Australia is experiencing a concerning rise in syphilis and other sexually transmissible infections (STIs), with Indigenous communities and women particularly affected, according to recent data from a national report by the Kirby Institute. The findings have prompted calls for more consistent testing and culturally sensitive healthcare practices to prevent further cases, including congenital syphilis, which has led to the deaths of 40 babies over the past decade.

The report highlights a 167 percent increase in syphilis diagnoses among women over the last ten years, raising alarms about the potential for transmission from pregnant individuals to their unborn children. Since 2016, 114 infants have been born with syphilis, including 14 cases recorded last year alone. Indigenous infants accounted for a disproportionate number of fatalities, with 23 of the 40 recorded infant deaths. Experts attribute these outcomes to gaps in routine antenatal screening and treatment.

Jessica Michaels, deputy CEO of the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine, emphasized that every case of congenital syphilis represents a systemic failure in healthcare delivery. “It’s critical that national antenatal testing guidelines are consistently followed to ensure infections are detected and treated early,” she stated.

While men currently represent the majority of syphilis and gonorrhoea cases, rising rates among women have intensified concerns about the broader public health impact. In 2025, there were 5,986 syphilis diagnoses, 42,393 gonorrhoea diagnoses, and 94,184 chlamydia diagnoses nationally. The incidence of syphilis and gonorrhoea has increased by more than 50 percent over the past decade, whereas chlamydia diagnoses have fluctuated and seen a slight decline in the past year. Chlamydia affects men and women roughly equally, with half of the cases occurring in people aged 20 to 29, highlighting a need for earlier and expanded screening efforts.

Health experts also pointed to entrenched stigma and racial sensitivities as barriers to effective STI testing, particularly within Indigenous communities. Kim Gates, community relations lead for the First Nations point-of-care program at the Kirby Institute, noted that healthcare providers sometimes hesitate to ask about sexual health for fear of causing shame, which undermines necessary testing and treatment. She urged health professionals to engage in cultural safety training and adopt routine STI screening regardless of patient background.

HIV infections in Australia have declined significantly in recent years, with a 25 percent reduction over the past decade and 753 notifications in 2025. However, late diagnoses remain a challenge, particularly among migrant populations, with one-third of last year’s HIV notifications indicating infection had been present for four or more years. Dr. Skye McGregor, an epidemiologist at the Kirby Institute, stressed the importance of accessible testing strategies for all communities to achieve the national goal of eliminating HIV transmission by 2030.

The Kirby Institute is expected to release a comprehensive report later this year, providing further insights into the evolving landscape of STI and HIV transmission in Australia.