HIV testing and prevention for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Queensland
HIV diagnoses among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Queensland have increased in 2025 and to date in 2026, primarily in southeast Queensland. Clinicians should strengthen culturally safe HIV testing, and prevention, including outside traditional sexual health settings.
Current trend
- There were 14 cases of HIV in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples notified in Queensland in 2025, compared with 5 to 9 cases per year during 2019–2024.
- Eight cases have been diagnosed in 2026 to date, of these, five were diagnosed through hospitals, emergency departments or correctional settings.
- HIV diagnoses have been associated with a range of potential exposure risks, including sexual contact among gay and bisexual men, heterosexual or gender diverse contact, and injecting drug use.
Among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples diagnosed with HIV in Queensland in 2025 and 2026, most were male, aged under 40 years, and living in southeast Queensland.
Clinicians are encouraged to:
- Include HIV testing routinely as part of blood-borne virus (BBV) and sexually transmissible infection (STI) screening for sexually active clients, rather than relying on self-identified risk.
- Provide HIV testing and prevention across a broad range of settings, including primary care, alcohol and other drug services, mental health services, emergency care services.
- Increase culturally appropriate discussions with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples around sexual behaviour and other at-risk behaviours in a range of settings.
- Discuss HIV prevention proactively including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), in a culturally safe, non-judgemental, and person-centred way.
- Work in partnership with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health leads, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled health services, sexual health, public health, and NGO partners to support testing, prevention and linkage to care.
- Undertake relevant training to strengthen capability and confidence in HIV and sexual health conversations.
Preventing transmissions of HIV, particularly in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, is a public health priority. Early diagnosis and timely treatment improve health outcomes and reduce HIV transmission. While there is no cure or vaccine for HIV, effective treatment enables people living with HIV to live long, healthy lives. People with sustained viral suppression do not sexually transmit HIV.
Additional resources
Sexual health training and education
A message from 2Spirits - Empowering LGBTIQ+ Sistergirl and Brotherboy Communities in Queensland
STI Guidelines Australia
Queensland sexual health and HIV services
1300 YARN - Crisis support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
Better to Know First Nations sexual health resource
First Nations HIV prevention fact sheet
Queensland Positive People - peer support for testing & management of HIV and STIs