A new and free HIV self-testing machine has arrived at Kogarah. The MyTest machine, which was launched in NSW in 2024, is now available for the St George community. Pictured is acting general manager of St George Hospital, Lauren Sturgess with the director of Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Services, Phillip Read. Picture supplied

The NSW Government has launched an ambitious blueprint to eliminate HIV transmission by 2030, with Kogarah's Short Street Centre Sexual Health Clinic at St George Hospital set to play a role in supporting residents.

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The NSW HIV Strategy 2026-2030 builds on a decade of progress in prevention and treatment while shifting the focus towards accessible care for priority populations. For St George, the clinic represents a front-line localised hub, offering discreet testing, rapid treatment initiation, and the stigma-free support.

Local health services have introduced innovative, low-barrier testing methods to reach a diverse community, highlighted by the arrival of the MyTest machine in St George. Phillip Read, the director of Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Services, said it operates much like a free vending machine. "It can be done at home, in privacy. It's got a needle and gives a fingerprick, then you blot on a piece of paper. Within 15 minutes it gives a reactive or non-reactive result," Dr Read said. He added that the technology is self-contained, accurate and reliable, noting that multilingual resources are available.

The physical placement of the new testing machine has been considered to balance accessibility with confidentiality. "The location is quite discreet but also visible enough," Dr Read said. "What we found in other areas like Darlinghurst, almost 60 per cent of people doing the test are from countries where there's higher prevalence of HIV. We are hoping it will be an easy gateway into accessing more regular testing." Data from existing sites also shows the machines are successfully catching those who cannot access traditional healthcare hours.

While NSW performs strongly, with a 99 per cent rate of diagnosed individuals on treatment and 99 per cent achieving an undetectable viral load that prevents transmission, a gap remains. Health authorities estimate only 92 per cent of people living with HIV in NSW know their status. HIV diagnoses show signs of stabilising, with 211 new cases recorded across the state in 2025, down slightly from 237 in 2024.

"People living with HIV do experience stigma or discrimination, so we want to normalise testing," Dr Read said. "It's good for the community to know what their HIV status is so they can protect themselves and others. In NSW about 75 per cent of people diagnosed is through male-to-male sexual contact, but the proportion of heterosexual people who are diagnosed is increasing and it's higher in multicultural communities," Mr Read said. "People may have acquired it overseas and returned home from, say, neighbouring countries that are experiencing HIV rises such as Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and south-east Asia."