What is STI testing? STI testing is the process of running medical tests to check for any sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It is quick, easy, and confidential. Most STI tests only require a blood test and either a self-collected swab or a urine sample. Why is STI testing important? […]
It’s Valentine’s Day National Condom Day! It’s no coincidence that Valentine’s Day and National Condom Day fall on the same day… but in terms of which one we’re celebrating, well, that’s a no brainer. Here at Play Safe, we’ll take any excuse to celebrate condoms, but today, on National Condom […]
World AIDS Day Ever wondered why you see red ribbons everywhere in early December? Well, it’s because of World AIDS Day. World AIDS Day takes place on the 1st of December each year and is all about showing support for people living with HIV, raising awareness about HIV prevention, testing […]
What is STI testing? STI testing is the process of running medical tests to check for any sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It is quick, easy, and confidential. Most STI tests only require a blood test and either a self-collected swab or a urine sample. Why is STI testing important? […]
It’s Valentine’s Day National Condom Day! It’s no coincidence that Valentine’s Day and National Condom Day fall on the same day… but in terms of which one we’re celebrating, well, that’s a no brainer. Here at Play Safe, we’ll take any excuse to celebrate condoms, but today, on National Condom […]
World AIDS Day Ever wondered why you see red ribbons everywhere in early December? Well, it’s because of World AIDS Day. World AIDS Day takes place on the 1st of December each year and is all about showing support for people living with HIV, raising awareness about HIV prevention, testing […]
What is contraception? Contraception, also sometimes referred to as ‘birth control’, is something people can use when they want to have sex that can result in pregnancy, but do not want to become pregnant or have a baby. Understanding contraception and figuring out the best contraceptive method for you is […]
Your STI test results are always confidential, so there’s no need to worry about anyone finding out.
Your STI results are confidential. Occasionally, the government needs data for statutory reporting purposes, for example, a report about notifiable diseases such as STIs. In that case, data is shared, but it’s just numbers. It’s never names, addresses or any other identifiable information.
Your STI test results won’t show up on your Medicare records.
If you’re over 14, everything about your Medicare use is kept confidential, even from parents. If you’re 15 or over you can get your own Medicare card if you want to. If you are under the age of 14, your parents or guardians can see limited details about your Medicare claim history via an online account. This includes information regarding the date you saw a doctor, amount paid and the rebate given by Medicare. To find out more about how young people’s medical information is kept safe, click here.
If you’re worried about confidentiality, you can get the full rundown here.
Health care providers (including Nurse Nettie) are legally and professionally required to make reports if they believe you’re at significant risk of harm from someone else or think you may hurt yourself or others. They have a duty of care to ensure you’re safe. You can find out more about this over on Law Stuff.
If you want more info about confidentiality, you can ask Nurse Nettie.
Even though it’s a normal part of a healthy and enjoyable sex life, getting an STI test can sometimes feel daunting. To show that there’s really nothing to worry about, we sat down with Melissa* from Sydney to talk about her first-hand experience of getting tested. Want to see if […]
Have you ever visited the Play Safe forum? It’s packed full of conversations on all things sexual health from young people across NSW. One of the topics they’ve been tackling recently is tips for getting an STI test. Here, we round up their advice. 1. Try to relax “Remember that […]
Getting an STI test is a normal part of a healthy and confident sex life, but sometimes it can feel daunting or confusing.
Did you know that the types of STI tests you need differ depending on the type of sex you’re having? There are a few different types of STI tests – urine tests, vaginal swabs, throat swabs, rectal swabs and blood tests. Each one has a different purpose. In Australia, a […]
What’s World AIDS Day? Held worldwide on 1st December each year, World AIDS Day provides an opportunity for everyone to: Remember those who lost their lives to HIV and AIDS Show support for people living with HIV Address HIV-related stigma that’s still present in Australia You CANNOT catch HIV through social contact. What’s HIV-related stigma? HIV-related stigma refers to […]
I’ve been getting questions lately from people worried about lumps and bumps on and around their genitals (penis, vagina, and anal area). To put you all at ease I asked a good colleague, Dr Chris Bourne, a Staff Specialist at Sydney Sexual Health Centre, to answer all your questions. Over […]