Sexual Health and STI Support

Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Services (PAMS) provides a confidential and culturally safe Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Program to support the sexual health and wellbeing of our communities.

 

The STI Program focuses on education, prevention, early detection and treatment, helping clients stay informed and healthy.

 

What we offer

The Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI), and Blood Borne Virus (BBV) Program delivers: 

  • Sexual health education for teens, adults and the elderly; 
  • Community awareness and outreach programs; 
  • Opportunistic STI/BBV screening with annual 715 assessments; 
  • Symptomatic care; 
  • STI/BBV treatment and follow-up, including test of cure; 
  • Confidential partner notification and contact tracing

 

All services are provided in a respectful, non-judgemental and confidential environment.

 

The process of managing an STI and/or BBV. 

 

  • An STI screen is either a urine specimen or a swab. Sometimes both.
  • A BBV screen is done through a blood test.
  • When the results come back, you will be contacted to come to the clinic to discuss the results, receive treatment and we will start the process of tracing your contacts and offering them testing and treatment.
  • Treatment is easy. Usually tablets and sometimes an injection.
  • All treatments require a test of cure, usually 1 or two weeks after the treatment.
  • Some infections require 3-, 6- and 12-month re-testing to make sure the infection is completely gone.
  • We encourage everyone to fully comply with this as it stops the spread of sexually transmitted infections and blood borne viruses.

 

Privacy and confidentiality. 

  • Please know that your personal information will never be made available to anybody EXCEPT the medical professionals involved in your treatment and care;
  • Because STI/BBVs pose a significant public health risk, a notification about your infection will be made to public health. This is automatically triggered by the laboratory that does your pathology;
  • We will ask you about your sexual contacts for the past 6 months. This is not to shame you, but to make sure that you and everybody you had intimate contact with, are tested, treated and followed up.
  • When contact tracing is done, your name will never be mentioned. It is against the law to do so, so you can freely disclose without anything bad happening to you.

Who can access this service?

This program is available to all PAMC clients. 

 

  • Because STI/BBVs is a public health matter and because WA is currently experiencing a Syphilis outbreak, it does not matter if you or your partner has Medicare or not. You will not be turned away and you and your partner will not be denied treatment, testing and follow up. 

 

Where services are provided 

  • Newman Clinic 
  • Remote community clinics 

 

Service hours

Services are available Monday to Friday, 9:00am – 4:30pm.

 

Funding partner

This program is funded by NACCHO.

 

How to access STI services

  • To make an appointment or speak with the STI Program team, please contact the sexual health nurse at the Newman Clinic.  
  • Our staff can provide information, book appointments and answer any questions you may have.  

If the sexual health nurse can’t take your call, any other clinician is fully knowledgeable to assist you