Over the past decade, the rates of syphilis in pregnancy and congenital syphilis are continuing to rise in south-east Queensland (SEQ). Screening for syphilis during antenatal care is an important factor for prevention. In our study, SEQ healthcare providers identified system-level and individual-level barriers that prevent adequate screening. It is important that these barriers be identified and addressed to improve screening to promote maternal health and prevent congenital syphilis in SEQ.

Refugee and migrant men in Australia are currently under-represented and generally marginalised in fertility and sexual and reproductive health program development, research conceptualisation and implementation. This review indicates that sexual and reproductive health literature on refugee and migrant men largely focuses on sexually transmitted infections, meaning other areas such as contraception, fertility, the impact of gender roles and psychosexual health are poorly understood. This knowledge is needed to evaluate and inform national and state policy on men’s health in Australia.

What does health and wellbeing mean to transgender and gender diverse individuals in rural Australia? As the first study of its kind, the findings are complex; there are higher rates of discrimination and feelings of social isolation for those living in rural areas and yet many people also report positive experiences. This diverse range of experiences was unexpected and could inform policy changes for national health service models.

Despite increasing emphasis on strengths-based approaches to Aboriginal sexual health, there are limited studies documenting how young Aboriginal people reduce sexual health risks they encounter. Drawing on in-depth interviews with 35 Aboriginal men and women aged 16–21 years in two remote Australian settings, we document many individual and collective STI and pregnancy risk reduction strategies. Findings illustrate the need for holistic, multisectoral STI prevention and sexual health programs driven by the diverse realities of young people’s sexual lives.

Is sexting deviant or a normal part of adolescence? Many reports of sexting in adolescence have noted that it is a deviant behaviour, considering it part of a grouping of risky sexual behaviour that includes unprotected sex. In a national study of Australian adolescents, there were no differences between sexters and non-sexters in STI rates and contraceptive use; indicating that sexting is not part of a group of risky sexual behaviours and is instead a normative part of adolescents exploring their sexual selves.

Despite the fact that access to contraception it is key to reproductive autonomy, initiating and continuing use of hormonal contraception in Australia can be costly and logistically challenging. This mapping review aimed to identify and comment on the number and accessibility of online platforms providing prescriptions for and supply of hormonal contraception within Australia. We found that despite addressing some of the identified barriers, these services are unlikely to be truly accessible to all consumers.