
‘Better to Know’ is a website for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and women. It provides detailed information on STIs and BBVs, and on getting tested– in two sections, Men’s Business and Women’s Business. It can send SMS reminders to have a sexual health check and can also be used to notify recent sex partners anonymously that they need to have a sexual health check. |
| Body Talk | www.bodytalk.org.au/
Info for young people about the body, puberty, relationships and sexual health including STIs and contraception. |
| Family Planning NSW Talkline
|
www.fpnsw.org.au/talkline
Talkline provides free and confidential information, advice and options across a wide range of reproductive and sexual health issues. 1300 658 886 |
| Health Direct | www.healthdirect.gov.au/
healthdirect provides easy access to trusted, quality health information and advice online and over the phone. |
| Marie Stopes Australia | www.mariestopes.org.au/
Marie Stopes provides safe and supportive reproductive health services such as contraception, abortion, vasectomy, STI checks and more. |
| QLife | www.qlife.org.au/
QLife national telephone and web counselling service for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex (LGBTI) people, families and friends. |
| Reachout | www.reachout.com/
ReachOut helps under 25s with everyday questions through to tough times. |
| Young Deadly Free | youngdeadlyfree.org.au/
Young Deadly Free is all about raising awareness of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and blood-borne viruses (BBVs) affecting young people in regional and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. They provide information and resources for young people; elders, parents and other adults; and doctors, nurses and other health workers. |
