Group of staff and consumers

SSHC has a podcast!

This podcast is aimed at keeping health professionals and consumers updated on topics that impact sexual health, sharing stories from our workforce, and letting you know what is happening here at the centre.

The SSHC podcast may be eligible for CPD points, please check with your provider to see if it is suitable for your profession.

You can follow the podcast on Soundcloud, Apple podcasts, Spotify or search for the “Sydney Sexual Health Centre podcast” on your preferred listening platform.

Latest Episode


Recent Episodes

EP 45 – Person-centred Trans and Gender Diverse Healthcare

29 mins

Trans and gender diverse healthcare is often seen as a niche specialty. Though there are things that we can all be doing to make sure we are affirming and welcoming.In this podcast we discuss the structural barriers trans and gender diverse people face when accessing health services, some of the services available, the new LGBTIQ+ NSW Health Strategy, and how we can all help create gender affirming services in healthcare or in the broader community.Resources:Information: https://www.transhub.org.au/ https://auspath.org.au/ https://www.wpath.org/Services: https://gendercentre.org.au/ https://twenty10.org.au/ https://www.acon.org.au/e-learning https://ashm.org.au/lms/ashm-acons-trans-and-gender-diverse-sexual-health-care-e-learning/Host: Thomas Munro (he/him) Guests: Maggie Smith (they/them), T150 Clinic Albion Centre, SESLHD Merryn Kellie (they/she), SESLHDTo stay up to date with the latest information in sexual health, follow us on social media:www.facebook.com/SydneySHC twitter.com/SydneySHC www.instagram.com/sydneysexualhealth/ www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-s…al-health-centreWe acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast was produced. We pay our respects to the elders past, present, and emerging wherever you are listening from.

EP 44 – Professional Profile: Bronwyn Leece

30 mins

In this episode we meet Bronwyn Leece. Bronwyn has worked in sexual health promotion since the 1980s. She shares her experiences of working in sexual health education in schools, the impacts of HIV/AIDS on the work through the 80s and 90s, her time working in India, the evolution of sexual health promotion over this time, more recent resources for parents, and diversity and inclusion initiatives.Resources:Talk Soon Talk Often (WA) https://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/articles/s_t/talk-soon-talk-oftenTalk Soon Talk Often (NSW) https://talksoontalkoften.wordpress.com/Host: Thomas Munro (he/him) Guests: Bronwyn LeeceTo stay up to date with the latest information in sexual health, follow us on social media:www.facebook.com/SydneySHC twitter.com/SydneySHC www.instagram.com/sydneysexualhealth/ www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-s…al-health-centreWe acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast was produced. We pay our respects to the elders past, present, and emerging wherever you are listening from.

Ep 43 – Heterosexuals and HIV

21 mins

In this episode we meet Mel, a heterosexual woman living with HIV who was diagnosed in western Sydney.She is a mum, works fulltime, and is on the board of Positive Life NSW. She shares her experience of diagnosis in Australia, offers some advice for heterosexual people living with HIV, and shares how she found her community.Resources:https://www.positivelife.org.au/Host: Thomas Munro (he/him) Guests: Mel (Positive Life NSW)To stay up to date with the latest information in sexual health, follow us on social media:https://www.facebook.com/SydneySHC https://twitter.com/SydneySHC https://www.instagram.com/sydneysexualhealth/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-sexual-health-centreWe acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast was produced. We pay our respects to the elders past, present, and emerging wherever you are listening from.

EP 42 – Where Sexual Health Nursing Can Take You

22 mins

On this episode we meet Clinical Nurse Specialist Cherie Bennett.Cherie wears many hats, including being a sessional academic at the University of Wollongong, CHART Program Manager at the Kirby Institute, a medical educator at ASHM, and working here at Sydney Sexual Health Centre.Her diverse career has seen her work in Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu. She shares some of her insights and advice for anybody interested in a career in HIV and sexual health, or including sexual health into your clinical practice.Resources:https://pro.playsafe.health.nsw.gov.au/tools/youth-friendly-checklist https://www.kirby.unsw.edu.au/study/cooper-hivaids-research-training-chart-program https://ashm.org.au/Host: Thomas Munro (he/him) Guests: Cherie Bennet (ASHM/SSHC/Kirby/UOW)To stay up to date with the latest information in sexual health, follow us on social media:https://www.facebook.com/SydneySHC https://twitter.com/SydneySHC https://www.instagram.com/sydneysexualhealth/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-sexual-health-centreWe acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast was produced. We pay our respects to the elders past, present, and emerging wherever you are listening from.

EP 41 – Youth Friendliness

30 mins

In this podcast episode, join us as SESLHD’s Stanya Sharota and youth peer educator Anna Danyushevsky share crucial tips on creating youth-friendly services. Discover how to discuss sensitive topics like STIs with younger audiences. Plus, check out linked resources from Play Safe Pro, including a youth-friendly checklist and resources for both professionals and young people.Wherever we work, we will have young people attend our services either as consumers or family members. We can all benefit from hearing some tips to improve how welcoming our services are.Host: Thomas Munro (he/him)Guests: Stanya Sharota(Youth Health Manager, SESLHD) Anna Danyushevsky(Youth Peer Educator, SESLHD)New resources from Play Safe:GP Youth friendliness checklist https://pro.playsafe.health.nsw.gov.au/tools/youth-friendly-checklist/Fact sheet for young people https://pro.playsafe.health.nsw.gov.au/tools/sexual-health-check-factsheet-for-young-people/Health promotion video for playlists in GP waiting rooms or sharing on social media https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzNq8yYg0OfZSgjiUcSr1wAJBeB20kwozThe Access 3 study: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/kidsfamilies/youth/Pages/access-study.aspxOther resources:https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/kidsfamilies/youth/Pages/default.aspx https://askforhealth.com.au/ https://www.headspace.com/ https://au.reachout.com/To stay up to date with the latest information in sexual health, follow us on social media:https://www.facebook.com/SydneySHC https://twitter.com/SydneySHC https://www.instagram.com/sydneysexualhealth/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-sexual-health-centreWe acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast was produced. We pay our respects to the elders past, present, and emerging wherever you are listening from.

