Hi @bigblue, thanks for asking this question. You are mostly right, with a couple rare exceptions! It is possible to get HIV from non-sexual contact, but in Australia at least, that’s pretty unlikely.
HIV can be passed if someone’s blood gets into your bloodstream (e.g. by sharing injecting needles) or from mother-to-child in pregnancy/birth or breastfeeding. If either of you have ever shared needles (e.g. using drugs or getting homemade tattoos) then you should get tested for HIV & Hepatitis C. If either of you were born with HIV, you would know by now, as you’d need to be on treatment.
You definitely can’t get HIV from kissing, hugging or touching so that’s always safe. If you’re having penetrative sex, condoms protect against HIV & other STIs 🙂