Alongside partnership, adaptation is one of the enduring themes of the Australian response to HIV. This article presents a case study to examine the factors that influence the effectiveness of peer navigation programs for people living with HIV run by community organisations in partnership with providers of clinical care. Its findings guide the improvement of service and policy systems and similar programs aimed at empowering better treatment outcomes and quality of life for people living with HIV.

As the COVID-19 pandemic placed pressure on health services and limited accessibility, ‘off-label’ recommendations suggesting extended use periods for long-acting reversible contraceptive (LARC) devices emerged internationally. Despite these recommendations, typical usage patterns were maintained in Australia, with extended use periods observed in less than 10% of LARC users. As these extended use periods have since been made permanent in regulatory documents and clinical guidelines, targeted education for providers and consumers will be required to support uptake and consistent implementation.

Social media is increasingly being used to recruit participants to social research. Here, we provide a practical guide to using social media to recruit for sexual and reproductive health research, and include examples throughout from our own studies. We outline our triumphs and pitfalls in using this recruitment strategy, the challenges we have faced and the lessons we have learnt.

Latent syphilis, a hidden infection with no symptoms, has surged globally, yet current treatments often rely on uncertain disease staging. This study reveals that a simple antibody test (nontreponemal immunoglobulin M) can identify active infections, showing patients with positive immunoglobulin M take longer to recover and need tailored therapies. By personalizing treatment based on antibody levels, doctors can reduce unnecessary antibiotic use, especially in vulnerable groups, such as older adults, improving care and easing healthcare burdens.