EP 40 – The Myths of Syphilis

34 mins

Syphilis has been shrouded in myth and stigma over the centuries. Here in Australia we have been seeing increased cases of this disease that used to be known as ‘the great pox’ across Europe. Luckily today it is easily treated and cured with penicillin.To tell us more about Syphilis presentations we see here at SSHC we’re joined by Dr Melissa Lam. Then to speak more about the history of syphilis, priorities for prevention and treatment in NSW, and some of the current research taking place we speak with Dr. Phillip Read.Host: Thomas Munro (he/him) Guests: Dr. Melissa Lam(Registrar, SSHC) Dr. Phillip Read (Director Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Services, SESLHD)Resources:https://playsafe.health.nsw.gov.au/common-stis/syphilis/ https://www.stipu.nsw.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/17.-Syphilis.pdfTo stay up to date with the latest information in sexual health, follow us on social media:https://www.facebook.com/SydneySHC https://twitter.com/SydneySHC https://www.instagram.com/sydneysexualhealth/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-sexual-health-centreWe acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast was produced. We pay our respects to the elders past, present, and emerging wherever you are listening from.

EP 39 – Monkeypox and the Vaccination Hub

24 mins

In this episode of the podcast we discuss Monkeypox.First Dr. Katie Burkitt takes us through the symptoms, how to keep yourself and your partners safe, and how the Australian outbreak differs from cases overseas.Then we are joined by Anik Ray to discuss vaccine supply and the rapid deployment of the SESLHD monkeypox vaccination hub at The Albion Centre. We hear about how this was made possible through an agile and responsive team of clinicians, community partners, and IT working together to meet community needs.Host: Thomas Munro (he/him) Guests: Dr. Katie Burkitt (Registrar, SSHC) Anik Ray (CNC, SSHC)Resources:To stay up to date with the latest information in sexual health, follow us on social media:https://www.facebook.com/SydneySHC https://twitter.com/SydneySHC https://www.instagram.com/sydneysexualhealth/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-sexual-health-centreWe acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast was produced. We pay our respects to the elders past, present, and emerging wherever you are listening from.

EP 38 – The SSHC Nutrition Clinic

19 mins

In this edition of the podcast I am joined by Lia and Jane, accredited practicing dietitians who work at the Albion Centre and at a new SSHC clinic on Fridays.We discuss why nutrition is important to consider in relation to sexual health. We also have a discussion about the future of sustainable food in Australia and the growing interest of entomophagy: eating insects as part of a healthy diet.Resources to help support health eating:Apps: 8700 app Food switch appWebsites https://www.healthyliving.nsw.gov.au/ https://www.healthyliving.nsw.gov.au/Pages/healthy-eating.aspx https://dietitiansaustralia.org.au/diet-and-nutrition-health-advice https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/ https://nomoneynotime.com.au/about https://foodwatch.com.au/ https://www.thinkingnutrition.com.au/ https://nutritionaustralia.org/about/Healthy Food Guide – Delicious recipes and expert diet advice online and hard copy magazine – subscription costs money, each magazine is about $6.Support/programs Get Healthy NSW at https://www.gethealthynsw.com.au/Host: Thomas Munro (he/him) Guests: Lia Purnomo and Jane Marriott, The Albion CentreWe acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast was produced. We pay our respects to the elders past, present, and emerging wherever you are listening from.

EP 37 – Comprehensive Sexuality Education in Schools

39 mins

Although sexual health and consent is included in the national education curriculum and relevant state curriculums, the implementation can be variable with many students reporting that they have received inadequate information. Recently, public movements led by young people, such at Chanel Contos’ Teach Us Consent campaign, have been calling for quality information to be taught in schools.I am joined by Eliza Basheer and Caecilia Roth to talk about the evidence behind Comprehensive Sexuality Education, the work that they do to assist teachers to feel comfortable to deliver this information, and how they work with parents and communities to ensure that it suits their needs.Host: Thomas Munro (he/him) Guests: Eliza Basheer(Senior Policy Officer, Family Planning NSW) Caecilia Roth (Senior Education Officer, Family Planning NSW)Resources:Family Planning NSW courses for school teachers https://www.fpnsw.org.au/education-training/courses-school-teachersFamily Planning NSW Framework for Comprehensive Sexuality Education https://www.fpnsw.org.au/advocacy/comprehensive-sexuality-educationNSW Government Make No Doubt consent campaign https://www.makenodoubt.dcj.nsw.gov.au/Teach Us Consent https://www.teachusconsent.com/To stay up to date with the latest information in sexual health, follow us on social media:https://www.facebook.com/SydneySHC https://twitter.com/SydneySHC https://www.instagram.com/sydneysexualhealth/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-sexual-health-centreWe acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast was produced. We pay our respects to the elders past, present, and emerging wherever you are listening from.

