2320. Hon Alison Xamon to the parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Health:
I refer to the governments’ new strategies to respond to and reduce the rate of sexually transmitted infections in Western Australia, and I ask:
(a) has WA Health done any work with the Department of Justice to tackle infection rates in prisoners;
(b) if yes to (a), please advise what work has been done; and
(c) if no to (a), why not?
Hon Alanna Clohesy replied: I am advised:
(a) Yes.
(b) Priority target populations in the Department of Health (DOH) WA Sexually Transmissible Infections (STI) Strategy include ‘people in or recently exited custodial settings’. The Department of Justice (DoJ) were consulted in the development of the STI strategy, and are also on the membership of the WA Sexual Health and Blood-Borne Virus Advisory Committee (WA SHABBVAC). Primary care for people in custodial settings is the responsibility of the DoJ health and medical services. All people entering into custodial settings are offered comprehensive STI and Blood-borne virus screening, and are appropriately treated and followed up.
The DOH provides STI workforce development for a diverse range of healthcare professionals, which includes DoJ health and medical services. This includes face-to-face and online training opportunities and resources. The Sexual Health and Blood-Borne Virus Program’s Integrated Case Management team, and the SHAPE team at the WA AIDS Council, work with people living with HIV who have complex needs. Part of their role is to provide HIV, STI prevention education and support clients prior to, while incarcerated and following release from custodial settings.
The DoJ provide a ‘health in prison, health out of prison’ (HIP-HOP) STI and BBV education package for prisoners on entry and exit from custodial settings. The DoH collaborated with DoJ to develop this package. This package is delivered to prisoners by government and non-government agencies, contracted by the DoJ. STI health promotion resources developed by the DOH are made available to the DoJ.
(c) Not applicable.