On 17 September, the HIV sector came together to remember and celebrate the life of Dr Nicholas ‘Nick’ Medland. Nick played a key role in shaping HIV and sexual health clinical and public health practice in Australia.
Starting his career in the HIV sector as a doctor at the Victorian AIDS Council Gay Men’s Health Centre and the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Nick would go on to work in senior roles with the US CDC and FHI 360 in their HIV programs in Vietnam.
After returning to Australia, Nick was an essential figure in guiding Australia’s sexual health workforce. In addition to working clinical and consultant roles across Melbourne, Nick also provided guidance and leadership as Co-Chair of the Australasian Sexual and Reproductive Health Alliance (then called the Australasian Sexual Health Alliance) from 2018-19, and as President of ASHM from 2020-23, following more than a decade as an ASHM Board Member.
Nick was the current chair of the Australian Sexually Transmissible Infections Management Guidelines for Use in Primary Care and led the update to include tests for HIV and syphilis with all STI testing in Australia. He was also pivotal in developing the highly effective primary healthcare response to mpox playing a critical role in development of clinical guidelines and training programs.
Throughout his career as a GP, epidemiologist, and advocate, Nick was always generous with his time and compassion for others. Nick was known for his endless drive to improve healthcare access and quality and, ultimately, better health outcomes for people living with HIV and sexually transmissible infections.
Hear more from Nick’s family, friends, and colleagues as they reflect on his incredible life and impact on the HIV and sexual health sector in the video above, filmed during a memorial held during the Australaisan HIV&AIDS Conference 2025.
