Medication that helps prevent HIV transmission is readily available in Australia, including for temporary visa holders and those without Medicare. So why are some LGBTQI+ migrants missing out?
Thisanut Kaewnukul came to Australia from Thailand in 2022. He told SBS Examines his experience trying to access PrEP — pre-exposure prophylaxis medication that helps prevent HIV transmission — was overwhelming at the time.
While PrEP is available for free or at low cost, even for those without Medicare, Thisanut struggled to find that information.
“I felt like I needed to worry about the cost of living, my financial situation. And on top of that, I feel like not every GP that I feel comfortable talking to,” he said.
Alexandre San Martim Portes is the Multicultural Peer Navigation Lead at Emen8, a national HIV and sexual health education program for gay, bi+ and other men who have sex with men. He said Thisanut's experience is a common one.
“It can be scary ... imagine doing that in a language that is not your first language. You have to understand terms that you're not used to. You're going to have to talk to someone about things like how many sexual partners you had in the past few months.
"It can be difficult for someone, depending on their background, but then doing that in English adds a different layer.”
This episode of SBS Examines looks at how migrant men who have sex with men can access sexual health services in Australia, and asks how we can create more safe, welcoming environments for these conversations.
This episode is a collaboration with SBS Thai.
