Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
23/07/2026 7:21 AM AWST
23/07/2026 7:21 AM AWST
Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.
Provide sexual and reproductive health care
Provide sexual and reproductive health care
Unit of competency
National Code
HLTAHW515B
HLTAHW515B
State Code
D5705
D5705
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
25/07/2011
Field of Education
061305 - Indigenous Health
Original Release Date
25/07/2011
Nominal Hours
100
Description
This unit describes advanced skills and knowledge required to provide clients with health care services in addition to general health care and specific to sexual and reproductive health
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Check sexual and reproductive health
- 1.1 Undertake tests, observations and other screening procedures in line with protocols and client requirements1.2 Review client records to determine priorities and potential areas of risk for each client1.3 Question client appropriately to identify and/or clarify any sexual and/or reproductive health issues and/or significant variations from normal1.4 Use medical equipment effectively and maintain in accordance with organisation policies1.5 Consult relevant allied professionals and available documentation in relation to the sexual and/or reproductive health of the client1.6 Obtain informed consent for all examinations and tests and undertake appropriate pre-test discussion before testing for HIV or other blood-borne viruses
2. Provide care to clients with sexual health problems
- 2.1 Respect Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community values, beliefs and gender taboos in assessing and managing sexual health problems2.2 Engage clients in holistic STI risk assessment and take an appropriate sexual health history for each client presenting or identified with a sexual health problem2.3 Assess common sexual health problems according to clinical presentation and treat/refer/support in line with standard protocols and organisation guidelines2.4 Obtain history of sexual contacts where an STI is identified, negotiate contact tracing and follow up contacts for testing and treatment in line with standard protocols2.5 Develop holistic health care plan for each client with sexual health problems2.6 Support and counsel clients with STIs to assist in treatment and prevention of infection2.7 Ensure records of STI management and contact tracing are kept confidential and secure2.8 Maintain current, complete, accurate and relevant records for each client interaction
3. Provide information on sexual and reproductive health care
- 3.1 Promote safe sex practices or other STI risk reduction strategies and distribute condoms as appropriate3.2 Discuss common methods of birth control with clients, explaining the methods, their advantages and disadvantages3.3 Discuss transmission of STIs and complications with the client as appropriate3.4 Discuss symptoms of pregnancy with clients and identify as appropriate3.5 Provide information on healthy lifestyle and risks during pregnancy3.6 Provide clients with information which is age and culturally appropriate and aligned with their specific needs3.7 Employ a range of interpersonal techniques to ensure own values are not imposed on clients and information is provided in a non-judgmental way3.8 Provide referral where own personal and professional abilities do not match client needs
4. Evaluate effectiveness of sexual and reproductive health care
- 4.1 Monitor sexual and reproductive health in line with schedule and criteria incorporated in care plan for each client4.2 Evaluate intervention/ongoing sexual and/or reproductive health care against standing order/written care protocols and client level of comfort and compliance with health care practices4.3 Ascertain degree of improvement of client's holistic health and compare with expectations under the health care plan4.4 Undertake clinical re-assessment and/or review of treatment/medication regime as required where client fails to progress in accordance with expectation4.5 Provide client with clear information about their level of improvement in relation to the health care plan and their level of compliance4.6 Encourage clients to maintain sexual and reproductive health by active involvement with the care plan
RANGE STATEMENT
The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.
Cultural respect
This competency standard supports the recognition, protection and continued advancement of the inherent rights, cultures and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
It recognises that the improvement of the health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must include attention to physical, spiritual, cultural, emotional and social well being, community capacity and governance
Its application must be culturally sensitive and supportive of traditional healing and health, knowledge and practices
Community control
Community participation and control in decision-making is essential to all aspects of health work, and the role of the health worker is to support the community in this process
Supervision
Supervision must be conducted in accordance with prevailing state/territory and organisation legislative and regulatory requirements
References to supervision may include either direct or indirect supervision of work by more experienced workers, supervisors, managers or other health professionals
A person at this level should only be required to make decisions about clients within the organisation's standard treatment protocols and associated guidelines
Legislative requirements
Federal, state or territory legislation may impact on workers' practices and responsibilities. Implementation of the competency standards should reflect the legislative framework in which a health worker operates. It is recognised that this may sometimes reduce the application of the Range of Variables in practice. However, assessment in the workplace or through simulation should address all essential skills and knowledge across the Range of Variables
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers may be required to operate in situations that do not constitute 'usual practice' due to lack of resources, remote locations and community needs. As a result, they may need to possess more competencies than described by 'usual practice circumstances'
Under all circumstances, the employer must enable the worker to function within the prevailing legislative framework
Sexual health check refers to:
A sexual and reproductive health consultation that incorporates assessment (with the client) of:
STI risk factors
promotion of good sexual health and safe sex practices
examination/testing based on risk status, best available evidence and consideration of local circumstances.
