Training and Quality Framework for Syphilis Point-Of-Care (POC) Testing

There is a continuing outbreak of infectious syphilis in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations in a number of regions across Australia. This outbreak began in northern Queensland in January 2011 and extended to the Northern Territory in July 2013, the Kimberley in Western Australia in June 2014 and South Australia in November 2016.
Since the commencement of the syphilis outbreak in 2011 to 31 January 2021, there have been 4,017 cases of infectious syphilis and 22 congenital syphilis cases associated with the outbreak. Of the 22 congenital syphilis cases, 7 infants are reported to have died from the condition. Whilst case numbers may appear to have decreased in recent times, this is likely due to COVID-19 restrictions in outbreak regions which has resulted in less opportunistic face to face syphilis testing. It is more likely that the syphilis outbreak has remained steady. Case numbers have not decreased to the level that the risks of congenital syphilis have been sufficiently reduced.
The Department of Health has provided funding for an Enhanced Response to this outbreak of $21.27 million (GST exclusive) through the Indigenous Australians’ Health Programme (IAHP) over four years (2017-18 to 2020-21). This funding will cease on 30 June 2021. The focus of the Enhanced Response to date has been the design and implementation of a ‘Test and Treat’ model in selected Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs) in outbreak areas, enabling testing and treatment of a symptomatic individual with syphilis to be undertaken immediately. As part of the Enhanced Response, the Department of Health engaged Flinders University International Centre for Point-of-Care Testing (Flinders University) to develop and implement a Training and Quality Framework for syphilis Point-of-Care Testing (PoCT) to support the implementation of this ‘Test and Treat’ model.
This procurement aims to build on this success to date by continuing the current Enhanced Response approach by engaging Flinders University to continue to deliver PoCT training to staff in participating ACCHSs and PoCT quality assurance in line with the Training and Quality Framework developed under the previous Enhanced Response contract.