EP 36 – World Hepatitis Day 2022: Hep B

40 mins

This is World Hepatitis Day 2022. in this podcast we’ll take a closer look at hepatitis B. Hep b impacts a large number of people in Australia, particularly people born overseas who haven’t had access to vaccinations.To discuss the SSHC fibroscan clinic is Anik Ray. We then speak with Wa’el Sabri from the Multicultural HIV and Hepatitis Service about how they work with communities to improve health outcomes. Finally we’re joined by Rachel Lian from Hepatitis NSW to discuss her lived experience.Host: Thomas Munro (he/him) Guests: Anik Ray(SSHC) Wa’el Sabri (MHAHS) Rachel Lian (HepNSW)To stay up to date with the latest information in sexual health, follow us on social media:https://www.facebook.com/SydneySHC https://twitter.com/SydneySHC https://www.instagram.com/sydneysexualhealth/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-sexual-health-centreResources:Hepatitis NSW story writing competition:hep.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2022_HepBWritingComp_VH22poster.pdfHepatitis NSW Hep B information:https://www.hep.org.au/hep-b/Multicultural HIV and Hepatitis Service resources can be found here:https://www.mhahs.org.au/index.php/en/We acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast was produced. We pay our respects to the elders past, present, and emerging wherever you are listening from.

EP 35 – Vaping, tobacco cessation, and smoking: what you need to know.

24 mins

We all know smoking is bad for us, but what about vaping?For World No Tobacco Day 2022 we are investigating vaping and the evidence for its use in helping people to quit smoking.To take us through some ways of reducing the harms of smoking amongst the populations we see here at SSHC is Dr. Aaron Coleman. As a peer who speaks with patients about smoking and what quit supports are available, David Massa shares his experiences of quitting smoking and what worked for him. Emily Jenkinson from Cancer Council NSW will then let us know about their research into the harms that vaping can cause for individuals and the community.Some further resources: Quitline https://www.icanquit.com.au/quitting-methods/professional-support-and-advice/quitlineMyQuitBuddy app https://www.health.gov.au/resources/apps-and-tools/my-quitbuddy-appIcanQuit www.icanquit.com.auNSW Health Do You Know What You’re Vaping campaign https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/tobacco/pages/vaping.aspxNSW Health advice on E-cigarettes https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/tobacco/Pages/e-cigarettes.aspx#:~:text=NSW%20Health’s%20position%20on%20e%2Dcigarettes&text=E%2Dcigarettes%20may%20expose%20users,and%20efficacy%20can%20be%20produced.RACGP Smoking Cessation Guide https://www.racgp.org.au/clinical-resources/clinical-guidelines/key-racgp-guidelines/view-all-racgp-guidelines/supporting-smoking-cessationTherapeutic Goods Administration. Nicotine vaping products: Information for consumers https://www.tga.gov.au/nicotine-vaping-products-information-consumersHost: Thomas Munro (he/him) Guests: Dr. Aaron Coleman, David Massa, Emily JenkinsonThis podcast has been developed in partnership with the SESLHD Health Promotion Service.We acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast was recorded. We pay our respects to the elders past, present, and emerging wherever you are listening from.

EP 34 – Equitable Access in Sexual Healthcare

23 mins

In this episode we explore how sexual health services can work towards reducing inequities in health outcomes for the consumers that we see.Joining us is Evan Freeman, the South East Sydney Local Health District Equity Manager to speak about his work ensuring equity is a part of the planning processes within the district. We are then joined by Maggie Ma, who discusses the work she does here at SSHC to encourage service access to consumers who don’t speak English as their primary language.Host: Thomas Munro (he/him) Guests: Evan Freeman, Maggie MaWe acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast was recorded. We pay our respects to the elders past, present, and emerging wherever you are listening from.

EP 33 – Close The Gap Day 2022

21 mins

For Close the Gap Day 2022 we meet some people working to enhance Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sexual health.In this podcast I am joined by Kezia Blackledge from the Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network to speak about her work as well as winning the Levinia Crooks Emerging Leader Award at the 2021 ASHM Conference. I am then joined by Samantha Houben to discuss her exhibit Fe/Mail promoting Aboriginal art in a sexual health waiting room as part of The Waiting Room Project.Want to know more about the art? The current exhibit Fe/Mail can be found on their website.https://www.waitingroomproject.net/Here is the Take Blaktion campaign as part of Play Safe by the STI Programs Unit (STIPU):https://takeblaktion.playsafe.health.nsw.gov.au/Want to donate to help support Close the Gap initiatives?https://antar.org.au/donate-antarTo stay up to date with the latest information in sexual health, follow us on social media:https://www.facebook.com/SydneySHC https://twitter.com/SydneySHC https://www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-sexual-health-centreHost: Thomas Munro (he/him) Guests: Kezia Blackledge, Samantha HoubenWe acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast was recorded. We pay our respects to the elders past, present, and emerging wherever you are listening from.

EP 32 – Herpes

37 mins

Herpes. Is it really so bad?To help answer the question I am joined by Samantha Blake from the Sexual Health Info Link (SHIL) and Stephanie de Vries to discuss her lived experience.Want to know more? Check out these useful resources:https://www.herpes.org.nz/ https://playsafe.health.nsw.gov.au/common-stis/herpes/ https://www.instagram.com/my_boyfriend_has_herpes/Still have questions? You can call the sexual health info link on 1800 451 624. https://www.shil.nsw.gov.au/To stay up to date with the latest information in sexual health, follow us on social media:https://www.facebook.com/SydneySHC https://twitter.com/SydneySHC https://www.instagram.com/sydneysexualhealth/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-sexual-health-centreHost: Thomas Munro (he/him) Guests: Samantha Blake (SHIL), Stephanie de VriesWe acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast was recorded. We pay our respects to the elders past, present, and emerging wherever you are listening from.

