HIV transmission still happens in Australia and can affect anyone.
Gay and bisexual men in Australia use prevention to help stop the transmission of HIV in the community. It’s a good idea to use HIV protection every time you have sex to stay protected.
Are you new to Australia? Are you a man who has sex with men? Read this article to learn about HIV in Australia, so you can protect yourself and the community.
Read our Knowledge Hub for more information about HIV in your language (available in Chinese, Spanish, Thai, and Vietnamese).
Visit the Multicultural HIV and Hepatitis Service for information in Arabic, Indonesian and Portuguese.
In this article:
Key facts
- HIV is a virus that still exists in Australia.
- Most new cases are among gay and bisexual men who have anal sex without any HIV protection.
- People living with HIV who stay on treatment can live long and healthy lives.
- Condoms are a great way to prevent HIV, and there are other ways too (like PrEP and Undetectable Viral Load).
- It is common for gay and bisexual men to get tested for HIV every three months.
What is HIV?
HIV is a virus that affects the immune system.
How does HIV spread?
HIV spreads when some body fluids with HIV enter someone’s bloodstream. HIV is only present in:
- semen (cum)
- blood
- anal mucous
- breast milk
- vaginal and front hole fluids.
The most common way HIV spreads is through anal sex without HIV prevention.
You cannot get HIV from kissing, touching, or sharing eating utensils.
Most HIV transmission happens when the person does not know they have HIV. You cannot tell if someone has HIV by looking at them.
Is HIV common in Australia?
HIV is here in Australia. There are over 30,000 people living with HIV. Almost all these people (97%) are on HIV treatment. Staying on treatment keeps people healthy and prevents HIV transmission. People living with HIV who stay on treatment can live long and healthy lives.
In 2023, 722 people were diagnosed with HIV in Australia. Most new cases are among gay and bisexual men who have anal sex without any HIV protection.
How do men in Australia prevent the transmission of HIV?
Most gay and bisexual men use HIV prevention strategies when having sex. Using an HIV protection strategy every time you have sex is a great way to prevent HIV. Before you have sex, you might like to talk with your partner about what HIV prevention you will both use.
There are many ways to stay healthy. They all involve testing for HIV regularly and choosing an HIV prevention option that works for you.
Getting tested for HIV
It is common here for sexually active gay men to get tested for HIV every three months. If you’re having sex, we recommend you test for HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Infections, too! There are many ways to get tested for HIV in Australia.
HIV self-test kit
You can buy an HIV self-test kit at a pharmacy or chemist. You don’t need a Medicare card.
You can order a free test at HIVTest.au. It will be delivered to your home in a plain package. The test is private and can be done at home. The instructions are in:
- English
- Arabic
- Chinese
- Hindi
- Indonesian
- Malaysian
- Spanish
- Vietnamese.
Sexual health services
You can visit a sexual health centre for a free HIV test. We have a map of them here.
- The test is free
- You do not need a Medicare card
- Your HIV test results are confidential. This means only you and your doctor will know about your results. You can also make your appointment under a different name.
- You can get free interpreter services to have your appointment in your language.
Your doctor
If you have a doctor (sometimes called a GP, or General Practitioner), they can also give you a HIV test. There may be a cost for a test with your doctor.
Using condoms
Some guys in Australia use condoms to protect themselves from HIV. Condoms also help prevent some Sexually Transmitted Infections (such as chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis).
Using a condom correctly every time you have sex is a great way to prevent HIV. Make sure you use:
- Lubricant (water-based)
- A condom with no rips, holes or breaks in it
- A new condom every time you have sex.
Condoms are cheap and easy to use. You can buy them at supermarkets and pharmacies. You can also get free condoms at sexual health services and some organisations.
Taking PrEP (Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis)
Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is a medication that protects you from getting HIV. It is common for some gay and bisexual men in Australia to take PrEP.
- To start taking PrEP, you need to get tested for HIV.
- You need to get a prescription for PrEP from a doctor.
- You do not need Medicare
- There is free PrEP for people who can’t afford it.
Taking HIV treatment and keeping an undetectable viral load (UVL)
By taking HIV treatment, people living with HIV in Australia can live long and healthy lives.
- By staying on treatment, guys can get an ‘Undetectable Viral Load (UVL)’.
- Also called ‘Undetectable’ or ‘Undetectable = Untransmittable (U=U)’.
- Being ‘Undetectable’ means the amount of virus in their body is reduced so low that HIV tests can’t show it.
- If someone is ‘Undetectable’, they are not cured, but they cannot pass on HIV to someone else.
HIV treatment is free in most states even if you are on a visa and don’t have Medicare. You can get HIV treatment at public hospital pharmacies around Australia.
Starting treatment quickly will help protect your long-term health.
Using PEP (Post-Exposure Prophylaxis) in emergencies
Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) is used in an emergency to stop HIV infection after being exposed to HIV. An exposure might happen if a condom breaks or if you don’t use protection during sex.
PEP is a 28-day course of daily medication that you take after exposure to HIV. It’s best started within 72 hours (3 days) of having sex, and ideally, as soon as possible.
PEP is different from PrEP, which is taken BEFORE sex to prevent HIV.
You can get PEP at public hospital pharmacies and sexual health services without a Medicare card.
It’s a good idea to use a HIV prevention method (condoms, PrEP or UVL) every time you have sex. Have a talk with your partner before sex about what protection you are both using. Getting tested for HIV every three months will help protect yourself and the community.
For more information about HIV, read our Knowledge Hub, available in:
If you speak Arabic, Indonesian or Portuguese, visit the Multicultural HIV and Hepatitis Service.
Book your first HIV test here.