PEP is a 28-day emergency pill course that can stop HIV if taken within 72 hours of a risk. So if a condom broke, you were assaulted, or something went wrong you have the right to ask for PEP.

⏳ Time Is Critical!

PEP must be started within 72 hours. The sooner, the better.

⏱️ 0–24 hours: Most effective

⏱️ 24–48 hours: Still works well

⏱️ 48–72 hours: Still offered

⛔ After 72 hours: Too late for PEP - still contact a medical professional.

🗣️ What to Say at a Clinic or Hospital

Go straight to a hospital emergency room or sexual health clinic and say:

“I may have been exposed to HIV. I want to start PEP.”

“The risk was within 72 hours. Can you help me now?”

(Optional) “I do sex work and need to protect myself.”

You don’t need to prove what happened.

You can ask for:

👉 The on-call infectious diseases doctor

👉 Staff who give PEP to healthcare workers after a needle-stick injury

Call Victorian HIV Prevention Service (PEP info line):

📞 1800 889 887

They can provide guidance and information about where to find your closest PEP provider, and can sometimes talk directly to hospital staff on your behalf.

🏥 Where Can You Get PEP in Victoria?

Any public hospital Emergency Department (ED)

Sexual health clinics during business hours (e.g., Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Centre Clinic at Thorne Harbour Health)

Some GPs who specialise in sexual health.

❗If a Doctor or Nurse Refuses to Help…

Stay calm and say: “PEP guidelines from Better Health Channel and Alfred Health state PEP should be offered within 72 hours after risk. Can you call the HIV specialist on-call or refer me now?”

📲 Show them:

Better Health Channel - Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for HIV prevention

🔗 View Better Health Channel Website

Alfred Health - Victorian NPEP Service

🔗 View Alfred Health Website

Still refused? You can and should make a complaint. 👇

📝 How to Make a Complaint in Victoria If a hospital or clinic refused you PEP, made you feel judged, or delayed care: Write down what happened:

👉 Who you spoke to

👉 What was said

👉 Date, time, place

Complain to the Health Complaints Commissioner (HCC) Victoria:

🖱️View HCC Website

📞 1300 582 113

(Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm AEST)

You can also complain nationally via:

AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) Complaints help stop it happening to others even if you're anonymous.

🔗 View AHPRA Website

Where to Get Support

Thorne Harbour Health:

Provides HIV/STI help and support for LGBTI communities.

📞 +613 9865 6700 or 1800 134 840

🔗 View Thorne Harbour Website

🆘 If you were assaulted:

Call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) for sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling.

In an emergency, call 000.

✅ Remember:

✔️ PEP works - but only if you act fast

✔️ You don’t need to explain everything - just ask for it

✔️ You can ask a doctor, nurse, or hospital

✔️ You deserve respect, care, and access - no matter your job or visa

Help Getting Doxy-PEP

What is Doxy-PEP?

Doxy-PEP = taking 200mg of doxycycline within 72 hours of unprotected sex, sexual assault or a condom break.

Doxy-PEP (doxycycline as post-exposure prevention) is a newer way to reduce the risk of getting STIs like chlamydia & syphilis especially for people who are having sex with multiple partners.

⏳ Time Is Critical!

PEP must be started within 72 hours. The sooner, the better.

⏱️ 0–24 hours: Most effective

⏱️ 24–48 hours: Still works well

⏱️ 48–72 hours: Still offered

⛔ After 72 hours: Too late for Doxy-PEP - still contact a medical professional.

🗣️ How to Ask for Doxy-PEP

At a clinic or doctor, say:

“I’m at high risk of STIs and would like to use Doxy-PEP for prevention.”

“I know the ASHM consensus statement supports its use for people like me. Can we discuss if it’s right for me?”

You don’t need to “prove” your sex life.

You don’t have to wait for an STI first.

You deserve to be taken seriously.

You can ask for:

👉 The on-call infectious diseases doctor

👉 Staff who give PEP to healthcare workers after a needle-stick injury

Call Victorian HIV Prevention Service (PEP info line):

📞 1800 889 887

They can provide guidance and information about where to find your closest PEP provider, and can sometimes talk directly to hospital staff on your behalf.

🏥 Where Can You Get Doxy-PEP in Victoria?

Sexual health clinics during business hours (e.g., Melbourne Sexual Health Centre, Centre Clinic at Thorne Harbour Health)

Some GPs who specialise in sexual health.