EP 31 – World AIDS Day 2021: Stigma and its Impact on People Living With HIV

42 mins

This is World AIDS Day 2021.Stigma reduction has become an increasingly important part of the NSW HIV strategy. Though what is it? What can we do about it?To discuss the detrimental effects of stigma and the research, I am joined by Dr Timothy Broady who is a senior research fellow from UNSW’s Centre for Social Research in Health.To talk about his lived experience of HIV related stigma, I’m joined by a member of Positive Life NSW’s Positive Speaker’s Bureau, Freddy Cole.To stay up to date with the latest information in sexual health, you can follow us on social media:https://www.facebook.com/SydneySHC https://twitter.com/SydneySHC https://www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-sexual-health-centreHost: Thomas Munro (he/him) Guests: Dr Timothy Broady, UNSW. Freddy Cole, Positive Speaker’s Bureau.We acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast was recorded. We pay our respects to the elders past, present, and emerging wherever you are listening from.

EP 30 – Our New Co-Morbidity Clinic for People Living with HIV

26 mins

In this podcast we hear about the new SSHC co-morbidity screening clinic for people living with HIV. It is designed to work collaboratively with general practice to improve health outcomes. Listen to find out more about the role of nurses in the clinic and how it operates.To stay up to date with the latest information in sexual health, you can follow us on social media:www.facebook.com/SydneySHC twitter.com/SydneySHC www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-s…al-health-centreHost: Thomas Munro (he/him)Guests: Dr. Rick Varma, Clinical Services Manager, SSHC Rebecca Houghton, Nurse Unit Manager, SSHCWe acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast was recorded. We pay our respects to the elders past, present, and emerging wherever you are listening from.

EP 29 – Hepatitis Awareness Week 2021: Eliminating Hep C from prisons and the community

35 mins

For Hepatitis Awareness Week 2021 we are exploring some of the great work being done to meet the goal of eliminating Hep C in NSW by 2028.Marian Bloomfield from the Justice and Forensic Mental Health Network gives us an insight into what it is like working towards eliminating Hep C in prisons, including the nurse-led model they use and supporting patients moving back in the community. Julie Page from the Nepean Blue Mountain Local Health District Needle and Syringe Program then shares some of the challenges in finding the ‘hard to reach’ people who still require treatment, information GPs need to know, and the barriers to accessing care that still need to be overcome.To stay up to date with the latest information in sexual health, you can follow us on social media:www.facebook.com/SydneySHC twitter.com/SydneySHC www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-s…al-health-centreHost: Thomas Munro (he/him) Guests: Marian Bloomfield, Julie PageWe acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast was recorded. We pay our respects to the elders past, present, and emerging wherever you are listening from.

EP 28 – Co-designing for Sexual Health: Developing the International Student Health Hub

26 mins

The International Student Health Hub is a resource that has been developed to share sexual and reproductive health information with international students. It is a ‘one stop shop’ for information and was developed as part of the Play Safe Programs run by NSW Health’s STI Program Unit (STIPU). In this podcast I am joined by Maddy and Anju, 2 of the co-leaders who developed the project along with a number of partners (listed below). I am then joined by Sujith to speak about his experience as an international student involved in the co-design process.The website can be accessed here: https://internationalstudents.health.nsw.gov.au/If you have any questions, or would like to help promote the international student health hub, you can contact Maddie or Anju on: Maddison.Stratten@health.nsw.gov.au Anju.Devkota@health.nsw.gov.auProject partners:Study New South Wales (NSW) provided grant funds and 18 organisations partnered on the grant submission through contributing monetary and/or in-kind support. Organisations included: • AIDS Council of NSW(ACON), • Bupa, • Centre for Culture Ethnicity and Health, • English Australia, • Family Planning NSW, • Healthy Cities Illawarra Inc, • Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (LHD) Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Related Programs (HARP), • Medibank, • Multicultural HIV and Hepatitis Service, • South Eastern Sydney SESLHD Priority Populations, • SESLHD Child Youth/Family Services, • SESLHD Health Promotion, • Southern and Murrumbidgee LHD HARP, • NSW STI Programs Unit, • Sydney LHD, • Population Health, • University of NSW, • Health and Wellbeing, • University of NSW, • Centre for Social Research in Health • Western Sydney LHD HARP.Twenty three additional organisations partnered on the project outside the grant submission, including: • Allianz, • CBHC Overseas Health Cover, • Charles Stuart University, • City of Sydney, • Hunter New England LHD, • ISANA, • Kirby, • Newcastle University, • NIB, • NSW Ministry of Health, • Positive Life NSW, • Pozhet, • Redfern Legal, • Southern Cross University, • SWOP, • Sydney University, • TAFE NSW International, • Universities Australia, • University of New England, • University of Technology, • University of Wollongong, • Western Sydney University, • YFoundations.To stay up to date with the latest information in sexual health, you can follow us on social media:https://www.facebook.com/SydneySHC https://twitter.com/SydneySHC https://www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-sexual-health-centreHost: Thomas Munro (he/him) Guests: Maddy Stratten, Anju Devkota and Sujith.We acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast was recorded. We pay our respects to the elders past, present, and emerging wherever you are listening from.

