Sexual health contact tracer now available

Te Whatu Ora Taranaki has appointed Rose Heron as the region's sexual health contact tracer, a role established under the government's 2023 HIV Action Plan. The action plan set an ambitious goal to eliminate local HIV transmission and AIDS-related deaths by 2030, and the recruitment of contact tracers across the country is a key part of that work. This service is free and based at the Sexual Health Clinic on Powderham Street, where Rose works on Fridays.

Rose's role focuses on supporting people who have tested positive for a sexually transmitted infection (STI) and have consented to follow-up contact. Approximately one week after treatment, she will check in on symptom resolution and discuss partner notification. For anyone who would prefer not to notify their own contacts, Rose can do this on their behalf — always with strict confidentiality and no disclosure of identifying case details.

As a newly established role, a formal referral pathway is still being developed. In the meantime, clinicians are welcome to refer patients via email. Management of HIV exposures will continue to be led by the HIV clinical nurse specialist, with Rose working closely alongside to support broader STI transmission reduction across the region.