Culturally diverse sexual health services

Do you have questions about sexual health but are worried about a language or cultural barrier? There are national services, as well as state/territory-based services, that specialise in catering to the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse young people in Australia.

This can help if:

• English isn’t your first language and you have questions about sexual health

• you come from a diverse cultural background and want to see a sexual health practitioner who understands this

• you’re looking for culturally sensitive sexual health info for a friend from a diverse cultural background.

National Services

• Family Planning Alliance Australia is the national peak body for sexual health and family planning organisations in Australia.

• Multicultural Women’s Health Australia (MWHA), the national arm of the Multicultural Centre for Women’s Health (MCWH), is run by and for women from immigrant and refugee backgrounds, and aims to improve their health and wellbeing.

Victoria

• The Centre for Culture, Ethnicity and Health (CEH) provides information on how to protect yourself from sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and on where to go if you want to get tested through their Multicultural Health and Support Service.

• The Victorian Refugee Health Network brings health and community services together to be more accessible and responsive to the needs of refugees and asylum seekers.

• Family Planning Victoria provides information on sexual and reproductive health care. Their Action Clinic, in the Melbourne CBD, is especially for people aged under 25.

New South Wales

• Family Planning NSW provides information about sexual and reproductive health for young people, including fact sheets in a variety of languages for non-English speakers. Email them, or call their Talkline, for contraceptive, reproductive and sexual health information and referral, or to find your nearest clinic and to make an appointment online.

• Visit the Multicultural HIV and Hepatitis Service website for fact sheets about HIV and hepatitis in a variety of languages for non-English speakers.

South Australia

• Shine SA is a leading sexual health agency in South Australia, providing information and resources for a variety of sexual-health related issues, with specific attention given to young women in multicultural communities.

Western Australia

• Sexual Health Quarters provides specialist services in sexual and reproductive health. You can call or email their Sexual Health Helpline and ask for info or advice anonymously and confidentially.

Tasmania

• Family Planning Tasmania Inc. (FPT) provides information about sexual and reproductive health. If you’d like to have your questions answered over the phone, you can call 03 6228 5244.

Northern Territory

• Family Planning NT aims to promote sexual health and rights for individuals within the Northern Territory. Check out their Facebook page for opening dates of the Youth Clinic.

Australian Capital Territory

• Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT (SHFPACT) recognises that young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds face barriers in accessing improved sexual and reproductive health.

Queensland

• True provides information on a variety of sexual health-related issues.

• The Mater Refugee Complex Care Clinic provides state-wide health care to refugees and asylum seekers.

• World Wellness Group (WWG) focuses on multicultural health and wellbeing, with specific attention paid to migrants, refugees and asylum seekers. The WWG General Practitioner offers:

  • Preparation of mental health-care plans

  • GP services for physical and mental health issues

  • Referral letters to specialists

All visits are bulk-billed for holders of a current Medicare card. You can contact them on: 31700 435, or email at: referrals@worldwellnessgroup.org.au

• The Gold Coast Sexual Health Service provides general sexual health services for free, such as:

  • STI and HIV testing and treatment

  • Sexual health screening

  • Chlamydia screening program

  • Sexual health information, counselling, education, and advice

You can contact them on: (07) 5576 9033, or via email: sexualhealthgc@health.qld.gov.au

• Women’s Medical Gold Coast is a casual and friendly clinic staffed only by female doctors, with a particular focus on international students. It's located at Suite 12, 79 West Burleigh Road, Burleigh Heads, on Queensland’s Gold Coast, and can be reached by phone on: (07) 5520 6244.

• The Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland (ECCQ) runs sexual health workshops, support groups, resources and information sessions at high schools with a large population of international students.