Welcome to the Australasian Sexual Health & HIV Nurses Association Inc.
What's New (last update 17/3/2013)
NZ Sexual Health Society 35th Annual Conference 2013
The New Zealand Sexual Health Society 35th Annual Conference is catchingly called "Let's get into bed together" which depicts its stated theme of collaboration. The conference focus is on "strengthening the bonds between all the groups involved in the sector and looking at ways to move towards a more integrated and future proofed service".
Scheduled to be held in November 2013, call for abstracts opens on 4th April and Registration opens on 6 May.
For more information click on the flyer or visit the website www.shs2013.co.nz (uploaded 17/3/2013)
Latest ASHHNA Newsletter
News about the IUSTI and HIV Conference, Melbourne HIV Declaration, HIV rates in MSM, Sub-Branch Reports, President's Report and more.
(Click on the image)
Nursing posters at Melbourne Sexual Health & HIV Conference, October 2012
The ASHHNA prize for the best nursing poster at the Melbourne Sexual Conference was won by Edwina Jachimowicz. There were also 10 other high quality posters by nurses at the conference and we include them all in the Newsletter section (click)
New ASHHNA Executive elected!
Congratulations to the new ASHHNA Executive and we now have executive members in NSW, VIC, Tasmania, South Australia, Northern Territory and New Zealand with a good mix of urban and rural experience (for more details click on Contact Us). Special thank you to Jennifer Walsh and Dr Heather Shepherd who left the Executive this year. The AGM was held 17 October at the IUSTI Conference in Melbourne and was well attended by 48 members, who also heard Annie Tangey speak about coordinating sexual health services in remote aboriginal communities.
HIV IN AGED CARE
A FACTSHEET FOR ALL WORKERS IN AGED CARE FACILITIES WHO PROVIDE CARE FOR PEOPLE WITH HIV INFECTION. For more information click on the brochure and order form.
HIV & AGED CARE Brochure 
ORDER FORM 
IUSTI Conference - ASHHNA Kendra Sundquist Nurseing Prize Awards
At the IUSTI Conference in Melbourne 15-19th October, the ASHHNA Kendra Sundquist Nursing prize for best presentation was awarded to Bronwyn Silver from Menzies and the best poster prize was awarded to Edwina Jachimowicz from South Australia.
Australian Accredited Online Cervical Screening Education Program for Nurses
Nurses who would like to participate in the Cervical Screening for Nurses: Optimal Collection Techniques for a Quality Pap Test program and earn APNA CPD, should visit www.mdBriefCase.com.au to login or register for free. The program can be accessed under the ‘Specialist Programs’ tab.
Click on this press release for mor information: 
APNA Online Learning
Check out "Online Learning" under the Education section of ASHHNA's website (hover mouse over Education tab above) for information on the Australian Practice Nurses Association (APNA) STI & Blood Borne Virus Learning Course. Our online leaning section has information on several other resources for attaining your CPD points online. Check them all out! (uploaded 30/7/2012)
National Heart Foundation HIV and cardiovascular wellness
ASHHNA has been involved in the development of this exciting brochure about HIV and cardiovscular wellness, which can be accessed by clicking on the image below:
2012 Carol Martin Scholarship Awards
The 2012 Carol Martin Scholarship, sponsored by CSL Biotherapies to support nurses to attend conferences, education or research opportunities, has closed, and the ASHHNA Executive proudly announce the successful applicants:
Rita Fahy is on a two-year assignment working as Clinical Services Mentor for Susu Mamas, a primary health, non-government organization in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province, PNG. Rita is also studying towards a Masters in Public Health (MPH) at James Cook University. A key objective of her role in PNG is to support the strengthening and expansion of services at Susu Mamas, to improve service provision through upskilling, educational support and clinical guidance for Registered Nurses with a strong focus on sexual and reproductive health. Rita's award will help her cover the cost of the Reproductive Health in Developing Countries subject, as part of her MPH.
Melissa Power is a Clinical Nurse Specialist at Parramatta Sexual Health Clinic in western Sydney, NSW. Melissa's awarde will help towards the cost of the Sexual Health Principles and Practice subject at the College of Nursing, as part of her graduate certificate in advanced nursing.
Donna Keeley is the Clinical Nurse Consultant at B2 Clinic. IDD, Fremantle Hospital, W.A., and was awarded help to pay for registration to attend the 13th International Union against Sexually Transmitted Infections (IUSTI) World Congress conference which is being held in Melbourne in October 2012. Donna plans to share new knowledge from the conference with her workplace peers through presentations.
Left: Doona Keeley at work
The scholarship is named in honour of our friend, colleague and ASHHNA Vice-President, Carol Martin who passed away in February 2011.
Kungkaku Yungupalaku Healthy Relationships Project
Improving Sexual Health in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Youth Demonstration Projects
View the link: http://vimeo.com/channels/291442
The video stories were developed and mostly filmed / animated by young aboriginal people from Warburton and Warakurna Ngaanyatjarra communities in remote Western Australia. They identified ways of seeking appropriate sexual health services, supporting each other, problem solving and identity through these stories. We hope you enjoy the stories and please share them with young people. Feedback to Annie Tangey,
Nursing Coordinator of the Sexual Health Programme for
Ngaanyatjarra Health Service, annie.tangey@nghealth.org.au
UK Genito Urinary Nurses Association (GUNA)
Looking for sexual health nursing information, or a job in the UK?
