Sexual and Blood-Borne Virus (BBV) Health Support Services for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Sector

The WA Department of Health is committed to improving sexual health and blood-borne virus (BBV) outcomes for Aboriginal people and is seeking to provide specialist support to improve the provision of sexual and blood-borne virus (BBV) healthcare to Aboriginal people across WA. The aim of the Service is to improve: Testing rates for sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and BBVs; Provide high-quality treatment and patient management; and Provide access to culturally secure sexual health and BBV healthcare for Aboriginal people in WA. Since 2012, Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia (AHCWA) has been funded to deliver the Sexual Health and Blood-borne Virus Program (SHBBVP) to support capacity building, sector support, youth peer education, and interagency collaboration. Aboriginal communities in WA face disproportionately high rates of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) and BBVs. The WA Sexual Health and Blood-borne Virus Strategy 2024–2030 sets out goals to control and eliminate these infections by 2030. The accompanying Action Plan provides a practical roadmap for achieving these targets. During the codesign of the strategy and action plan, the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS) sector emphasised the need for culturally relevant information to guide the design, delivery, monitoring, and evaluation of health initiatives. These recommendations are reflected in Planning Framework 2 of the action plan, which promotes a holistic approach to improving sexual health and BBV outcomes for Aboriginal people. Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS) play a vital role in Aboriginal healthcare in WA. In 2018–19, 35% of Aboriginal people reported using an Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) as their regular provider, while 45% preferred AMSs. With 23 ACCHSs operating across WA, there is significant potential to enhance sexual health and BBV outcomes by supporting these services. Continuation of the delivery of the above services will contribute to achieving outcomes outlined in numerous state and national strategies including: WA Sexual Health and BBV Strategy 2024-30National strategies for bloodborne viruses and sexually transmissible infectionsWA Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Framework 2015-2030 Aboriginal Empowerment Strategy - Western Australia 2021-2029