Good news for people living in NSW who don’t have a Medicare card. If you are at risk of HIV, you may be able to access free PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) through participating public sexual health services or the NSW Sexual Health Infolink (SHIL).

PrEP is a medicine that helps prevent HIV. It can be an important option for HIV-negative partners of people living with HIV, as well as others who may be at risk of HIV.

You may be eligible if you:

• don’t have Medicare (including international students, temporary visa holders, working holiday makers, or people seeking asylum)

• live in NSW

• are at risk of HIV

• are assessed by a clinician as suitable for PrEP.

You don’t need to know if PrEP is right for you before making contact. A doctor or nurse can answer your questions and help you decide if it’s a suitable option.

 How to access free PrEP

• NSW Sexual Health Infolink (SHIL): 1800 451 624 (select option 5 for PrEP)  Monday to Friday, 9:00 am – 5:30 pm

• Visit your local NSW public sexual health clinic

If you need an interpreter, call TIS National on 131 450 and ask to be connected.

All sexual health services are confidential, and you can ask questions in a safe, respectful, and judgement-free environment.

This program is funded by the Australian Government until June 2029, meaning eligible people can access PrEP at no cost.

If you have a Medicare card, PrEP is also available at a subsidised cost through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Speak with your GP or local sexual health clinic to find out more.

Learn more

• NSW Sexual Health Infolink: https://shil.nsw.gov.au/general-public/medicare-ineligible-prep

• Find your nearest NSW sexual health clinic: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/sexualhealth/Pages/sexual-health-clinics.aspx

• Ending HIV NSW: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/endinghiv

• HIV and HAND — Understanding HIV‑Associated Neurocognitive Disorder
• HIV and Healthy Eating — Nutrition guidance tailored for people living with HIV
• HIV and Menopause — Managing menopause with HIV‑specific considerations

Health literacy means being able to find, understand, and use health information to make the best decisions about your care.

Health literacy can help you:

• Know how HIV treatment works
• Understand your blood test results
• Take your medicine correctly
• Ask your health provider questions
• Find support when you need it

HIV treatment today is very effective.
When taken every day, it can make your viral load undetectable. This means the virus is controlled in your body and cannot be passed on.  It’s okay if medical words feel confusing. Many people find health information hard to understand.

You can:

• Ask your doctor or nurse to explain things in simple language
• Ask them to repeat or write things down
• Bring a support person to appointments
• Use trusted government websites for information

Health services also have a role to play. They should use clear language and give you time to ask questions.

When you understand your health and treatment, you can feel more confident and in control.

You deserve care that makes you feel supported.

For more info: health-literacy-and-hiv-supporting-understanding-at-every-step-of-treatment

Health literacy supports living well with HIV by helping you understand treatment, test results and medicines, ask questions, and get supportive care.

Click here to read more pozhet.org.au/…/treatment/

Women living with HIV have important perspectives about their health care. A recent conversation hosted by the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM) brings together women living with HIV to share what they would like clinicians to better understand.

The discussion highlights the importance of listening to women’s experiences and providing care that looks at the whole person, including mental health, relationships, reproductive health, and the impact of stigma.

By centring the voices of women living with HIV, healthcare providers can better support women’s health, wellbeing, and long-term care.

Read the full article: in-conversation-women-living-with-hiv-on-what-they-want-clinicians-to-know/

Travel can be exciting, but it can also change your normal routine. Planning ahead can help you stay healthy and feel confident while you are away.

If you’re living with HIV, it is very important to keep taking your medication every day. Before you travel, talk to your doctor to make sure you have enough medicine for the trip. It’s also a good idea to bring extra in case your travel plans change.

Pack anything else you need to stay healthy, like condoms or other necessities. Keeping your usual health habits while travelling helps protect both you and others.

Travel can also mean being in busy places, like airports, where germs can spread easily. Simple steps like washing your hands often or using hand sanitiser can help stop illness.

With a little planning, people living with HIV can travel safely and enjoy their trip. Staying organised and looking after your health lets you focus on having a good time.

Read more: get-prepared-for-healthy-travel

HIV treatment today is very effective. When taken regularly, it can reduce the amount of HIV in the body to extremely low levels, known as ‘an undetectable viral load’.
When someone living with HIV has an undetectable viral load, they cannot pass HIV on through sex.
This is known as U=U, which stands for Undetectable = Untransmittable.

