Syphilis Is Back: What GPs Need to Know About Testing, Treatment and Follow-Up
Webinar 22 Sep, 7:30 PM - 8:30 PM (AEST)
General practitioners play a critical role in the early detection, treatment and prevention of STIs, including syphilis. Many patients access sexual health care through general practice, making GPs central to timely testing, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up and referral.
This webinar will provide a brief overview of current STI trends in Australia and NSW, with a stronger focus on the resurgence of syphilis and its implications for general practice. Syphilis can present in a range of ways and may be easily missed, particularly when symptoms are mild, atypical or occur alongside other health concerns.
The session will focus on practical approaches that can be applied in everyday general practice, including recognising syphilis as a “great pretender”, knowing when and how to test, interpreting serology, managing positive results, supporting follow-up and contact tracing, and knowing when to seek specialist advice or refer.
The activity aims to strengthen GP knowledge, confidence and capability in STI and syphilis care, including screening, testing, treatment, follow-up, contact tracing and culturally safe sexual health conversations with diverse patient groups.
Learning outcomes
- Describe current STI trends in Australia and NSW, including the resurgence of syphilis and what this means for general practice.
- Recognise common and less obvious presentations of syphilis across different patient groups.
- Apply a practical approach to syphilis testing, serology interpretation, treatment, follow-up and contact tracing.
- Use culturally safe and patient-centred strategies to support sexual health conversations with priority populations in general practice.
Educational
Activities
1.0
hours
Measuring
Outcomes
1.0
hours
Reviewing
Performance
1.0
hours
Speakers
Dr Miriam Grotowski
Acting Clinical Dean, Peel Rural Clinical School
Dr Miriam Grotowski is an accomplished medical professional with a rich history of dedication to both rural medical practice and medical education spanning more than 30 years. Dr Grotowski currently serves as Acting Clinical Dean of the Peel Rural Clinical School within the University of Newcastle Department of Rural Health. Dr Grotowski also works as a General Practitioner in Tamworth and is a VMO at Tamworth Rural Referral Hospital. She has been a Fellow of the RACGP for more than 30 years and was awarded Life Membership in 2024. She has a Diploma in Psychiatry (in eating disorders), having worked in this space for over 25 years. Miriam’s other interest, medical education, extends to mentoring and supervising medical students, junior doctors, GP registrars and supporting Continuing Professional Development for practicing GPs.
For a full bio: https://www.newcastle.edu.au/profile/miriam-grotowski
Dr Kym Collins
Sexual health physician
Dr Kym Collins started life as a GP, but found it so incredibly difficult to keep up to date in EVERYTHING, that she moved sideways into Sexual Health in 2000. She completed her fellowship whilst raising her three children and now works as a Staff Specialist and VMO in regional publicly funded sexual Health Clinics on the Mid North Coast of NSW and in Albury, Wagga and Griffith. She is painfully aware of the realities and time constraints of GP and passionate about supportive GPs to do sexual health more efficiently and confidently