EP 27 – Professional Profile: Professor Basil Donovan

39 mins

Join us for another professional profile. In this episode we meet Professor Basil Donovan. Basil has been a part of Sydney Sexual Health Centre since the late 70’s, when it was called the Sydney STD clinic. He shares some stories about the history of sexual health, the early days of the clinic, and the HIV response in Sydney.To stay up to date with the latest information in sexual health, you can follow us on social media:https://www.facebook.com/SydneySHC https://twitter.com/SydneySHC https://www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-sexual-health-centreHost: Thomas Munro (he/him) Guest: Professor Basil DonovanWe acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast was recorded. We pay our respects to the elders past, present, and emerging wherever you are listening from.

EP 26 – The Waiting Room Project: Human Papillomavirus and the art of Joselo Ortiz.

29 mins

Here at SSHC we run a project where we display art in the waiting room to help reduce the anxiety that consumers may be feeling when visiting the clinic. The volunteers who run this project recorded a Zoom panel discussion with artist Joselo Ortiz and guests, discussing his artworks related to the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). The conversation is broad ranging touching on the personal, social, cultural, and medical impacts of HPV as well as gender inequities in accessing the healthcare system in Australia.To see the art you can go to the website here: https://www.waitingroomproject.net/To see the full zoom recording you can view it on our YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F91RVgyRVUkTo stay up to date with the latest information in sexual health, you can follow us on social media:https://www.facebook.com/SydneySHC https://twitter.com/SydneySHC https://www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-sexual-health-centreHost: Thomas Munro (he/him)We acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast was recorded. We pay our respects to the elders past, present, and emerging wherever you are listening from.

EP 25 – World AIDS Day 2020: Overcoming Social Isolation

24 mins

2020 has seen a lot of changes due to Covid-19. For some people living with HIV, the social distancing restrictions have led to an increase in social isolation.To discuss the detrimental effects of social isolation and importance of community connection, I am joined by Senior Clinical Psychologist Brendan Crozier. Though it’s not all bad news, there are resources available to help maintain connection through these challenging times. To talk about one of these, I’m joined by a volunteer and client from the Ankali Project: Suzie and Rodney.http://thealbioncentre.org.au/ankali-project/To stay up to date with the latest information in sexual health, you can follow us on social media:https://www.facebook.com/SydneySHC https://twitter.com/SydneySHC https://www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-sexual-health-centreHost: Thomas Munro (he/him) Guests: Suzie and Rodney (Ankali project), Brendan Crozier (SSHC)We acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast was recorded. We pay our respects to the elders past, present, and emerging wherever you are listening from.

EP 24 – The “war on bottoms” – Fighting the poppers ban

29 mins

Poppers, also known as Amyl, are terms given to chemicals of the class Alkyl Nitrites. They are used by many gay and bisexual men as they have a relaxation effect on involuntary smooth muscles, and can assist in bottoming during anal sex.In June 2018, Australia’s Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) motioned to reschedule alkyl nitrites to be in the same category as heroin and cocaine (Schedule 9). This was met by criticism from the LGBTIQ community for being discriminatory. A coalition of activists, doctors, and policy professionals joined forces to oppose the ban. After community consultations, the TGA decided not to proceed with the ban – though the outcome has left many wondering what comes next?In this podcast I am joined by two of the community activists involved in defeating the proposed ban on poppers: Steve Spencer and Daniel Reeders.To find out more about the ban, and how to access poppers safely and legally, go to:https://www.rinseandrepeat.info/To stay up to date with the latest information in sexual health, you can follow us on social media:https://www.facebook.com/SydneySHC https://twitter.com/SydneySHC https://www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-sexual-health-centreHost: Thomas Munro (he/him) Guests: Steve Spencer and Daniel ReedersWe acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast was recorded. We pay our respects to the elders past, present, and emerging wherever you are listening from.

EP 23 – World Hepatitis Day 2020: Elimination of Hep C

26 mins

Today is World Hepatitis Day.This episode explores the exciting news that there is now a cure for Hepatitis C. Though there is still a long way to go to reach NSW Health’s goal of eliminating Hep C by 2028.I’m joined by Hepatitis nurse Dianne How-Chow; Scott, who underwent a liver transplant operation and is now cured of Hep C; and Coordinator of the Dried Blood Spot Testing program, Nigel Carrington.Find out more about Dried Blood Spot Testing here:https://www.dbstest.health.nsw.gov.au/For resources to promote the new campaign Clearing the Path. go here:https://www.hep.org.au/product/hep-c-posters/Have questions? Call Hepatitis NSW Infoline 1800 803 990.To stay up to date with the latest information in sexual health, you can follow us on social media:https://www.facebook.com/SydneySHC https://twitter.com/SydneySHC https://www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-sexual-health-centreHost: Thomas Munro (he/him) Guests: Dianne How-Chow, Scott, and Nigel CarringtonWe acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast was recorded. We pay our respects to the elders past, present, and emerging wherever you are listening from.

EP 22 – Professional Profile: Douglas Knox

20 mins

Join us for our first professional profile as part of our podcast series. In this episode we meet Douglas Knox and discuss his early career in Scotland under Section 28, his move to Australia and his transition to being involved in the HIV response here in Sydney. He’s approaching retirement and shares his reflections on how the sector has changed over his career.To stay up to date with the latest information in sexual health, you can follow us on social media:https://www.facebook.com/SydneySHC https://twitter.com/SydneySHC https://www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-sexual-health-centreHost: Thomas Munro (he/him) Guest: Douglas KnoxWe acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast was recorded. We pay our respects to the elders past, present, and emerging wherever you are listening from.

