​Summary 

​An exciting opportunity exists for a General Practice to become a partner with the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC) and join the Victorian Sexual Health Network (VSHN).  Through this partnership, the GP practice will receive education and ongoing support from MSHC with delivering Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) testing and management.   

​This Expression of Interest (EOI) describes what the partnership entails and an overview of the VSHN.    

​If your general practice is interested in partnering with MSHC, please complete the EOI document below and return it to lkennedy@mshc.org.au  by COB 12th July 2024.  We will contact your practice to organise an interview before the final selection. 

​Background 

​In 2019, the Victorian Department of Health released a review of state-wide sexual health services and recommended a decentralised approach to sexual health care (a ‘hub’ and ‘spoke’ model).  MSHC now acts as the specialist ‘hub’, providing education, support, and mentorship to GP ‘spokes’ so that increased testing and treatment for STIs can be provided.  Eligible general practices will be in identified priority areas with high rates of STIs. The practice delivery model includes embedding practice nurses alongside GPs to support a sustainable model.   MSHC now partners with nine GP practices, this hub and spoke model is known as the Victorian Sexual Health Network.   

​Please visit Stay STI Free for more information. 

 

​MSHC will provide the following to the successful clinic: 

  • ​Commitment from MSHC to support the GP service through training from MSHC clinical educators and subsequent ongoing support.  STI teaching is done through a series of virtual presentations and face to face sessions covering all common STI syndromes, including PEP/PrEP and Mpox teaching.  
  • ​Practice staff (medical, nursing, and administration) are invited to attend MSHC for training. Payment to the practice will be made to support staff time away from their place of work. 
  • ​Meet with your Practice Manager and practice champions regularly during the onboarding process and then monthly once the practice has been launched.  The development stage usually takes approximately 8 weeks. 
  • ​Access to real-time clinical advice from an MSHC senior clinician via the MSHC GP Support phone line (Monday to Friday 9.00 -12.30 and 1.30- 5.00). 
  • ​Co-branding to demonstrate the partnership with MSHC and VSHN via MSHC and Stay STI free websites.  
  • ​Marketing and promotion of your general practice as a network partner.   
  • ​Generous Practice Grants and support payments are provided to the practice if KPIs are achieved. 

​Eligibility criteria 

​The practice must be: 

  • ​Located in the following LGAs – Maribyrnong, Brimbank, Moonee Valley, Hobsons Bay, Wyndham, and Melton. 
  • ​Committed to an ongoing partnership with MSHC to deliver STI testing and management services over the long term.  
  • ​Accredited against RACGP Standards.   
  • ​Available to begin working with MSHC from July 2024.    
  • ​Agree to enrol in the Australian Collaboration for Coordinated Enhanced Sentinel Surveillance of Sexually Transmitted Infection and Blood Borne Viruses (ACCESS) for data sharing purposes.  ACCESS will provide de-identified STI and BBV data between your GP practice and MSHC.  A $750 payment will be made to your practice if you accept to install ACCESS.  Data evaluation will be provided to the Victorian Department of Health for KPIs. 
  • ​Provide sufficient time for practice staff (GPs, nurses, and admin staff) to undertake education and training provided by MSHC and key stakeholders. Education will be delivered in person and via ZOOM and/or Microsoft Teams. GPs, nursing, and admin staff will have the opportunity to attend MSHC for a clinical placement.  
  • ​Provide onsite injectable treatment for gonorrhoea and syphilis and have a nominated partner pharmacy to supply antiretroviral therapies for HIV prevention (PEP and PrEP).  
  • ​Nominate a nurse, GP, and administration team member as practice champions to maintain partnership commitments, with the Practice Manager as the key contact responsible for coordinating training. The Principal GP will actively promote and support the sexual health service in practice. 
  • ​Understand that if the training and reporting requirements are not being met the partnership may be discontinued. 

 

Please download this PDF and Check list for your application