Developing the Implementation Plans for the National Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Strategies 2018-2022

Overview

The five National Blood Borne Viruses (BBV) and Sexually Transmissible Infections (STI) Strategies set the direction for Australia’s continuing response to BBV and STI from 2018 to 2022. Together, the strategies outline a framework for a high quality and coordinated national response to BBV and STI in Australia. These five strategies include:

• Third National Hepatitis B Strategy

• Fifth National Hepatitis C Strategy

• Eighth National HIV Strategy

• Fourth National Sexually Transmissible Infections Strategy

• Fifth National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander BBV and STI Strategy

 The strategies represent the commitment of governments, community and health organisations, and researchers to addressing the impact of BBV and STI on the Australian community. The strategies have been endorsed by the Council of Australian Governments’ Health Council, which includes the Australian Government Health Minister and state and territory Health Ministers. The strategies were publicly released on 29 November 2018.

Copies of the strategies are available via the links below or on the Department of Health website: 

http://www.health.gov.au/sexual-health

 Why we are consulting

Implementation Plans are now being developed to support the implementation of all five strategies. The purpose of this consultation is to seek stakeholder input to inform the development of these implementation plans. It is important to recognise that there are many existing successful activities across Australia that contribute to the national response to BBV and STI. The implementation plans will not seek to reflect all of this effort, but rather will aim to highlight specific next steps needed to progress the key actions outlined in each of the strategies. Each strategy includes a range of key actions under the areas of education and prevention; testing, treatment and management; equitable access and coordination of care; workforce; addressing stigma and creating an enabling environment; and data, surveillance, research and evaluation.

Who is developing the Implementation Plans?

Following broad stakeholder input, the implementation plans will be developed and finalised by the Australian Government Department of Health and state and territory health departments via the Jurisdictional Executive Group of the BBV and STI Standing Committee (BBVSS). BBVSS is a standing committee of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC). The implementation plans will then be endorsed by AHPPC and will be publicly available on the Department of Health website. The implementation plans will be reviewed as required during the life of the strategies.

What consultation has already been undertaken?

The five National BBV and STI Strategies were drafted following extensive consultations with a broad range of government and non-government stakeholders across Australia. This included four targeted focus groups in regional locations to specifically discuss BBV and STI in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Detailed input was provided by all state and territory health departments, the Ministerial Advisory Council on Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections, BBVSS and the Communicable Diseases Network Australia.

How to provide input

Templates are attached below to guide stakeholder input for each of the implementation plans. These templates replicate the key areas of action identified in each of the strategies and contain a number of fields for completion (all voluntary). There is also a free text space at the end of each template if you would like to provide additional information.

Please return your submissions to BBVSTITSH@health.gov.au by close of business on Friday 22 February 2019.

Please note unless otherwise indicated, all submissions may be published on the Department of Health website. If you wish any information to be treated as confidential, please explicitly and clearly identify that information. If submissions are published, personal information identifying specific individuals will be de-identified prior to publication.

*Consultation closes on 22 February 2019*