Australasian Sexual and Reproductive Health Alliance

The Australasian Sexual and Reproductive Health Alliance (ASRHA) is a committee formed under s51 of the constitution of ASHM to facilitate multidisciplinary collaborations to support the Australasian sexual and reproductive health workforce.

The committee of ASRHA provides the guidance upon which ASHM acts in relation to policy, educational and resource-based support for the sexual and reproductive health workforce.

ASRHA works to improve national and local responses to sexual and reproductive health issues, via a multidisciplinary support network. ASRHA aims to strengthen bonds between specialists, GPs, nurses, researchers and other key contributors to the sexual and reproductive health sector, through collaboration in sexual and reproductive health education, training, policy-making and research.

ASHM provides much of ASRHA’s infrastructure including the provision of secretariat, technical support, annual conference facilitation, and funding support.

Background to ASRHA

ASHM was approached by a group of its members looking for support to increase the policy voice of those working in the sexual health area.

In 2009, the ASHM Board made a conscious decision to extend its engagement and support to the viral hepatitis and sexual health workforce. This is reflected in ASHM’s tagline: Supporting the HIV, viral hepatitis and sexual health sector.

In response, ASHM established ASHA, a committee comprising of organisational sustaining members working in sexual health. ASHA takes a broader view of sexual health, rather than just STIs.

As such, the professional groups involved include sexual health and infectious diseases physicians, GPs, family planning, reproductive health specialists, sexuality educators and therapists and others with an interest in sexual health.

Formally known as the Australasian Sexual Health Alliance (ASHA), reproductive health was included in the title in 2021 to reflect the aims and focus of the partnership.