Some public hospital Emergency Department (ED) may have access to Doxy PEP. This should be used in case of emergency e.g. sexual assault.

❌ What If You’re Told:

“It’s not approved.”

“It’s not necessary.”

“We don’t do that here.”

“Come back when you’ve had an STI.”

👉 These are not good enough.

You can say:

“Off-label use is common in sexual health, and ASHM has released a consensus statement. I’m informed and requesting it for STI prevention.”

“ASHM supports individualised care. Can I be referred to a sexual health doctor if you’re not comfortable prescribing?”

📲 Show them:

🔗 View ASHM Doxy-PEP Statement

🔗 View ASHM Doxy-PEP Decision Making Tool

🔗 View Australian consensus statement on doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis (doxy-PEP) for the prevention of syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhoea among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men

Still refused? You can and should make a complaint. 👇

📝 How to Make a Complaint in Victoria If a hospital or clinic refused you PEP, made you feel judged, or delayed care: Write down what happened:

👉 Who you spoke to

👉 What was said

👉 Date, time, place

Complain to the Health Complaints Commissioner (HCC) Victoria:

🖱️ View HCC Website

📞 1300 582 113

(Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm AEST)

You can also complain nationally via:

🔗 View AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) Complaints help stop it happening to others (even if you're anonymous).

🙋 Where to Get Support

Thorne Harbour Health:

Provides HIV/STI help and support for LGBTI communities.

📞 +613 9865 6700 or 1800 134 840

View Thorne Harbour Website

🆘 If you were assaulted:

Call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) for sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling.

In an emergency, call 000.

✅ Bottom Line:

✔️ Doxy-PEP is real, effective, and available

✔️ You can ask for it without shame

✔️ Doctors can prescribe it now

✔️ You don’t have to wait until you catch something

✔️ You can complain if you're dismissed or treated badly

Help Getting PrEP

PrEP is a daily pill that protects you from HIV when taken as prescribed. In Australia, it’s approved, subsidised, and available - but some doctors still don’t understand it.

✅ What to Bring or Say

✔️ “I want PrEP to protect myself from HIV.”

✔️ “I’m eligible and understand the guidelines.”

✔️ “Can you help me get started, or refer me?”

In Victoria, anyone at risk - including sex workers and clients - can access PrEP. It's listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), meaning it's subsidised.

🗣️ What to Say at the Clinic:

Here are simple ways to ask for PrEP:

“I’m sexually active and want PrEP to prevent HIV.”

“I meet the risk guidelines. Can I start PrEP?”

(Optional) “I do sex work and want to protect myself.” That’s enough. You don’t need to explain more.

📄 What the Guidelines Say:

Australian PrEP guidelines (from ASHM) support access for:

Men who have sex with men

Trans or cis male sex workers

Anyone with multiple partners or inconsistent condom use

📲 Show your doctor this if they push back or don't understand:

🔗 View ASHM PrEP Guidelines

❗ If a Doctor Says “No”...

Stay calm and say:

“I’m eligible under ASHM guidelines and PrEP is available on the PBS. Could you refer me to someone who does prescribe PrEP, or call the Victorian PrEP Service for advice?”

Victorian PrEP Service (Alfred Health):

📞 1800 889 887

This service can assist with commencing patients on PrEP and provide specialist advice. They also run the PrEPMe clinic for people without Medicare.

If they still refuse, you can make a formal complaint. 👇

You can complain anonymously or get help writing it up.

📝 How to Make a Complaint in Victoria

If you were judged, denied PrEP unfairly, or treated badly:

Write it down:

👉 What was said

👉 Date/time/location

👉 How it made you feel

Make a complaint to the Health Complaints Commissioner (HCC) Victoria:

🖱️ View HCC Website

📞 1300 582 113 (Monday to Friday)

You can also make a national complaint via:

🔗 View AHPRA Website

Need Help or Support?

If you're unsure what to say or want backup, reach out to:

Thorne Harbour Health:

+613 9865 6700 or 1800 134 840. Provides HIV/sexual health support and general practice services (Centre Clinic).

Melbourne Sexual Health Centre (MSHC): (03) 9341 6200. A specialised unit for diagnosis and treatment of STIs, including a PrEP clinic.

Disclaimer:

Not Professional Advice

No Liability & Use at Your Own Risk

No Endorsement of any Provider

🚪 Exit