Australia Faces Rising STI Rates Amidst Healthcare Gaps and Shifting Attitudes

While Australia saw a general decline in STI rates from 2016 to 2023, recent data highlights a worrying reversal in several regions, with sexual health experts warning of a silent but dangerous trend emerging.

In Victoria’s Geelong and Surf Coast, health officials are raising the alarm over significant spikes in cases of infectious syphilis and gonorrhoea. Local health advocates blame underfunded sexual health services, limited access to STI testing, and persistent stigma around sexual health conversations. The decline in condom usage and reduced sexual health education have only added fuel to the fire.

Meanwhile, Sydney’s inner and western suburbs are also witnessing a steep rise in infections, particularly syphilis, gonorrhoea, and chlamydia, according to a recent report from the Kirby Institute at UNSW. Experts cite shifting public attitudes—such as a lower fear of HIV thanks to effective treatments and prevention (like PrEP)—as factors leading to decreased condom use. Coupled with the long shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic, which limited clinic operations and STI testing outreach, the results have been a sharp rise in undetected and untreated infections.

“People think we’ve won the war on STIs because HIV isn’t the death sentence it once was,” said one sexual health nurse in Sydney. “But we’re now seeing the consequences of complacency—especially among young and sexually active adults who aren’t getting tested regularly.”

Public health experts are urging increased investment in accessible sexual health clinics, education campaigns, and destigmatization efforts, especially targeted toward regional areas and culturally diverse communities.

For adults of all ages, the message is clear: safe sex and regular testing are still essential—regardless of how far medical science has come.