Students at university are at a high risk of sexual adversity due to perceived invulnerability and associated risk-taking behaviours, in addition to social pressures and sexual networks.

Therefore, it is essential to provide sexual health care services to ensure the health and wellbeing of a student population. Service provision has also received renewed attention in light of the National Report on Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment at Australian Universities (2017).

UNE School of Health’s Associate Professor Leah East and Mr Zach Byfield have been working with key UNE student support colleagues and  Sexual Health Services to increase the delivery of essential health services to students.

At the end of March 2018 the Hunter New England Sexual Health team were at Duval College providing onsite sexual health care, including STI testing. Having free sexual health services on campus can alleviate the need to travel to the town centre or out of town, which can act as a barrier to STI screening. It also provides an opportunity to discuss sexual health with qualified practitioners and offers the opportunity to promote positive sexual health and wellbeing.

The sexual health services will continue to make onsite visits in the coming months in an effort to better provide sexual health screening and services to the students of UNE. Ongoing cooperation between UNE and the Hunter New England Health Service will continue to see improved access to healthcare services to rural and regional students who are often disadvantaged due to geographic location.

University of New England Students can access Hunter New England Sexual Health services through Clinic 468 at 468 Peel St, Tamworth NSW. Students and staff can also access bulk-billed sexual health check through the UNE medical Centre.