ACON HIV testing update

ACON AND TESTINGTHE A[TEST] PARTNERSHIP

TODAYS PRESENTATION• Current Services

• Future Plans

• Other Testing Initiatives

THE NSW CONTEXT

NEW POLICY ENVIRONMENT

RAPID HIV TESTING IN NSWIdentifying undiagnosed

men is a key strategy for reducing new infections

Declining testing rates necessitated new options

Changes in the needs of gay men meant changes for ACON

Community mobilisation remains key

A[TEST] SURRY HILLS• Opened June 2013

• Wednesday and Thursday evenings

• Now averaging 16 clients per night

• Almost always fully booked

• Five cases of HIV detected

• Satisfaction - 326 clients rated the a[TEST] service .The service was rated at 4.83 out of 5 for overall satisfaction (96.6%), with 100% of clients saying that they would use the service again and recommend it to others.

• Partner Service: Sydney Sexual Health Centre

A[TEST] NEWTOWN• Opened November 2013

• Open Mondays and Tuesdays

• Averaging 7-8 clients per night

• Major promotional push to begin in July

• Three cases of HIV detected

• Partner Service: RPA Sexual Health Clinic

A[TEST] KINGS X• Began in May 2014

• Soft launch, with promotion increasing

• Lots of bookings but more ‘no-shows’

• No cases of HIV detected yet

• Partner Service: Clinic 180/Kirketon Rd Centre

A[TEST] OXFORD ST – POP UP• February to Match 2014

• Nearly 600 clients

• 12 cases of HIV detected

• Satisfaction - 4.86 out of 5 (97.2%). Almost all clients (99.4%) stated that they would use a[TEST] again, with 99.7% saying that they would recommend the service to others.

• Partner Service: Sydney Sexual Health Centre

A[TEST] OXFORD ST - PERMANENT

• Service Partner: Sydney Sexual Health Centre

OTHER TESTING DIRECTIONS• Regional Services

• Western Sydney

• Home based testing

• Home based sample collection (DBS)

CHALLENGES• Regulatory barriers

• Funding barriers

• Staffing barriers

Nicolas Parkhill

Karen Price

Timmy Lockwood

Vickie Knight

Colleagues at Sydney Sexual Health Centre, RPA Sexual Health, Clinic 180/KRC, Kirby Institute, ACON

James Gray

ACON

jgray@acon.org.au, 9206 2041

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS