6C. Affiliate Organisation Session: BiSHH: Understanding the sexual health and HIV needs and risks of Australian bi+ people
Tracks
Track 3
| Tuesday, September 16, 2025 |
| 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM |
| City Room 3&4 (Upper Level) |
Details
Bi+ is an inclusive umbrella term used to describe sexual identities that involve attraction to people of more than one gender, such as bisexual, pansexual, and queer. In 2023, researchers from UNSW (the Kirby Institute and the Centre for Social Research in Health), La Trobe University (the Australian Research Centre for Sex, Health and Society) and the University of Sydney partnered with bi+ community advocates to develop BiSSH: the first national survey of sex, health, and relationships designed specifically for the bi+ community in Australia. The study was developed in partnership with an advisory group of 12 bi+ community members from across Australia and coordinated by the Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney.
The BiSHH study was an anonymous, cross-sectional survey that was launched online in Sep 2024, and by Feb 2025, had recruited over 2,000 bi+ participants of all genders. This survey explored a range of topics related to sexual identity and attraction, sexual behaviour, relationships, and sexual health such as STI/HIV experiences and health service usage. The study also captured information on related aspects of health and wellbeing such as alcohol and drug use, discrimination, sexual violence and coercion, mental health and social networks.
This session will provide an overview of the survey development process, and key findings related to sexual health and HIV, including sexual behaviour and risk indicators, sexual health and HIV prevention knowledge and attitudes, STI and HIV testing and diagnosis, use of safer sex strategies such as PrEP, PEP and contraception, experiences accessing sexual healthcare and information and strategies to improve sexual healthcare for bi+ people. The session will conclude with a Q&A panel about the study and discussion of implications for policy and sexual health service provision for bi+ people in Australia.
Speaker
A/Prof Benjamin Bavinton
Associate Professor
Kirby Institute
Bi+ Sexual Health and HIV Study: Introduction
11:00 AM - 11:05 AMBiography
Mr Steven Spencer
Vice-president
National Association of People With HIV Australia (NAPWHA)
Bi+ Sexual Health and HIV Study: Background and Methods
11:05 AM - 11:20 AMBiography
Steve Spencer BCom, MCom Melb, AAICD (fmr) is an award-winning bi+ and HIV advocate, researcher, and consultant based on Gadigal Land, Sydney, Australia. He is a proud ambassador of Qtopia Sydney and the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation.
Steve is the Vice President of Australia's national peak community HIV body, NAPWHA, and is co-Investigator of the 'BiSHH - Bi+ Sexual Health and HIV Needs Study' at The Kirby Institute, UNSW, as well as appearing as a regular guest lecturer at Johns Hopkins University. Steve co-hosts the popular podcast 'Give It To Me Bi' providing a large platform for bi+ people and topics, as well as speaking publicly across corporate, education, and health sectors. Steve sits on a number of advisory councils and is the founder and convenor of the Bi+ Positive Advocacy Network, a NAPWHA National Network while advocating for bi-visibility and action against HIV stigma.
Self-acceptance, community, courage, and empathy are at the core of Steve’s advocacy and you can follow his work on Instagram @ssstorven and @giveittomebi.
Dr Heather McCormack
Scientia Research Fellow
Kirby Institute, Unsw Sydney
Bi+ Sexual Health and HIV Study: Characteristics of the sample
11:20 AM - 11:35 AMBiography
Heather McCormack has worked in research, communications, health promotion and program management roles across the STI and BBV sector for over 15 years. She has particular interests in health equity, strengths-based approaches, social aspects of sexual health, and optimising health services to improve accessibility and acceptability to diverse populations.
A/Prof Benjamin Bavinton
Associate Professor
Kirby Institute
Bi+ Sexual Health and HIV Study: Sexual Health and HIV Risks and Experiences
11:35 AM - 11:50 AMBiography
Ms Bella Bushby
Senior Project Officer
Kirby Institute
Bi+ Sexual Health and HIV Study: Experiences of Sexual Healthcare and Improving Sexual Health Care Delivery
11:50 AM - 12:05 PMBiography
Bella Bushby (she/her) is a PhD candidate and Senior Project Officer in the HIV Epidemiology and Prevention Program at the Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney. Her research focuses on the sexual health and HIV needs of bi+ people in Australia, and she is the project coordinator of the Bi+ Sexual Health and HIV (BiSHH) study.
HIV&AIDS Conference
6C. Panel Discussion
12:05 PM - 12:30 PMBiography
Session Chair
Jennifer Power
Deputy Director
ARCSHS La Trobe
Daniel Vujcich
CEO
WAAC
