Advocacy
The below advocacy topics reflect the extent of the Society’s advocacy work and will be updated to reflect the ongoing advocacy of the Society. You can view our position statements, submissions, letters by clicking a topic below.
2013 PROPOSED CLOSURE OF BRISBANE SEXUAL HEALTH & HIV SERVICE
- Statement of the Sexual Health Society of Queensland on the proposed closure of Brisbane Sexual Health & HIV Service at Biala, Roma Street April 2013 By David Bradford Download
- Response from The HON. Keven Rudd MP. 02/08/2013 Download
- Response from SHSQ to The HON. Keven Rudd MP regarding the BSHHS closure. 25/07/2013 Download
- Letter to Dr Alexander Metro North Hospital and Health Board 25/07/2013. Download
- Letter to Hon. Lawrence Springborg Minister of Health. Download
- Bradford response re SHS cuts - Acknowledgement. Download
- Dr Theo van Lieshout response to closure of BSHS. Download
2015 POINT OF CARE TESTING POSITION STATEMENT
Point of Care Testing Position Statement. Download
2016 SAFE SCHOOLS SUPPORTER FORM-SHSQ
Safe Schools Supporter form-SHSQ May 2016. Download
2016 SUBMISSION TO THE HEALTH, COMMUNITIES, DISABILITY SERVICES AND DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION COMMITTEE ABORTION LAW REFORM (WOMEN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE) AMENDMENT BILL
SHSQ Abortion Law reform submission 26-07-2016. Download
2016 ABORTION POSITION STATEMENT
- SHSQ POSITION STATEMENT: TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY (ABORTION), INCLUDING MEDICAL ABORTION
2017 FUNDING TO THE INDIGENOUS 2 SPIRITS SEXUAL HEALTH PROGRAM IN QUEENSLAND.
2017 LETTER TO MINISTER CONGRATULATING NEW SEXUAL HEALTH STRATEGY
Letter to Minister Congratulating New Sexual Health Strategy. Download
2018 CLINICIAN FORUM PROPOSAL
2018 DECRIMINALISATION OF SEX WORK IN QUEENSLAND POSITION STATEMENT
2018 POSITION STATEMENT HIV PREP
Position Statement HIV PrEP . Download
2018 POSITION STATEMENT ON TOBACCO HARM REDUCTION
Position statement on tobacco harm reduction 20-06-18. Download
2018 SHSQ SUBMISSION TO THE QUEENSLAND LAW REFORM COMMISSION’S REVIEW OF TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY LAWS
The Sexual Health Society of Queensland’s Submission to the Queensland Law Reform Commission’s Review of termination of pregnancy laws. Download
2019 THE NOONGAR BOODJA STATEMENT
The Noongar Boodja Statement. Download
2019 PUBLICLY AVAILABLE GENDER REASSIGNMENT SURGERY
On the 19th February, the Sexual Health Society of Queensland hosted a clinical meeting on Phalloplasty Surgery presented by Dr Hans Goossen and Mr Max Mackenzie. Following on from that meeting, the Society’s committee decided to draft a submission calling for access to public surgery for Transgender Queenslanders. The letter, based on a previous correspondence sent some years before by Dr Darren Russell, was forwarded to the Health Minister, Hon Dr Steven Miles MP, the Director General Mr Michael Walsh, and the Chair of the Sexual Health Ministerial Advisory Committee Emeritus Professor Cindy Shannon SHMAC. In that submission, the SHSQ drew attention to the significant lack of public access to optimal surgical services for the Trans community and the heavy burden of cost for those seeking private access.
The SHSQ recommended that a Working Party be established to investigate this gap in care and identify how Queensland Health could respond. Both the SHMAC and Dr Steven Miles MP responded favourably, with the Health Minister offering in principle support for such a Working Party and encouraging the SHSQ to investigate further. Consequently, the SHSQ has recently contacted the SHMAC again, advising them of the Minister’s response and once more encouraging the establishment of a Working Party, either through the SHMAC or through the newly established Clinical Network.
SHSQ Transgender surgical access letter Health Minister, Hon Dr Steven Miles MP, the Director General Mr Michael Walsh, and the Chair of the Sexual Health Ministerial Advisory Committee Emeritus Professor Cindy Shannon SHMAC
The SHSQ recommended that a Working Party be established to investigate this gap in care and identify how Queensland Health could respond. Both the SHMAC and Dr Steven Miles MP responded favourably, with the Health Minister offering in principle support for such a Working Party and encouraging the SHSQ to investigate further. Consequently, the SHSQ has recently contacted the SHMAC again, advising them of the Minister’s response and once more encouraging the establishment of a Working Party, either through the SHMAC or through the newly established Clinical Network.
SHSQ Transgender surgical access letter Health Minister, Hon Dr Steven Miles MP, the Director General Mr Michael Walsh, and the Chair of the Sexual Health Ministerial Advisory Committee Emeritus Professor Cindy Shannon SHMAC
- The Society wrought to Emeritus Professor Cindy Shannon, Hon Dr Steven Miles MP and Mr Michael Walsh. Regarding advocating for Publicly available gender reassignment surgery 2019. Download
- Response from Emeritus Professor Cindy Shannon. Download
- Reply to Emeritus Professor Cindy Shannon. Download
- Response from Hon Dr Steven Miles MP. Download
- No response from Mr Michael Walsh
2019 POSITION STATEMENT ON GENDER IDENTITY CHANGE EFFORTS
Position Statement on Gender Identity Change Efforts 2019. Download
2019 QLD Medicines AND POISONS BILL 2019 PUBLIC CONSULTATION SUBMISSION
QLD Medicines and Poisons Bill 2019 public consultation submission_2019. Download
2021 Queensland’s Sexual Health Strategy to be continued
2022 decriminalization of sex work in QLD
LAW REFORM CONSULTATION CONCERNING DECRIMINALISATION OF SEX WORK in QUEENSLAND. Click here for more information.
2022 Better 2 know
The SHSQ Management Committee is responding to member concerns about the potential for over-screening for pathogens which could cause health anxiety. We wish to make you aware of this website and seek your input in your Society’s responsibility to take further actions and what those actions should be.
‘Better 2 Know’ appears to be a UK-based enterprise offering access to a “global network of sexual health doctors and specialist consultants” across four continents, and also claiming tletter_concerning_better_2_know_v4_fmjoedkh-gn.pdfo be “Australia’s leading private STI & HIV testing provider”.
Please click here for more information.
‘Better 2 Know’ appears to be a UK-based enterprise offering access to a “global network of sexual health doctors and specialist consultants” across four continents, and also claiming tletter_concerning_better_2_know_v4_fmjoedkh-gn.pdfo be “Australia’s leading private STI & HIV testing provider”.
Please click here for more information.
2022 HTLV Call for action
For more information, please visit: http://htlvconference2022.com/htlv-call-to-action-statement/
2023 "IS SYPHILIS BEYOND EVERYBODY'S REACH?"
2023 NEED FOR PUBLIC HEALTH CARE PATHWAYS FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING FGM/FCM