Genito-Urinary Nurses Association (GUNA) is the UK national association working to ensure the voice of genitourinary nurses is heard. GUNA promotes GU nurses skills and development by improving education and training and encouraging networking with colleagues in the GU field.
For more information about GUNA click on the following link: http://www.guna.org.uk/
Australasian Sexual Health Alliance (ASHA)
ASHHNA members can sign up to ASHA as an affiliate member. ASHA is a multidisciplinary support network for all those working in sexual health. ASHHNA is proud to be one of the founding partner organisations of ASHA, which includes:
- The Australian Society for HIV Medicine (ASHM); The Australian Society for Sexual Educators, Researchers & Therapists (ASSERT)
- The New Sealand Sexual Health society (NZSAS); The Sexual Health Society of Queensland Inc. (SHSQ Inc)
- The Sexual Health Society of Victoria (SHSoV)
To sign up to ASHA including information about the core aims click onto the attached ASHA Flyer 
STI MSM testing guidelines
The STI Testing Guidelines for MSM have been recently updated and reprinted. The following website includes a large amount of information for gay men and other MSM on STIs, testing and treatment with contact details of relevant organisations and clinics.
Follow the link: http://thedramadownunder.info/clinicians
ASHM Testing Portal for HIV, Hepatitis C and Hepatitis B
ASHM launched its National HIV Testing Portal Policy, which is targeted to health professionals ordering HIV (HCV & HBV info will be released soon) related tests and receiving and interpreting results. They are regularly revised and updated policies and related resources.
Check out the HIV Testing Portal now http://testingportal.ashm.org.au/
Newly Revised ASHHNA Competency Standards
The ASHHNA Competency Standards for Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV Nurses (2nd Edition) are now available! These competency standards are designed to guide best practice to nurses working in the specialties of Sexual health, Sexual & Reproductive Health, and HIV Nursing. See the newly revised Competency Standards on our Resources page.
NSW Sexual Health Standard Orperating Procedures (2011)
In an exciting development the NSW Sexual Health Standard Operating Procedures (2011) have been included in the NHMRC Clinical Practice
Guidelines Portal, which can be accessed on http://www.clinicalguidelines.gov.au/search.php?pageType=2&fldglrID=1882&
The NSW sexual health clinical guidelines are updated on a regular basis by senior nurses (Clinical Nurse Consultants or Nurse Unit Managers) and form the basis of quality improvement activity and guidance for clinical practice. This document provides generic guidelines which may be adopted or amended to meet service requirements. The document has application for other disciplines and health providers involved in the prevention, detection and management of STIs.
Click here to access the NSW Sexual Health Standard Operating Procedures (2011) 
Talk Soon. Talk Often. Resource supporting families as sexuality educators of their children
A new resource to support parents and families as sexuality educators of their children. Written by Jenny Walsh of the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health & Society at La Trobe University, Victoria. Click here to access this resource 
Sexuality Education in Australian Schools (2011)
The first National Survey of Secondary Teachers of Sexuality Education (~300 secondary school teachers) examined what is currently being taught and what the barriers and facilitators are of successful sexual health education. This very interesting research identified that middle aged female PE teachers do most of the sex education, and pass on their biases and lack of knowledge.
Click here to access the Sexuality Education Survey:
ASHHNA Newsletter Survey
In 2011, we surveyed our members on the future of the ASHHNA newsletter. We were interested to know how you would feel if we stopped the structured newsletter twice a year and instead had more regular updates on the ASHHNA website with alerts sent through the listserver. Thanks very much to the 23 members who responded and to view the survey results click on 
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STI Contact Tracing Tool
The NSW STI Programs Unit has just developed a simple STI contact tracing tool which contains good information for any health care worker providing STI care and management.
Click on the picture to access the STI Contact Tracing Tool.
Australasian Contact Tracing Manual
ASHM recently published the 4th Edition of this practical handbook for health care providers managing people with HIV, viral hepatitis, STIs and HIV-related tuberculosis. Contact tracing - partner notification is a cornerstone in the management of people diagnosed with STIs and this useful Manual provides definitions, guide case studies, specific conditions and how far to trace back, privacy, confidentiality, public health law, evaluation and resources.
Click here to access the Australasian Contact Tracing Manual. 
Results of the 4th National Survey of Australian Secondary Students and Sexual Health
The Fourth National Survey of Secondary Students and Sexual Health involved nearly 3,000 Year 10 and Year 12 students from more than 100 secondary schools from the Government, Catholic and Independent school systems and from every jurisdiction in Australia. The key findings are arranged under the key themes of knowledge, behaviour and health and can be found on
Click here for Survey results 
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The ASHHNA Knowledge Network
Have you joined the ASHHNA Knowledge Network? The email list is a great way to connect with your colleagues and share information. It is open to all ASHHNA members. For joining information contact Jennifer Walsh to get connected.
This is your site so feel free to let us know what you would like to see and read on the site.
