How to Get PrEP in Australia: A Guide for Gay and Bisexual Men
PrEP stands for pre-exposure prophylaxis. It is a prescription medicine you take before possible exposure to HIV, so that if the virus enters your body it cannot take hold. For gay and bisexual men, it is one of the most effective tools available for preventing HIV, and when taken as prescribed it reduces the risk of getting HIV through sex to very low levels.
PrEP does not protect against other sexually transmissible infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhoea, or syphilis, so regular testing stays part of the picture. Think of it as one strong layer of protection that works best alongside testing and the prevention choices that suit your life.
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PrEP is worth a conversation with a doctor if you are a gay or bisexual man and any of the following sound familiar: you have sex without condoms, you have a partner living with HIV whose status is not yet undetectable, you have had a sexually transmissible infection recently, or you use other prevention some of the time but not always. You do not need to tick every box. The point of the consultation is to work out, with a clinician, whether PrEP fits your situation right now.
It is a judgement-free conversation. Your doctor's job is to help you protect your health through men's sexual health care, not to question your choices.
Getting PrEP in Australia is more straightforward than many people expect:
- Speak to a doctor. PrEP is prescription-only, so the first step is a consultation with a GP. This can happen in person or online by telehealth.
- Have a quick baseline test. Before starting, you will have an HIV test and a check of your kidney function, plus screening for other sexually transmissible infections. This confirms PrEP is safe and right for you.
- Get your prescription. If PrEP is appropriate, your doctor prescribes it and explains how to take it.
- Stay on track with follow-up. You return roughly every three months for repeat testing and a fresh prescription, which keeps you protected and well monitored.
The whole pathway is designed to be quick and private, and you can start it from home.
PrEP is subsidised through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), which brings the cost of the medicine down to a standard PBS co-payment per script, with a lower amount if you hold a concession card. That makes it one of the more affordable prescription medicines in Australia. Your pharmacist can tell you the exact co-payment on the day.
The doctor's consultation to assess and prescribe PrEP is bulk billed for eligible patients with a valid Medicare card. Strict bulk billing eligibility criteria apply. If you are not eligible for Medicare, an out-of-pocket consultation option is available.
You do not need to sit in a waiting room to start PrEP. Through a telehealth consultation you can speak with an Australian-registered GP from home, arrange your baseline tests at a local collection centre, and have your prescription sent to you electronically. For many gay and bisexual men this is the most comfortable and convenient way to begin, and the same applies to your three-monthly reviews.
If you would rather be seen in person, that is always an option too. The right path is whichever one makes you most likely to start and stay on PrEP. PrEP is also an option for women, which we cover in our guide to PrEP and HIV prevention for women.
Ready to find out if PrEP is right for you?
At Abby Health you can speak with an Australian-registered GP about PrEP, often the same day, through a private telehealth consultation. Your clinician will talk through whether PrEP is right for you, arrange the baseline tests, and support your ongoing reviews, all in one connected record so you are not repeating your story each time. Appointments are bulk billed for eligible patients with a valid Medicare card. Strict bulk billing eligibility criteria apply.
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