EP 21 – you[TEST] – Hooking up in the time of COVID

20 mins

In this edition of the podcast I speak with ACON’s Director for HIV and Sexual Health, Matthew Vaughan, about their recommendations for gay men to stop hooking up with casual partners due to Covid-19 distancing requirements. We also discuss the opportunity this provides for testing and reducing rates of STIs and HIV and the launch of their new online HIV testing initiative – you[TEST].For more information, or to book a test (if you are in NSW), go to:https://endinghiv.org.au/test-often/book-a-test-at-youtest/To stay up to date with the latest information in sexual health, you can follow us on social media:https://www.facebook.com/SydneySHC https://twitter.com/SydneySHC https://www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-sexual-health-centreHost: Thomas Munro (he/him) Guest: Matthew VaughanWe acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast was recorded. We pay our respects to the elders past, present, and emerging wherever you are listening from.

EP 20 – CovidSafe? Hunting Covid-19 with the SESLHD Public Health Unit

20 mins

In this edition of the podcast we take a break from our regular sexual health focused content to talk about covid-19. Many non-essential health workers from across the South East Sydney Local Health District have been redeployed to the covid response – including your podcast host!So what are they doing there?We go behind the scenes to talk to the people hunting covid-19 and find out what they do – and what they think of the government’s new CovidSafe app.Gabby Rowland, Covid Case Manager and Public Health Nurse and the SESLHD Public Health UnitMaria Browne, Covid Contact Manager and SESLHD HIV and Related Programs (HARP)Health Promotion OfficerAdam Capon, Manager of the Covid Contact Tracing Team and Epidemiologist at South East Sydney Public Health UnitTo stay up to date with the latest information in sexual health, you can follow us on social media:https://www.facebook.com/SydneySHC https://twitter.com/SydneySHC https://www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-sexual-health-centreHost: Thomas Munro (he/him) Guests: Gabby Rowloand, Maria Browne, and Adam CaponWe acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast was recorded. We pay our respects to the elders past, present, and emerging wherever you are listening from.

EP 19 – National Close the Gap Day – Closing the Gap in Sexual Health

31 mins

This episode of the podcast marks National Close the Gap Day 2020.We are sharing some stories of people who are working towards closing the gap in sexual health disparities between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-indigenous Australians.It features Timothy Croft, Manager of the Aboriginal Health Unit in the South East Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD), John Leha, Operations Manager at the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence (NCIE)and Kevin Heath, Aboriginal Sexual Education Officer at the SESLHD HIV and Related Programs (HARP) unit.It discusses an advocacy paper developed by ACON – which you can find here:https://www.acon.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/HIV-in-the-NSW-Aboriginal-and-Torres-Strait-Islander-population_Web.pdfTo keep up to date with the latest information from Sydney Sexual Health Centre, you can follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin.To stay up to date with the latest information in sexual health, you can follow us on social media:https://www.facebook.com/SydneySHC https://twitter.com/SydneySHC https://www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-sexual-health-centreHost: Thomas Munro (he/him) Guests: Timothy Croft, John Leha, and Kevin Heath.We acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast was recorded. We pay our respects to the elders past, present, and emerging wherever you are listening from.

EP 18 – Positive Impact For HIV: Nursing On The Frontlines

33 mins

This episode of the podcast marks World AIDS Day 2019. We are sharing some stories of people who have made a positive impact for people living with HIV in Sydney, Australia.It features Vickie Knight and Lizzie Griggs – nurses who have been working in the HIV/AIDS sector since the 1980s.To stay up to date with the latest information in sexual health, you can follow us on social media:https://www.facebook.com/SydneySHC https://twitter.com/SydneySHC https://www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-sexual-health-centreHost: Thomas Munro (he/him) Guests: Vickie Knight and Lizzie GriggsWe acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional custodians of the land on which this podcast was recorded. We pay our respects to the elders past, present, and emerging wherever you are listening from.

EP 17 – Resistance fighters: Antimicrobial resistance in sexual health

29 mins

Welcome to the newest episode of the new Sydney Sexual Health Centre podcast! We’ve just wrapped up World Antibiotic Awareness Week, which is held every year in November to draw attention to the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance. To mark this year’s event, we’re discussing what antimicrobial resistance means in a sexual health context: how real is the threat and how should we be responding? This episode features Dr Pam Konecny from St George Hospital and Professor Alex Broom from the Centre for Social Research in Health at the University of NSW.Host: Heather McCormack

EP 16 – Co-design and consumer engagement: successes in sexual health

40 mins

Welcome to the newest episode of the new Sydney Sexual Health Centre podcast! You might be familiar with some of the innovative services that have contributed to Sydney Sexual Health Centre’s reputation as a leader in sexual health and HIV. We’ve pioneered the community-based peer-led testing model of a[TEST] and disrupted routine screening with the introduction of fast-track Xpress clinics. But you may not know that these innovative programs and services have come out of a co-design process involving consumer and community stakeholders. We’re hearing a lot about co-design and co-production in healthcare lately and we want to share some examples of how involving health consumers in design of our services has worked for us. This episode features Vickie Knight, who is our Clinical Nurse Consultant, and Shaun Powyer, who is manager of a[TEST] at ACON. More on Sydney Sexual Health Centre: www.sshc.org.au More on a[TEST]: www.endinghiv.org.au/test-often/book-a-test More on ACON: www.acon.org.auHost: Heather McCormack

EP 15 – A cervix update for Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month

28 mins

Welcome to the newest episode of the new Sydney Sexual Health Centre podcast! It’s Gynaecological Cancers Awareness Month and we’re talking cervical cancer and HPV. Australia has one of the best cervical screening programs in the world – so why does cervical cancer still account for around 250 deaths every year? We also discuss recent changes to cervical screening in Australia. This episode features gynaecological oncologist Dr Rhonda Farrell and Professor Basil Donovan, who is head of the Sexual Health Program at the Kirby Institute as well as being one of our own sexual health physicians. More on Sydney Sexual Health Centre: www.sshc.org.au More on Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month: www.ashasexualhealth.org/gynecological-cancer-awareness-month/To stay up to date with the latest information in sexual health, you can follow us on social media:https://www.facebook.com/SydneySHC https://twitter.com/SydneySHC https://www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-sexual-health-centreHost: Heather McCormack

EP 14 – What do health professionals need to know about PrEP?

