National response to syphilis

Syphilis in Australia

Syphilis has significantly increased in Australia over the past decade. The number of cases in 2024 was more than double the cases in 2014.

Syphilis is preventable and easily treated in the early stages. But it can cause serious health problems if untreated, including ongoing disability or death. 

It can be passed from pregnant parent to baby during pregnancy, leading to severe complications, resulting in miscarriage, infant death, or ongoing disability.

Recently, infection rates among women of reproductive age have risen steeply, and there remains a large number of infections in gay, bisexual and men who have sex with men communities.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have notification rates around 7 times higher than those of non-Indigenous Australians. 

Enhanced coordinated efforts are needed across communities and the health system to stop the spread of syphilis and prevent severe health outcomes. 

This is why syphilis has been declared a Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance. 

The Australian Government leads coordination of the response. It works closely with state and territory governments and the health sector to increase prevention, testing and treatment of syphilis. 

Read more about syphilis and who is at greater risk.

Key actions of the national response

First Nations communities

The Australian Government funds the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation to reduce syphilis in First Nations communities through the Enhanced Syphilis Response program. 

This program addresses syphilis outbreaks at the local level through Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services.

Funding includes support for:

• implementing the ‘test and treat’ model, including point-of-care testing
• developing a ‘train the trainer’ model to upskill current and new workers delivering test and treat services
• co-developing with community culturally appropriate education materials for clinicians and the target population.

Education activities

For everyone

The Australian Government funds education activities to increase community awareness of syphilis, and other sexually transmissible infections (STI) more broadly. This includes:

• Make STI testing your Beforeplay campaign
• Young Deadly Free website
• Don’t fool around with syphilis campaign
• congenital syphilis video (ASHM Health)
• Many STIs are Hidden campaign (Sexual and Reproductive Health Australia)
• television and radio advertising
• community group engagement
• social media posts.

For health professionals

The Australian Government funds ASHM Health to raise awareness of syphilis across the health workforce, provide training resources and digital tools to assist clinicians. This includes:

• STI Management Guidelines for Use in Primary Care
• Could It Be Syphilis? Clinical Indicator Tool
• Decision Making in Syphilis Interactive Tool
• BBVs and STIs in Antenatal Care
• Doxy-PEP (doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis) decision making tool
• Doxy-PEP client letter (for patients to give to their healthcare professional).

The Australian Government reviews programs and initiatives regularly to assess their impact and delivery. 

Also see your state or territory’s local guidelines and resources.

National strategies and plans

The national syphilis response is coordinated through the National Syphilis Response Plan 2023 to 2030. 

The plan is supported by the National Syphilis Surveillance and Monitoring Plan, which defines indicators and reporting processes to track progress and evaluate the response through regular monitoring reports. 

Governance 

The Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA) leads governance of the coordinated national syphilis response. The CDNA consults and collaborates with the:

• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Protection (NATSIHP) subcommittee
• Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Standing Committee (BBVSS).

Contact