Barwon Reproductive and Sexual Health Clinic (BRaSH)
The Barwon Reproductive and Sexual Health (BRaSH) Clinics are located at University Hospital Geelong (UHG) and Barwon Health North (BHN). The clinics are staffed by doctors and nurses with expertise in sexual health, who provide the following services for people of all ages:
- STI screening, assessment, testing and treatment
- PrEP for HIV prevention
- Contraception advice, provision and referral
- Education and advice around safer sex practices, sexuality, and sexual dysfunction
- HIV Care and Treatment: The BRaSH Clinic at UHG is also staffed by infectious disease specialists, a pharmacist, psychiatrist and an outreach worker who provide multidisciplinary clinical treatment and psychosocial support for people living with HIV.
Referral from a GP is welcome but not required.
On arrival, you will need to register at the clinic reception. The doctor or nurse you see will ask you some questions about your health and with your permission, and if required, may perform a physical examination. STI testing usually includes the following:
• Swabs (which may be self collected)
• Urine
• A blood test
For patients with Medicare, the BRaSH clinical service and most laboratory tests and treatments are provided free of charge. In some cases, you may need a prescription or a referral for follow up elsewhere. For Medicare ineligible patients BRaSH does not charge for the clinical service, however laboratory tests and some treatments may incur charges.
All information you provide is confidential and you have the right to refuse any aspects of the care offered.
FACT SHEET: Frequently asked questions about sexually transmissible infections
FACT SHEET: All you need to know about STI testing
Let Them Know (partner notification)
Post exposure prophylaxis (PEP)
Pre Exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)
PrEPaccessNOW (PAN)
Referring your patient:
Referral to BRaSH may by the following:
- Patients may present to BRaSH clinics for a booked or walk in appointment – please provide documentation of presenting issues, relevant pathology results and treatment history to the patient to take to the clinic
- Direct referral: Fx: 03 4215 1366
- Direct referral: Phone BRaSH Nurses at UHG or BHN on clinic days
- For urgent referral or advice please contact the Infectious Disease Registrar On Call through the University Hospital Geelong Switch board on 03 4215 0000
- GP Referral Template is available at https://www.barwonhealth.org.au/health-professionals/outpatient-services/referral-templates, please fax the referral directly to the BRaSH clinic (rather than send via ReferralNet, as this may result in delay)
PHN guidelines and referral directory: Western Victoria Health Pathways
Guidelines:
Australian STI Guidelines
Melbourne Sexual Health Centre
ASHM
Post Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)
Pre Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)
Antiretroviral Guidelines (HIV)
Australasian Contact Tracing Guidelines
Notifiable infections:
Some sexually transmitted infections, including gonorrhoea, syphilis and HIV, are notifiable by clinicians to the Victorian Department of Health.
Please visit the Department’s Notifiable Conditions webpage for more information about which conditions are notifiable and how to complete a notification.
Patients with an STI can be directed to the Let Them Know website for guidance around informing their sexual partners, including via anonymous SMS.
Support with partner notification is available for complex cases, and can be requested as part of completing a notification to the Department of Health.
For any questions about public health management of notifiable conditions, clinicians are welcome to contact the Barwon South West Public Health Unit on (03) 4215 4000.
Melbourne Sexual Health partner GP clinics:
For urgent care; if you are unable to access a GP or Sexual Health Centre
If you have symptoms you can check how urgently you require care at – https://www.staystifree.org.au/how-urgent-are-my-symptoms/
If you require urgent care, and are unable to access a GP or Sexual Health Centre, the following urgent care services are available in the region
Urgent Care Centres
Medicare Urgent Care Clinics https://www.health.vic.gov.au/priority-primary-care-centres,
Youth support
Page last updated: May 1, 2025