30 mins

Welcome to the newest episode of the new Sydney Sexual Health Centre podcast! PrEP, or pre-exposure prophylaxis, was listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) in Australia in April 2018. This is a big step that has the potential to move PrEP prescribing out of specialist sexual health clinics and into primary care settings, making it more widely available to more people who need it. But we’re only a few months in and many people may have questions and concerns. So we’re asking: what do health professionals need to know about PrEP? This episode features Sydney Sexual Health Centre’s own Dr Rick Varma and Dr Mark Bloch from ASHM. More on Sydney Sexual Health Centre: www.sshc.org.au More on ASHM: www.ashm.org.au More on the Sexual Health Infolink: www.shil.nsw.gov.auTo stay up to date with the latest information in sexual health, you can follow us on social media:https://www.facebook.com/SydneySHC https://twitter.com/SydneySHC https://www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-sexual-health-centreHost: Heather McCormack

EP 13 – Exciting times: Hepatitis Awareness Week 2018

27 mins

Welcome to the newest episode of the new Sydney Sexual Health Centre podcast! Hepatitis Awareness Week falls at the end of July every year. Right now it’s a very exciting time for people living with hepatitis C and the people who work with them, as treatment and cure have never been easier. Australia is leading the way by offering universal access to treatments and our own Kirketon Road Centre is one of the services doing the work of getting those treatments to people who need them. This episode features Rebecca Lothian and Rosie Gilliver from Kirketon Road Centre. More on Sydney Sexual Health Centre: www.sshc.org.au More on Kirketon Road Centre: www.seslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/shseh/services/kirketonroad.asp More on Hepatitis Awareness Week: www.hep.org.au/hepatitis-campaign-2018 And Kirketon Road Centre’s Facebook page can be found at www.facebook.com/KirketonRoadTo stay up to date with the latest information in sexual health, you can follow us on social media:https://www.facebook.com/SydneySHC https://twitter.com/SydneySHC https://www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-sexual-health-centreHost: Heather McCormack

EP 12 – On call with the Sydney Sexual Health Centre nursing team

32 mins

Welcome to the newest episode of the new Sydney Sexual Health Centre podcast! This month, we’re giving you an insight into the people who form the very core of our centre: our nursing team. We explore the successful operation of a leading nurse-led sexual health service and find out what’s in store for the future. This episode features our Nurse Unit Manager Rebecca Houghton and our Clinical Nurse Specialist Lizzie Scallie. More on Sydney Sexual Health Centre: www.sshc.org.auTo stay up to date with the latest information in sexual health, you can follow us on social media:https://www.facebook.com/SydneySHC https://twitter.com/SydneySHC https://www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-sexual-health-centreHost: Heather McCormack

EP 11 – Give a little. Change a lot. National Volunteer Week and sexual health.

35 mins

Welcome to the newest episode of the new Sydney Sexual Health Centre podcast! For National Volunteer Week, we’re talking volunteering in the HIV and sexual health centre with two organisations who lead the way in this field. This episode features Tiffany Tran and volunteer Jason from the Ankali Project and Reg Domingo from ACON. More on Sydney Sexual Health Centre: www.sshc.org.au More on the Ankali Project: thealbioncentre.org.au/ankali/the-ankali-project More on ACON: www.acon.org.auTo stay up to date with the latest information in sexual health, you can follow us on social media:https://www.facebook.com/SydneySHC https://twitter.com/SydneySHC https://www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-sexual-health-centreHost: Heather McCormack

EP 10 – Youth Week: Making sex ed and consent accessible for young people

24 mins

Welcome to the newest episode of the new Sydney Sexual Health Centre podcast! This episode goes live during Youth Week, so we’re discussing strategies for supporting young people around sexual health and relationships. This episode features Kevin Heath from the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District HIV and Related Programs Unit and sex educator and intimacy coach Georgia Grace. Here’s the tea/consent video discussed by Georgia: www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGoWLWS4-kU More on Sydney Sexual Health Centre: www.sshc.org.au More on the SESLHD HARP Unit: www.seslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/harp/To stay up to date with the latest information in sexual health, you can follow us on social media:https://www.facebook.com/SydneySHC https://twitter.com/SydneySHC https://www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-sexual-health-centreHost: Heather McCormack

EP 9 – S-Check at SSHC: Sex, drugs and psychosocial support

29 mins

Welcome to the newest episode of the new Sydney Sexual Health Centre podcast! To mark the launch of our new S-Check program for stimulant users at our Centre, we’re talking sexualised drug use and early intervention strategies for psychosocial support. This episode features Fiona Magee from St Vincent’s Hospital Alcohol and Drug Service and Lisa McCann and Ron Tripp from our own Counselling Unit. More on Sydney Sexual Health Centre: www.sshc.org.au More on St Vincent’s Hospital: www.svhs.org.au More on S-Check: www.stimcheck.org.au/s-checkTo stay up to date with the latest information in sexual health, you can follow us on social media:https://www.facebook.com/SydneySHC https://twitter.com/SydneySHC https://www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-sexual-health-centreHost: Heather McCormack

