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BBVAware Program Information Pack

The BBVAware program aims to reduce stigma in the community associated with blood-borne viruses (BBVs).  We provide information, education and our BBV Information Packs to those working with people at risk of developing a BBV.

Here you find:

  • tips on how to prevent the spread of BBVs
  • information on the role and location of Sexual Health Service Clinics in your region
  • locations of Needle and Syringe Programs (NSPs), Community houses and hospitals in your region.

What is a blood-borne virus?

A BBV is a virus that is transmitted from one person to another through blood or body fluids that contain blood. This includes sexual activity, sharing of needles or other injecting equipment, and body art such as tattoos.

The top 3 BBVs in Australia are*:

  • HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)
  • Hepatitis B (HVB)
  • Hepatitis C (HVC)

*As cited by the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM).

6 ways to prevent the spread of BBVs

1

Protect yourself if you inject drugs

Avoid sharing needles, syringes, or other drug injection equipment.

Use sterile, unused syringes and injection equipment every time you inject. This means all equipment tourniquets/filters etc. not just syringes.

Utilise Needle and Syringe Programs (NSP) in your local area.

Find secondary NSP outlets including pharmacies, community houses and sexual health clinics.

Get tested regularly for HIV and other Sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

2

Prevent mother to child transmission

Get tested for HIV as soon as possible to know your status during pregnancy.

If you have HIV, and take HIV medicine as prescribed throughout pregnancy and childbirth, and give HIV medicine to your baby for 4 to 6 weeks after giving birth, your risk of transmitting HIV to your baby can be 1% or less.

After delivery, you can prevent transmitting HIV to your baby by avoiding breastfeeding, since breast milk contains HIV.

3

Protect yourself during sex

Choose sexual activity that is less risky than anal or vaginal sex. There is little to no risk of getting HIV through oral sex.

You can’t get HIV from sexual activities that don’t involve contact with body fluids (semen, vaginal fluid, or blood).

If you have another sexually transmitted disease (STD), you are more likely to get HIV. Getting tested and treated for other STDs can lower your chances of getting HIV.

Use a condom! Condoms are very effective in preventing HIV and many other STDs when used the right way every time.

4

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP)

PrEP is medicine people at risk for HIV take to prevent getting HIV from sex or injection drug use.

PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from sex by about 99% when taken as prescribed.

PrEP reduces the risk of getting HIV from injecting drugs by at least 74% when taken as prescribed.

PrEP is much less effective when it is not taken as prescribed.

PrEP reaches maximum protection from HIV for receptive anal sex at about 7 days of daily use.

For receptive vaginal sex and injection drug use, PrEP reaches maximum protection at about 21 days of daily use.

5

Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP)

PEP is a course of antiviral medication you can take to prevent HIV infection if you have potentially been exposed to the virus.

PEP must be started within 72 hours of possible exposure to HIV.

The sooner you start PEP, the better. Every hour counts. If you’re prescribed PEP, you’ll need to take it daily for 28 days.

PEP is useful for workplace exposures such as needlestick injuries.

6

Talk about it

Stigma and discrimination are barriers to BBV testing and this delays treatment, which in turn increases the amount of the virus in your blood.

People living with BBVs are still discriminated against on a daily basis.

Don’t buy into this discrimination, challenge the misconceptions, talk openly, get yourself tested and encourage others to get tested as well.

Take control of your life, your health and your future!

Sexual Health Service Tasmania

The Sexual Health Service provides people with the opportunity to enhance their sexual health and wellbeing, and is staffed by doctors, nurses, psychologists and administrative staff.

Their services include:

  • sexual health checks
  • STIs diagnosis and treatment
  • HIV care
  • Hepatitis C management and treatment
  • care of gender questioning and gender diverse people
  • genital dermatology
  • counselling and information around sexuality, sexual function and safe sex
  • low-cost vaccinations for Hepatitis B
  • safer sex supplies can be purchased.

You can self-refer and make an appointment by calling your nearest clinic.

While referrals are not essential, you can be referred by your GP or other health professional.

Testing Clinics & NSPs

South

Sexual Health Clinic

Clinic 60 – 03 6166 2672
60 Collins Street, Hobart

 

Needle and Syringe Program (NSPs)

Anglicare Glenorchy – 03 6213 3547
436 Main Road, Glenorchy

Anglicare Hobart – 03 6213 3943
159 Collins Street, Hobart

Bridgewater Community Centre – 03 6263 4303
6 Bowen Drive, Bridgewater

Clarence Integrated Care Centre – 03 6166 2323
18-22 Bayfield Street, Rosny

 

Community Houses

Gagebrook Community Centre – 03 6263 6097
191 Lamprill Circle, Gagebrook

Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre – 03 6234 0777
56 Patrick Street, Hobart

 

Youth Health Service

The Link – 03 6231 2927
57 Liverpool Street, Hobart

North

Sexual Health Clinic

Clinic 34 – 03 6777 1371
34 Howick Street, Launceston

 

Needle and Syringe Program (NSP)

Salvation Army Launceston – 03 6323 7500
111 Elizabeth Street, Launceston

 

Community Centres and Hospitals

Cape Barren Island Health Centre – 03 6359 3566
5 Everett Court, Cape Barren Island

Flinders Island Aboriginal Association – 03 6359 3532 
16 West Street, Lady Baron, Flinders
Island

Flinders Island Multi-Purpose Centre – 03 6359 0200
James Street, Flinders Island

Ravenswood Community Health Centre – 03 6777 3006
39-41 Lambert Street, Ravenswood

Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre Launceston – 03 6777 3006
182 Charles Street, Launceston03 6332 3800 

St Helens District Hospital – 03 6387 5570
10 Annie Street, St Helens

North West

Sexual Health Clinic

Clinic 23 – 03 6777 1371
23 Steele Street, Devonport
This is an outreach clinic.

 

Needle and Syringe Program (NSP)

Anglicare Burnie – 03 6430 3342
51 Wilmot Street, Burnie

Youth Family and Community Connections – 03 6423 6635
62 Stewart Street, Devonport

 

Community Centres and Hospitals

Burnie Community House – 03 6433 3219
24 Wiseman Street, Burnie

Devonport Community Health Centre – 03 6478 6166 
23 Steele Street, Devonport

King Island Hospital – 03 6462 9900
35 Edward Street, Currie

North West Regional Hospital – 03 6493 6000
23 Brickport Road, Burnie

Rosebery Community Hospital – 03 6495 1570
1 Hospital Road, Roseberry

Smithton District Hospital – 03 6478 9520 
74 Brittons Road, Smithton

Wyndarra Centre – 03 6452 2722
43 Smith Street, Smithton

BBVAware is a free service

To find out more on the BBVAware Program visit our program page, please call us on 1800 243 232 or email us at BBVAware@staging-anglicare.kingsdigital.dev.

For more information on our other community support services visit anglicare-tas.org.au/community-support-services

The BBVAware program is supported by the Crown through the Department of Health (Tasmania).

Supported by Tasmanian Government