- ASHM will lead the AUD8 million Australian Support for Pacific HIV Action (ASPHA) National System Stream with consortium partners Fiji National University, The Pacific Community, the Burnet Institute, the Doherty Institute and the Kirby Institute, providing support to Fiji and regional governments to strengthen their responses for HIV and related infections.
- ASPHA forms part of a broader $48 million investment by the Australian Government to support Fiji and the Pacific to manage rapidly escalating rates of HIV infections.
- The consortium will work with the Fiji Ministry of Health & Medical Services and other Pacific Island country governments to strengthen health systems for prevention, testing, treatment and care of HIV. Responding to country priorities and requests, areas of support may include strategy development, strengthening and scaling of HIV testing, treatment and care services, harm reduction programming, workforce development, laboratory strengthening, digital health, surveillance and building capacity for elimination of vertical transmission.
- The ASPHA National Systems Stream will work in strong collaboration with the Community stream and Commodities Stream to deliver coordinated assistance for locally-led responses.
- ASHM has been working with governments and health workers across the Pacific region for over two decades including assisting the Fiji Ministry of Health for the past 12 months to strengthen the capacity of the health workforce to respond to the HIV epidemic in Fiji, and welcome the opportunity to build on this support.
August 2026 – A new partnership announced today will bring together six of the region’s leading public health organisations with a welcomed investment of $8 million over two and a half years from the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to combat rising rates of HIV in Fiji and the Pacific.
Led by ASHM, and delivered in partnership with the Fiji National University, The Pacific Community, the Burnet Institute, the Doherty Institute and the Kirby Institute, the Australian Support for Pacific HIV Action (ASPHA) National Systems stream will work alongside governments to build stronger, more sustainable health systems to address HIV in the region.
Rising HIV rates pose significant long-term health, social and economic challenges for the region. By working with local governments and partners to deliver locally led solutions, DFAT’s ASPHA initiative aims to reduce the impact of the current HIV outbreak and strengthen countries’ capacity to respond to future public health threats.
ASHM Director of Global Dr Michelle O’Connor said the consortium will draw on decades of experience working alongside governments and organisations across the Pacific to uniquely and rapidly respond to the evolving HIV epidemic.
“2025 saw unprecedented HIV outbreak in Fiji, and it continues to be the fastest growing HIV epidemic in the world. As a consortium, we will work together across countries, institutes and governments, to enable change through facilitation, direct action and cross-country collaboration,” she said.
“ASHM’s focus has always been on strengthening national systems and workforce capacity. By translating the data, understanding the workforce needs and balancing these priorities with emerging epidemics, we can ensure we are co-developing the best solutions” she said.
Dr Jason Mitchell, Interim Lead SRH and HIV Unit, Chairperson National HIV Outbreak and Cluster Response Taskforce, Fiji, said the new project will strengthen the preexisting partnership between Australia and Fiji’s HIV response.
“Australia has already been supporting us, within weeks of the announcement of the HIV outbreak in 2025,” he said.
“We greatly appreciate this increased support, and look forward to working with our partners to continue delivering – with urgency, at scale, and where it matters most.”
ASHM CEO Alexis Apostolellis has welcomed the funding and is optimistic of the impact the consortium will bring to support the workforce in Fiji.
“ASHM has been providing support to our Pacific partners for over 20 years, and the announcement of this funding alongside our partners is a continued sign of our capabilities in the region. This investment, delivered in partnership with some of the region’s leading public health institutions, reflects the strength of those relationships and our shared commitment to improving health outcomes across the Indo-Pacific region,” Mr Apostolellis said.
“Together, we have a unique opportunity to strengthen the workforce, support national leadership and build more resilient health systems that can respond effectively to both current and emerging HIV challenges.”
About the Australian Support for Pacific HIV Action Investment
Australian Support for Pacific HIV Action (ASPHA) is a new DFAT initiative aimed to support Pacific Island countries to respond to rising rates of HIV.
Through this initiative, Australia will support Pacific countries as they implement evidence-based, effective national responses, drawing on the tools and policy approaches that can help to contain HIV as a public health threat.
About ASHM
ASHM works closely with in-country partners to strengthen health systems and health workforce capacity to deliver quality and accessible HIV, sexual and reproductive health and viral hepatitis services for all. Our work aligns with national and regional guidelines within the countries we work in, and our services are adapted for local contexts