EP 8 -National Sexual Health Week: HPV and vaccination

30 mins

Welcome to the newest episode of the new Sydney Sexual Health Centre podcast! For National Sexual Health Week, we’re talking about HPV (warts and all) and the particular relevance of HPV vaccination to gay and bisexual men. This episode features our own youth specialist sexual health nurse Jane Gilbert and Associate Professor Richard Hillman, consultant physician in the Dysplasia and Anal Cancer Service at St Vincent’s Hospital. More on Sydney Sexual Health Centre: www.sshc.org.au More on St Vincent’s Hospital: www.svhs.org.au More on HPV and gay men: www.thebottomline.org.au More on the HPV vaccine: www.hpvvaccine.org.auTo stay up to date with the latest information in sexual health, you can follow us on social media:https://www.facebook.com/SydneySHC https://twitter.com/SydneySHC https://www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-sexual-health-centreHost: Heather McCormack

EP 7 – World AIDS Day 2017

11 mins

Welcome to the newest episode of the new Sydney Sexual Health Centre podcast! This episode focusses on World AIDS Day, which is held on the 1st of December. We’re talking to Craig Cooper from Positive Life NSW about the massive wins made in the fight against HIV, as well as some of the remaining challenges we still need to beat to ensure no one is left behind. More on SSHC: www.sshc.org.au More on World AIDS Day: www.worldaidsday.org.auTo stay up to date with the latest information in sexual health, you can follow us on social media:https://www.facebook.com/SydneySHC https://twitter.com/SydneySHC https://www.linkedin.com/company/sydney-sexual-health-centre

EP 6 – Mental Health Month

28 mins

Welcome to the newest episode of the new Sydney Sexual Health Centre podcast! It’s Mental Health Month this month, so we’re talking about the intersections between mental health and sexual health. The theme of this year’s Mental Health Month, “Share the Journey”, emphasises that social connections and networks are vital to sustaining good mental health. We talk to our own Counselling Unit Team, Ron Tripp and Lisa McCann, about the work they do here at Sydney Sexual Health Centre and how important those connections are for the health and wellbeing of the communities with whom we work. More on SSHC: www.sshc.org.au

EP 5 – Sexual health in general practice

28 mins

Welcome to the fifth episode of the new Sydney Sexual Health Centre podcast! In this episode, we’re talking about sexual health in the general practice setting. Most Australians get their sexual health information and care from their regular GP, so this is an important area of focus for improving the sexual health of the community. We talk to Alisa Pollack, who is a GP as well as one of our own registrars at Sydney Sexual Health Centre. We also talk to Phil Taylor from the NSW STI Programs Unit. More on NSW STIPU: stipu.nsw.gov.au More on ASHM: www.ashm.org.au

EP 4 – Dental Health Week and HIV

25 mins

Welcome to the fourth episode of the new Sydney Sexual Health Centre podcast! This episode ties into Dental Health Week, which is held in the first full week of August every year. It might seem a little odd to dedicate an episode of a sexual health podcast to Dental Health Week but, as you’ll hear, this is a significant topic for people living with HIV and those who work with them. We talk to Priyadi Prihaswan from South Eastern Sydney Local Health District’s HIV and Related Programs team, as well as Dr Helen Carey from Sydney Dental Hospital. More on Sydney Dental Hospital: www.slhd.nsw.gov.au/oralhealth/ More from the Albion Centre: thealbioncentre.org.au/service-providers/oral-health-and-hiv/ More on Sydney Sexual Health Centre: www.sshc.org.au

EP 3 – Hepatitis Awareness Week

31 mins

Welcome to the third episode of the new Sydney Sexual Health Centre podcast! This episode ties into Hepatitis Awareness Week, which is held at the end of July and incorporates World Hepatitis Day on July 28th. Two campaigns will run throughout July in the lead up to Hepatitis Awareness Week and World Hepatitis Day. We talk to Stuart Loveday from Hepatitis NSW about hepatitis B and hepatitis C, as well as the state-wide hepatitis B and hepatitis C awareness campaigns. More on the hepatitis B campaign: www.hepB.org.au More on the hepatitis C campaign: www.hepC.org.au More on Hepatitis NSW: www.hep.org.au More on Sydney Sexual Health Centre: www.sshc.org.au

EP 2 – HIV Testing Week

18 mins

Welcome to the second episode of the new Sydney Sexual Health Centre podcast! This episode ties into HIV Testing Week in NSW, which runs from the 1st to the 7th of June. We talk to Gai Stackpool from the Multicultural HIV and Hepatitis Service and Dianne Nyoni from South Eastern Sydney Local Health District’s HIV Community Outreach Team. More on Sydney Sexual Health Centre: www.sshc.org.au More on MHAHS: www.mhahs.org.au More on the SESLHD HIV Outreach team: seslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/HIV_Outreach_Team

EP 1 – My Health, Our Family.

21 mins

Welcome to the first episode of the new Sydney Sexual Health Centre podcast! We’re launching this new podcast series to tie into the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia on May 17th. The Day is a show of support for LGBT human rights and the theme this year is “families”. This podcast episode discusses an upcoming research project on families and blood borne viruses that’s looking to break some new ground on this topic. We talk to researcher Christy Newman from the Centre for Social Research in Health and counseling unit manager Brendan Crozier from Sydney Sexual Health Centre. More on Sydney Sexual Health Centre: https://sshc.org.au/ More on the Centre for Social Research in Health: http://csrh.org/

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