Sexual health training for health providers

Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM)

ASHM is contracted by Queensland Health to support health professionals in Queensland by delivering free, high-quality HIV, viral hepatitis and sexual health education sessions and workforce development programs​. Training is available for doctors, nurses, midwives, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers/practitioners, and other health professionals.

ASHM training library

The ASHM training library provides a comprehensive list of training courses for health professionals working in HIV, blood-borne viruses, sexual and reproductive health. The ASHM search tool can be used to locate training courses listed below. Alternatively, the learning hub can be used to access training courses by health topic, or profession.

  • Antenatal Syphilis Train the Trainer Program
    The program promotes antenatal STI testing, with an emphasis on the prevention of congenital syphilis.
  • Sexual Health Fundamentals for Nurses & Midwives
    This two-part workshop provides nurses and midwives with the introductory skills to incorporate STI and BBV screening within their workplace.
  • Sexual Health Management and Care for Nurses and Midwives
    This four-part course helps participants develop confidence in understanding clinical management of common STIs, HIV and hepatitis B.
  • Sexual and Reproductive Health in Primary Care
    This two-part workshop provides information and tools to improve STI screening and care for at-risk and key affected populations, whilst also covering strategies for the prevention of HIV transmission, contact tracing and partner notification.
  • Sexual Health in Primary Care
    This workshop provides information and tools to improve STI screening and care for at-risk and key affected populations. It also highlights the importance of contact tracing and partner notification.
  • Fundamentals of Sexual and Reproductive Health in Pharmacy Practice
    This training course will assist pharmacists and pharmacy staff in navigating sensitive conversations about sexual and reproductive health, particularly in less private settings.
  • Queensland Sexual Health Nursing: Working with Young People
    This training course provides education on supporting young people to make healthy choices regarding their sexual health. It provides an overview of STIs and BBVs and their mode of transmission, as well as pathways available for young people to access services for their sexual healthcare needs.
  • Advanced Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy (GAHT)
    This is an expression of interest to be registered for the next live facilitated course to prescribe gender affirming hormone therapy based on the needs of a clinician's patient population utilising an informed consent model.
  • Contraception Essentials in Primary Care
    This course provides primary care providers’ with knowledge and confidence in discussing the benefits of Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) to reduce the incidence of unintended pregnancy amongst their patient population.
  • HIV & HBV s100 prescriber courses
    Learning methods include online learning modules, video presentations, case discussions and facilitated group work, giving attendees an opportunity to discuss practical strategies with peers and specialists. Upon successful completion of this training and the associated post-course assessment, eligible participants may apply to the relevant state departments of health for authority to prescribe section 100 drugs for the management of HIV in Australia. This course is in high demand and priority will be given to General Practitioners and Nurse Practitioners who work in community settings in QLD.

Online learning modules

  • Syphilis Outbreak Training
    This syphilis training website provides integral professional development for any health practitioners working in areas affected by the syphilis outbreak.
  • Introduction to Syphilis Nursing
    This online learning module provides knowledge of priority populations for screening, appropriate testing, interpretation of serology and contact tracing to reduce syphilis infections in Australia.
  • National mpox Webinar: Testing and Vaccination
    This webinar covers vaccination strategies, diagnosing mpox, and insights into clade 1b viral strain.
  • Sexual Health Fundamentals
    This one-hour eLearning is comprised of five short modules that provide a framework for managing a sexual health consult in your practice. Topics include epidemiology, natural history, and transmission of the most common STIs in Australia; how to and when to offer STI testing; tips for starting the conversation about sexual health; the importance of contact tracing, and how to do it.
  • STIs and BBVs for Nurses and Midwives
    This course provides information on national epidemiology and strategies, priority populations for STI and BBV screening and testing, STI management and care, and contact tracing.
  • ASHM & ACON's Trans and Gender Diverse Sexual Health Care e-learning
    This co-designed course provides clinicians with the knowledge to identify the needs and experiences of trans communities and integrate recommended patient engagement strategies into routine practice, procedures, and systems to enhance patient safety and inclusivity.
  • Advanced Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy
    This course provides clinicians with the knowledge and confidence to prescribe gender affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) based on the needs of their patient population utilising an informed consent model.

Conferences and events

  • 27th Congress of the World Association for Sexual Health in association with the Asia-Oceania Federation for Sexology hosted by the Society for Australian Sexologists (WAS 2025)
    WAS 2025 aims to advance sexual health, rights, justice, and pleasure of all genders, abilities, and backgrounds from around the world.
  • 15th Australasian Viral Hepatitis Conference (VH2025)
    VH2025 presents new and innovative research findings that aim to support the health workforce, government, and community to work towards elimination of hepatitis B and hepatitis C in Australia, New Zealand, and the Asia and Pacific regions.
  • Australasian HIV&AIDS Conference 2025 and Australasian Sexual and Reproductive Health Conference
    Explore cutting-edge research and innovation, share success stories and unite with experts, researchers, and advocates to address key issues in sexual and reproductive health and eliminate HIV transmission by 2030 across Australasia.
  • Deadly Sex Congress
    The Deadly Sex Congress is an annual forum designed to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers and health practitioners, community workers in relevant sectors, and those transitioning into sexual health or blood-borne virus (BBV) service delivery.

