Free and confidential STI testing for LGBTIQA+ communities. Clinic operating every month, PrEP prescriptions available, no Medicare card required.
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The next STRIP Clinic is on 16 March 2026. |
STRIP Clinic sessions run from 4:30 to 6:35pm.
Bookings are required. Contact our office during business hours on 02 6257 2855 to book, or email [email protected] to find out more.
STRIP Clinic is quick, simple and free to access, making it easier and more comfortable for LGBTIQA+ community members to look after their sexual health. It is for people who do not have STI symptoms (see note 1).
We also offer limited STRIP Clinic appointments for prescriptions for starting PrEP (see note 2).
STRIP Clinic is run at Meridian by friendly and professional nurses and doctors from Canberra Sexual Health Centre.
STRIP Clinics conduct tests for asymptomatic STIs and those that do not always have obvious symptoms, including;
- chlamydia
- gonorrhoea
- HIV
- syphilis
- hepatitis A, B and C.
All tests are voluntary and can be discussed with the nurses. The tests are designed to be as non-invasive as possible and some samples are self-collected in privacy.
Dates:
Our remaining 2026 STRIP Clinic dates are:
- 16 March
- 20 April
- 18 May
- 15 June
- 20 July
- 17 August
- 21 September
- 19 October
- 16 November
- 14 December.
Location:
Meridian
85 Northbourne Avenue (Gould St entrance)
Turner ACT 2612
(02) 6257 2855
Unfortunately, our offices are located in a heritage building with structural limitations that make it difficult to improve our facilities for full accessibility. This means our clinic facilities, including bathrooms, are not fully accessible for some people. If you have accessibility requirements, please read more about our building accessibility.
Notes
| 1. |
If you think you have symptoms of an STI, contact a healthcare provider like a GP, medical centre or your local sexual health clinic as soon as possible. If you think you have been exposed to HIV in the last 72 hours (3 days), start PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) now. PEP is a month-long course of medication that helps prevent HIV infection after a possible exposure. In Canberra, you can access PEP from the emergency departments of Canberra Hospital and North Canberra Hospital, and during business hours at the Canberra Sexual Health Centre. Learn more about PEP. |
| 2. |
Getting access to PrEP isn’t easy for everyone. If cost is a barrier, you may be able to get a free PrEP coupon through Free PrEP. This program might be for you if you:
You will need a current prescription and photo ID. In your application, write briefly why you need support to access PrEP. Each coupon can be used once and you can reapply as needed. |
STRIP Clinic is a project of the Partnership Approach to Comprehensive Testing (PACT), running since 2002. PACT is collaboration between Meridian, Canberra Sexual Health Centre, SWOP ACT and Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT, as well as the venues that allow the clinics on their premises.
For additional information about sexual health testing available across Canberra, or to book a STRIP Clinic appointment, please call our office on 02 6257 2855 during business hours.
Free, friendly, and confidential sexual health testing is also available at Canberra Sexual Health Centre (CSHC). Check out CSHC’s website for details on how to book.
CSHC also runs M-Clinic for men who have sex with men and don't have STI symptoms on the first Tuesday of the month (excluding public holidays) from 4.30 to 7pm. Bookings can be made by calling 02 5124 2184.
If you would prefer to do a HIV test at home, you can get a free HIV self-test kit from our reception (during business hours) or 24/7 using the CONNECT vending machine outside our office, thanks to the federally funded CONNECT project by Thorne Harbour Health. To get a kit through the vending machine, you just need to head to the CONNECT website, answer a few questions and provide a mobile phone number. You'll then get an SMS with a code you can use at the machine to get your free test. Using the kit is straightforward and there’s a detailed instructional video on the CONNECT website, along with plenty of other information.
If you get a positive result, you can follow up with a doctor or nurse who will do a blood test to confirm. You can call the Meridian office for support on (02) 6257 2855 during business hours.