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 HIV, sexual and reproductive health.

The Barwon South West Public Health Unit provides updates, health alerts, and further information about HIV, STI and reproductive health, including clinical services available in the Barwon South West Region, and Mpox vaccination.

Conditions seen

Barwon Health offers a Reproductive and Sexual Health service for the following conditions:

  • Sexually Transmitted Infections: screening, assessment, testing and treatment
  • Pre Exposure Prophylaxis (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 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.

Conditions not seen

Barwon Reproductive and Sexual Health clinic accepts both GP and self-referrals for the above conditions only.

How do I access this service?

To be seen in the Barwon Reproductive and Sexual Health (BRaSH) specialist clinic a referral from your GP, a specialist doctor, your Barwon Health doctor or from a community-based healthcare provider is welcome but not required.

This service also accepts self-referrals from patients. Please contact the clinic directly to book an appointment time; alternatively walk-in appointments may be available.

Appointment timeframe

All requests for specialist clinic appointments are scheduled according to the patient’s clinical need.

The estimated waiting time varies depending on the demand for our services, and appointments are offered as they become available.

The estimated waiting time for routine first appointments is listed below as a general guide. This waiting time is reviewed and updated regularly.

Speciality
Estimated timeframe

Reproductive and Sexual Health Clinic

Less than 1 month

What to expect at your visit

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.

For Health Professionals

State-referral criteria may apply for conditions under this specialty requiring further assessment and management. Referring clinicians are encouraged to utilise Western Victoria Community HealthPathways for referral guidelines and requirements for all conditions.

For urgent referral advice, please contact the Infectious Disease on-call registrar via Barwon Health switchboard on 03 4215 0000.

Complete the specialist clinics referral template and send via:

  • ReferralNet
  • Fax: 03 4215 1366

Referral templates for Barwon Health services are available for importing into Best Practice, Medical Director or ZedMed. Please see the Referral templates page for the most up-to-date forms.

If you do not use the above clinical software, please complete a referral letter on your practice/health service letterhead, ensuring all required referral information is included.

If you need to contact us regarding the templates, please contact the GP Liaison Unit on 03 4215 8845 or [email protected].

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.

For patients who require reassessment, a new referral should be sent through. To facilitate earlier access, the new referral must contain the following information:

  • State the referral is an update for a current patient
  • Date of original referral
  • Reason for requesting a review of referral (e.g. deterioration in clinical condition, pathology)

The referrer will be notified of the outcome of the re-triage process.

GPs or referring doctors wishing to discuss the triage of their patient’s referral, or who require additional information, please contact the BRaSH clinic directly on clinic days, or the Infectious Disease on-call registrar through the Barwon Health switchboard on 03 4215 0000.

Page last updated: January 14, 2026