Australian Support for Pacific HIV Action (ASPHA)

Australian Support for Pacific HIV Action (ASPHA) is an Australian Government initiative supporting Pacific island countries to respond to rising rates of HIV. 

Fiji reported 583 new HIV cases in 2024, and a further 2,016 cases in 2025.

ASPHA aims to reduce the impact of the current HIV outbreak and strengthen countries' capacity to respond to future public health threats. 

Over the period July 2026 to December 2028, ASPHA is supporting Pacific countries to implement evidence-based, locally led responses guided by their own priorities, policies and health-system contexts. 

Burnet is participating in ASPHA across 2 streams of work.

Australia is working with Pacific countries as they implement evidence-based, effective national responses, drawing on the tools and policy approaches that can help to contain HIV as a public health threat.

Rising HIV rates pose significant long-term health, social and economic challenges for the region. By working with local governments and partners to deliver locally led solutions, ASPHA aims to reduce the impact of the current HIV outbreak and strengthen countries' capacity to respond to future public health threats. 

The program also supports communities most affected by HIV, as well as strengthens responses for key populations at increased risk of HIV, including women, young people, people of diverse sexual orientation, gender identity, expression, and sex characteristics (SOGIESC) and other communities experiencing barriers to healthcare.

ASPHA prioritises direct action, localised responses, as well as cross-country collaboration that enables a collective regional response.

ASPHA streams

ASPHA is being delivered through 3 primary streams:

• The National Systems stream supports the government-led response to HIV, including through national health systems.
• The Community stream supports the community-led, non-governmental response to HIV.
• The Commodity stream focuses on procurement of health commodities and strengthening pharmaceutical and supply chain management systems.

Burnet is participating in the National Systems and Community streams. 

National Systems stream

Burnet is partnering with ASHM, Fiji National University, The Pacific Community, the Doherty Institute and the Kirby Institute as part of the National Systems stream. This stream is working with Pacific island countries to build stronger, more sustainable health systems to address HIV in the region.

Community stream

Burnet is partnering with Health Equity Matters, the Pacific Sexual and Gender Diversity Network, the Pacific Conference of Churches, and the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement to support the Community stream. This will bolster community-led HIV efforts through health promotion, peer-led testing, treatment and care, working with people of diverse SOGIESC, women’s rights organisations, and church groups.

All 3 ASPHA streams are collaborating to deliver coordinated assistance for locallyled responses. Burnet’s role across the National Systems and Community streams supports this coordination and a whole-of-system approach to deliver on project objectives. 

Timeline

July 2026 – December 2028.