Syphilis rates have tripled in Australia over the past decade, highlighting the need for greater awareness, screening and early intervention across the women’s health and family violence workforce. People experiencing domestic, family, and sexual violence (DFSV) often face additional barriers to care and are at increased risk of sexually transmissible infections (STIs). Workers in these settings are uniquely positioned to support those at higher risk.

Delivered in collaboration between the Centre for Women’s Safety and Wellbeing (CWSW) and ASHM, this webinar is designed for clinical and non-clinical staff working across DFSV and women’s health services in Western Australia. Through a trauma-informed and culturally responsive lens, the session will provide an introduction to STIs, including syphilis and congenital syphilis, recognising at-risk populations and risk factors, identifying symptoms, referral pathways, and how to initiate sexual health conversations across a range of service settings. Participants will leave with practical strategies to support timely access to care and strengthen their service’s response to syphilis.

This course is for the WA workforce. While others are welcome to register, please note some content will be specific to WA.

Date, Time & Platform:

• Date: Monday, 19 October
• Time: 12:00pm – 1:00pm (AWST)
• Platform: Live Online – Zoom

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this session, participants will be able to:

• Describe key STI trends and concerns in WA, including the rise of syphilis.
• Recognise priority populations for common STIs and related considerations relevant to DFSV and women’s health settings.
• Recognise key signs and symptoms of common STIs.
• Discuss trauma-informed and culturally responsive approaches to sexual health conversations in practice.
• Identify practical strategies to reduce barriers and support timely access to care.

Course Components:

• One 1-hour online workshop
• Post course survey

Recommended Resources:

• Australian STI Management Guidelines for Use in Primary Care | ASHM
• Could It Be Syphilis? Clinical Indicator Tool | ASHM
• Guide to Discussing Syphilis Testing | ASHM

CPD & Endorsement:

This activity may be suitable for self-claiming CPD hours with your professional body. A statement of attendance will be provided for full attendees.

Funding:

This course received funding from the Australian Centre for Disease Control.

Target Audience:

Clinical and non-clinical staff in women’s health and domestic, family and sexual violence services in WA.