What does “undetectable” mean?
A viral load test measures how much HIV is in the blood. HIV treatment works by reducing the amount of virus in the body.
For HIV transmission, a viral load of less than 200 copies per millilitre of blood is considered undetectable. At this level, there is zero risk of passing HIV to sexual partners.

How long does it take to become undetectable?
Most people reach an undetectable viral load within three to six months after starting HIV treatment, as long as they take their medication every day.
Once someone has been undetectable for at least six months and continues taking treatment, they cannot pass HIV to sexual partners.

Important things to remember

• Taking HIV treatment every day helps keep your viral load undetectable.
• Regular blood tests confirm that treatment is working.
• Being undetectable does not mean HIV is cured. Treatment keeps the virus under control.

What about other sexually transmitted infections?
U=U only prevents HIV transmission. It does not prevent other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as chlamydia or gonorrhoea. Regular sexual health check-ups are still important.

Why U=U matters
U=U has changed how people understand HIV. It shows that people living with HIV who are on treatment can have relationships, sex, and families without worrying about passing HIV to their partners.
It is also an important message for reducing stigma and supporting the wellbeing of people living with HIV.

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch
This short video explains how HIV treatment can make the virus undetectable and stop HIV transmission.

Learn More:

• https://www.aidsmap.com/about-hiv/faq/what-does-undetectable-untransmittable-uu-mean
• https://www.aidsmap.com/about-hiv/undetectable-viral-load-and-hiv-transmission

New research shows that people living with HIV (PLHIV) with an undetectable viral load, experience changes in thinking and memory as they get older at about the same rate as people without HIV.

This large, long-term study looked at people who were virally suppressed, meaning their HIV medicine was working well and the amount of virus in their blood stayed very low. The researchers found that cognitive ageing (changes in memory, thinking speed, and attention) happened at a similar pace in both groups, those with and without HIV (when HIV was well treated).

However, PLHIV who did not have a stable undetectable viral load generally showed greater age-related changes in thinking and memory. This means staying on treatment and maintaining viral suppression is key to supporting brain health as you age.

Keeping your HIV under control with daily treatment not only helps your overall health, but it also supports your brain as you get older. Regular check-ups with your doctor or clinic can ensure your treatment is working well.

Read more: https://www.aidsmap.com/news/feb-2026/people-undetectable-hiv-age-cognitively-same-rate-those-without-hiv

New research from the United States suggests that people living with HIV (PLHIV) who take some commonly used HIV treatments may have a lower risk of serious heart problems compared to people using other treatments.

The study looked at PLHIV and compared different types of HIV medicines. It found that people taking newer HIV treatments had fewer major heart problems, such as heart attacks or serious heart disease.

Looking after your heart is an important part of living well.  PLHIV can have a higher risk of heart disease because of ongoing inflammation in the body, lifestyle factors, or other health conditions. This is why regular check-ups for blood pressure, cholesterol, and overall heart health are important.

The findings suggest that choosing the right HIV treatment can support both HIV management and heart health. It’s important to talk with your doctor or HIV clinic about what treatment is best for you, based on your overall health and needs.

Learn more: https://www.aidsmap.com/news/jan-2026/integrase-inhibitors-reduce-heart-risks-people-hiv-us

Women living with HIV in Australia are often diagnosed later than men, and this can lead to avoidable health problems. Many think HIV only affects men who have sex with men. As a result, women are more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage, when the virus has impacted their health more greatly.

Women constitute more than one in ten people living with HIV in Australia, and that number is growing. But health-care workers and the public often miss how important it is to think about HIV risk across all groups, including heterosexual women and women born overseas. Late diagnosis can increase the chance of serious illness and prevents early treatment initiation.

To support testing, diagnosis and earlier treatment initiation, women living with HIV and community groups have developed a  tool for health-care workers called Women & HIV Today. This tool is designed to support doctors, nurses, dentists, and other health professionals understanding of women’s experiences of living with HIV, to ensure inclusive HIV care for women in Australia.

By raising awareness through sharing lived experience, we can improve early diagnosis and care for women living with HIV across Australia.

Read more: theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/feb/10/women-hiv-high-risk-group-australia