Sydney WorldPride 2023 Update and Information

WorldPride is coming to Sydney on February 17-March 5, 2023! As you’re likely aware WorldPride is an international festival and celebration for LGBTIQ+ communities, people and culture. The festival also aims to promote and advocate for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex or queer (LGBTIQ+) human rights around the world.

During this period Sydney will is expecting a large number of attendees from across NSW, interstate and internationally to attend events in the Sydney metropolitan area. To find out more about WorldPride, watch this video.

NSW Health has undertaken work in the lead up to WorldPride to ensure our services meet increased demands during the event period, and support our stakeholders, including yourselves, during this time. Our priorities have been to:

• Ensure high vaccination coverage against monkeypox (mpox). 
• Ensure high PrEP coverage to prevent against HIV. 
• Ensure sexual health services are aware and ready for an increase in demand. 
• Ensure community messaging is consistent and have an implementation plan ready 
• Coordinate with medical services including ED, GPs, pharmacies, and publicly funded sexual health clinics 

Please find below information, resources and referral links that may support you and your clients during Sydney WorldPride. These resources are useful no matter your location. Visitors to Sydney may travel regionally before, during or after Sydney WorldPride. 

RACGP Webinar: What GPs need to know about Sydney WorldPride

NSW Health and RACGP are hosting a Sydney WorldPride webinar.

With Dr Kerry Chant, NSW Chief Health Officer

Tuesday 21st February from 7.30pm – 8.30pm.

The webinar is case study based to discuss management and additional services GPs can access over WorldPride. It is hosted by 2 GPs who will be joined by Dr Kerry Chant NSW Chief Health Officer (AO PSM), and Nic Parkhill, CEO of ACON.  

Register here

NSW Health’s ‘Staying safe at Sydney WorldPride’ website

NSW Health developed a ‘Staying safe at Sydney WorldPride’ landing page which includes information for health professionals, NSW community and visitors on a range of topics, including:

• Where to get medical help in NSW
• Vaccinations ahead of Sydney WorldPride
• Mpox
• Sexual health
• COVID-19, flu and other illnesses
• Mental health support
• Alcohol and other drugsAdvice in your language
• Information for clinicians

The website includes NSW Health’s latest clinical alerts, tools, trainings and resources to manage sexual health presentations during WorldPride.

Sexual health service access and referral during Sydney WorldPride

The NSW Sexual Health Infolink provides information on HIV/STI prevention, testing, clinics and referral support for both patients and clinicians. SHIL has a direct health professionals’ line and is available to support you and your clients between 8am-8pm weekdays.

The PEP hotline (1800 PEP NOW) operates 24 hours. You can call the PEP hotline to discuss a client’s HIV risk, if they should be recommended to take PEP and to find locations where PEP can be accessed.

Additional sexual health services available during Sydney WorldPride can be found here.