True Relationships and Reproductive Health

True Relationships and Reproductive Health delivers training for people working in different fields and offers online education, group webinars, half and full-day training for professionals. Costs vary depending on course.

True medical education and clinical training course catalogue

  • Sexually Transmitted Infections: Assessment and Management (online course) – CPD available
    This course aims to increase clinicians’ confidence in offering STI screening, managing pathology, promoting safe sex, and supporting partner notification.
  • Introduction to Sexual and Reproductive Health (online course) – CPD available
    This course provides basic knowledge about aspects of sexual and reproductive health.
  • Antenatal Sexual Health Kit (ASK) training for antenatal clinicians (online course)  
    This course increases a clinician's understanding of syphilis and congenital syphilis risk, their undertaking and importance of sexual health assessments, and provided education on initiating contact tracing in a maternity context.
  • Migrant and Refugee Reproductive and Sexual Health: Culturally Responsive Clinical Practice – RACGP 40 pts
    This course provides sexual and reproductive health training and resources to increase the competency and confidence of health care professionals in communicating with patients from refugee and migrant backgrounds.
  • FPAA National Certificate in Reproductive & Sexual Health for Doctors (face-to-face course) – CPD available
    This course expands the knowledge and clinical skills in reproductive and sexual health, including contraception, cervical screening, STIs, menopause, men’s sexual health, common gynaecological conditions, and other topics in sexual and reproductive health.

ThinkGP

ThinkGP offers free, online training modules and informative videos about STI testing, management and partner notification for GPs and other primary care clinicians. Online courses can be accessed anytime, anywhere through the ThinkGP portal by creating a ThinkGP user account and searching for ‘sexual health.’

  • GP Clinical Enhancement Module: Youth AOD (alcohol and other drugs) and Sexual Health – CPD available
    This headspace GP advanced course seeks to educate health professional on issues surrounding alcohol and other drug use and sexual health in youth, as well as their mental health implications.
  • Becoming more LGBTQIA+ friendly in your practice (online course) – CPD available
    This one hour educational activity is designed to empower GPs to create a safer and more welcoming environment for LGBTQIA+ people in order to provide them with more holistic and patient-centred healthcare.

Management of Chlamydia Cases in Australia (MoCCA)

MoCCA is a 5 year project funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council that seeks to address gaps in chlamydia management in Australian general practice. MoCCA provide a range of workflow resources, videos, and self-reported continuing professional development (CPD) activities.

  • Self-reported CPD activities related to the MoCCA Study – CPD activities include a general overview of best practice chlamydia management, partner management, retesting for reinfection, and pelvic inflammatory disease.
  • STI management essentials for general practice (6mins 40 sec) – a short video with a rural GP and an urban GP discussing practical strategies for talking to patients about STI testing, diagnosis, and contact tracing.

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)

Members can access sexual health courses through RACGP

Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM)

  • Women’s Health - Sexual Health ACRRM 11 hours (5 educational activity, 6 performance review) towards CPD
    This course recognises that sexual health is a significant component of a woman’s well-being and examines the complex, multifactorial cause of sexual dysfunction.
  • Introduction to Syphilis (NSW) ACRRM 1 hour (0.5 educational activity, 0.5 outcome measurement) towards CPD
    This course includes NSW specific content but is available to all ACRRM members and provides the tools to identify priority populations for syphilis screening, distinguish the stages of syphilis infection based on a patients clinical presentation and history and outline the process for contact tracing/partner notification after a syphilis diagnosis.

Centre for Excellence in Rural Sexual Health (CERSH)

The University of Melbourne’s Centre for Excellence in Rural Sexual Health (CERSH) provides free online training specifically for professionals who deliver healthcare in rural and remote settings.

Healthy Male

Provides a free eLearning portal offering male reproductive health education for GPs and primary health care nurses including content on engaging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men and men’s business, and reproductive health in young adult males.

Contact tracing and partner notification training

Partner notification or contact tracing is an essential part of reducing the transmission of STIs and BBVs. It can be done via patient referral (where the patient contacts their partners, or provider referral (the health provider discreetly contacts the patient's partner/s for them). This can be a difficult and sensitive undertaking which requires support and training.

  • Australasian Contact Tracing Guidelines – A resource that aims to provide practical support and guidance to health care providers to enhance the effectiveness of partner notification.
  • ASHM Djiyadi – Can we talk? – A resource manual for sexual health workers who work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth.
  • True Relationships & Reproductive Health –  Sexually Transmitted Infections: Assessment and Management – RACGP 5.5 hours (educational activities), 1.5 hours (Reviewing Performance)
  • Queensland Health – Appointed Contact Tracing Officer training –Online course for health professionals (Queensland Health employees only) who will be applying for official appointment as a Contact Tracing Officer. The course contains the following elements:
    • The concept and importance of contact tracing
    • Legislative requirements (i.e., privacy and confidentiality)
    • Communication strategies to be used when undertaking contact tracing

    Note: this course does not specifically address contact tracing for STIs.

Other training

Last updated: 7 October 2025