Obtaining a client sexual health history involves:
Ensuring confidentiality
Building trust
Providing explanations for seeking information
Obtaining history of current complaint and genital symptoms
Sensitive questioning on sexual practices and risk behaviours
Eliciting details of sexual contacts
Common sexual health problems include:
Male urethral syndrome (gonorrhoea, chlamydia)
Impotence (psychological, medication related, microvascular disease)
Inguino-scrotal swellings (hydrocele, hernia, varicocele, testicular tumour)
Acute painful testicle (torsion, epididymo-orchitis)
Penile disorders (phimosis, balanitis, circumcision complications)
Prostatism (benign prostatic hypertrophy, prostatic carcinoma)
Vaginal discharge (gonorrhoea, chlamydia, bacterial vaginosis, candidiasis, trichomoniasis)
Female pelvic pain (gonorrhoea, chlamydia, and non-infectious causes such as ovarian complications and ectopic pregnancy)
Ulcerative genital disease (herpes simplex virus, syphilis, Donovanosis)
Genital lumps (wart virus)
Asymptomatic (most of above, plus HIV and Hepatitis B)
Sexual health issues may include:
Rape and sexual assault
Family and domestic violence
Child sexual abuse
Relationships
Sexual identities
Homophobia
Gender, including transgender issues
Power and discrimination
Menopause
Unplanned pregnancy
Sexually transmitted infections
Sexual behaviours
Contraception
Management of menstruation, including menstrual problems and pre-menstrual syndrome
Sexual coercion
Sexual health check ups
Impotence
Impotence
Circumcision complications
Puberty
Cervical and breast screening
Issues relating to pregnancy may include:
Consideration of options in relation to unwanted pregnancy
Provision of information about pregnancy
Difficulties associated with pregnancy
Examination/testing of client may include:
Routine examinations for sexual and/or reproductive health problems.
More invasive examinations such as:
pap smears
STI specimen collection
Risk factors for sexually transmitted infection include:
Number of sexual partners
Unsafe sex practices
Past history of sexually transmissible infections
Alcohol or substance misuse
Local disease prevalence
Frequency of being named as sexual contact of an index case
Screening for STI may include:
Genital inspection for ulceration, pubic lice and discharge
Taking genital swabs for gonorrhoea and chlamydia
Taking blood for syphilis, HIV and Hepatitis B serology
Obtaining a first-pass urine specimen for gonorrhoea and chlamydia PCR testing
Acquiring a client-obtained vaginal specimen (tampon or low-vaginal swab) for gonorrhoea and chlamydia PCR testing
Common methods of birth control (and their advantages and disadvantages) include:
Oral contraceptive pill (reliable, safe, need to take daily)
Condoms (reduced STI transmission, shared responsibility, high failure rate)
Withdrawal (male responsibility, high failure rate)
Breast-feeding (high failure rate)
Injectable or implantable hormonal contraception (highly reliable, low effort, delayed return of fertility, irregular menses)
Post coital ('morning after') pill (nausea)
Tubal ligation
Vasectomy (reliable)
Ethical, legal and religious issues involved in reproductive choices may include:
Restrictions on termination of pregnancy
Access to pharmaceutical supplies
Church teachings
Factors that influence reproductive choices for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women may include:
Age of consent
Educational attainment
Informed decision making
Cultural norms for maternal age and numbers of children
Coercion
Local beliefs and traditional practices regarding pregnancy and childbirth may include:
Food restrictions in pregnancy
Role of traditional midwives
Birthing in traditional country
The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.
Cultural respect
This competency standard supports the recognition, protection and continued advancement of the inherent rights, cultures and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
It recognises that the improvement of the health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must include attention to physical, spiritual, cultural, emotional and social well being, community capacity and governance
Its application must be culturally sensitive and supportive of traditional healing and health, knowledge and practices
Community control
Community participation and control in decision-making is essential to all aspects of health work, and the role of the health worker is to support the community in this process
Supervision
Supervision must be conducted in accordance with prevailing state/territory and organisation legislative and regulatory requirements
References to supervision may include either direct or indirect supervision of work by more experienced workers, supervisors, managers or other health professionals
A person at this level should only be required to make decisions about clients within the organisation's standard treatment protocols and associated guidelines
Legislative requirements
Federal, state or territory legislation may impact on workers' practices and responsibilities. Implementation of the competency standards should reflect the legislative framework in which a health worker operates. It is recognised that this may sometimes reduce the application of the Range of Variables in practice. However, assessment in the workplace or through simulation should address all essential skills and knowledge across the Range of Variables
Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers may be required to operate in situations that do not constitute 'usual practice' due to lack of resources, remote locations and community needs. As a result, they may need to possess more competencies than described by 'usual practice circumstances'
Under all circumstances, the employer must enable the worker to function within the prevailing legislative framework
Sexual health check refers to:
A sexual and reproductive health consultation that incorporates assessment (with the client) of:
STI risk factors
promotion of good sexual health and safe sex practices
examination/testing based on risk status, best available evidence and consideration of local circumstances.
Obtaining a client sexual health history involves:
Ensuring confidentiality
Building trust
Providing explanations for seeking information
Obtaining history of current complaint and genital symptoms
Sensitive questioning on sexual practices and risk behaviours
Eliciting details of sexual contacts
Common sexual health problems include:
Male urethral syndrome (gonorrhoea, chlamydia)
Impotence (psychological, medication related, microvascular disease)
Inguino-scrotal swellings (hydrocele, hernia, varicocele, testicular tumour)
Acute painful testicle (torsion, epididymo-orchitis)
Penile disorders (phimosis, balanitis, circumcision complications)
Prostatism (benign prostatic hypertrophy, prostatic carcinoma)
Vaginal discharge (gonorrhoea, chlamydia, bacterial vaginosis, candidiasis, trichomoniasis)
Female pelvic pain (gonorrhoea, chlamydia, and non-infectious causes such as ovarian complications and ectopic pregnancy)
Ulcerative genital disease (herpes simplex virus, syphilis, Donovanosis)
Genital lumps (wart virus)
Asymptomatic (most of above, plus HIV and Hepatitis B)
Sexual health issues may include:
Rape and sexual assault
Family and domestic violence
Child sexual abuse
Relationships
Sexual identities
Homophobia
Gender, including transgender issues
Power and discrimination
Menopause
Unplanned pregnancy
Sexually transmitted infections
Sexual behaviours
Contraception
Management of menstruation, including menstrual problems and pre-menstrual syndrome
Sexual coercion
Sexual health check ups
Impotence
Impotence
Circumcision complications
Puberty
Cervical and breast screening
Issues relating to pregnancy may include:
Consideration of options in relation to unwanted pregnancy
Provision of information about pregnancy
Difficulties associated with pregnancy
Examination/testing of client may include:
Routine examinations for sexual and/or reproductive health problems.
More invasive examinations such as:
pap smears
STI specimen collection
Risk factors for sexually transmitted infection include:
Number of sexual partners
Unsafe sex practices
Past history of sexually transmissible infections
Alcohol or substance misuse
Local disease prevalence
Frequency of being named as sexual contact of an index case
Screening for STI may include:
Genital inspection for ulceration, pubic lice and discharge
Taking genital swabs for gonorrhoea and chlamydia
Taking blood for syphilis, HIV and Hepatitis B serology
Obtaining a first-pass urine specimen for gonorrhoea and chlamydia PCR testing
Acquiring a client-obtained vaginal specimen (tampon or low-vaginal swab) for gonorrhoea and chlamydia PCR testing
Common methods of birth control (and their advantages and disadvantages) include:
Oral contraceptive pill (reliable, safe, need to take daily)
Condoms (reduced STI transmission, shared responsibility, high failure rate)
Withdrawal (male responsibility, high failure rate)
Breast-feeding (high failure rate)
Injectable or implantable hormonal contraception (highly reliable, low effort, delayed return of fertility, irregular menses)
Post coital ('morning after') pill (nausea)
Tubal ligation
Vasectomy (reliable)
Ethical, legal and religious issues involved in reproductive choices may include:
Restrictions on termination of pregnancy
Access to pharmaceutical supplies
Church teachings
Factors that influence reproductive choices for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women may include:
Age of consent
Educational attainment
Informed decision making
Cultural norms for maternal age and numbers of children
Coercion
Local beliefs and traditional practices regarding pregnancy and childbirth may include:
Food restrictions in pregnancy
Role of traditional midwives
Birthing in traditional country
EVIDENCE GUIDE
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.
Critical aspects of assessment:
The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills
Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the workplace
Where, for reasons of safety, space, or access to equipment and resources, assessment takes place away from the workplace, the assessment environment should represent workplace conditions as closely as possible
Conditions of assessment:
This unit includes skills and knowledge specific to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture
Assessment must therefore be undertaken by a workplace assessor who has expertise in the unit of competency or who has the current qualification being assessed and who is:
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander him/herself
or:
accompanied and advised by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person who is a recognised member of the community with experience in primary health care
Context of assessment:
Competence should be demonstrated working individually, under supervision or as part of a primary health care team working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients
Assessment should replicate workplace conditions as far as possible
Related units:
This unit may be assessed independently or in conjunction with other units with associated workplace application.
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.
Critical aspects of assessment:
The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills
Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the workplace
Where, for reasons of safety, space, or access to equipment and resources, assessment takes place away from the workplace, the assessment environment should represent workplace conditions as closely as possible
Conditions of assessment:
This unit includes skills and knowledge specific to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture
Assessment must therefore be undertaken by a workplace assessor who has expertise in the unit of competency or who has the current qualification being assessed and who is:
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander him/herself
or:
accompanied and advised by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person who is a recognised member of the community with experience in primary health care
Context of assessment:
Competence should be demonstrated working individually, under supervision or as part of a primary health care team working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients
Assessment should replicate workplace conditions as far as possible
Related units:
This unit may be assessed independently or in conjunction with other units with associated workplace application.
Replaces
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| C9013 | HLTAHW515A | Provide sexual and reproductive health care | Unit of competency |
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| WG707 | HLTAHW056 | Provide sexual and reproductive health care | Unit of competency |
