Telehealth PEP · urgent HIV prevention within 72 hours
FREEwith Medicare (bulk-billed)
Urgent PEP consult by phone with a Specialist GP, anywhere in Australia. PEP can prevent HIV after a possible exposure, but it must start within 72 hours — the sooner the better. The GP assesses the exposure, arranges PEP, and organises follow-up testing. Same-day urgent appointments, usually within hours.
Book now — PEP works best within 72 hours of exposure
PEP must be started within 72 hours (3 days) of exposure — and works best the sooner it begins. Every hour counts, so seek care straight away rather than waiting to see how you feel.
In business hours, book an urgent telehealth consult or call 1300 222 365. After hours, or if you can’t be seen quickly, go to your nearest hospital emergency department — they can provide PEP around the clock. If it’s already been more than 72 hours, still seek advice.
Think you’ve been exposed to HIV? Don’t wait.
PEP must be started within 72 hours (3 days) of exposure — and works best the sooner it begins. Every hour counts, so seek care straight away rather than waiting to see how you feel.
During clinic hours, book an urgent PEP consult with Clinic365. After hours, or if you can’t be seen quickly, go to your nearest hospital emergency department — they can provide PEP at any time. If it’s already outside 72 hours, still seek advice, as there may be other steps to take.
What Is PEP?
PEP stands for post-exposure prophylaxis. It’s a short course of HIV prevention medicines taken after a possible exposure to HIV, to stop the virus from taking hold and causing infection. Think of it as an emergency measure — the HIV equivalent of urgent preventive treatment after a risk has already happened.
PEP is highly effective when started quickly and taken correctly, but it is genuinely time-sensitive. It is not a “morning after” convenience to rely on repeatedly, and it’s not the same as PrEP (which is taken before exposure). If you may have been exposed, the priority is simple: get assessed for PEP as soon as possible.
The 72-hour window — why timing is everything
PEP must be started within 72 hours (3 days) of the possible exposure. After that window it’s no longer effective, because the virus may already have established itself. And within those 72 hours, sooner is much better — ideally within hours. This is why PEP is treated as an emergency and why you shouldn’t wait.
If you’re reading this because something happened recently, the single most useful thing you can do is seek care now rather than finishing this page. The clock started at the moment of exposure, so don’t delay to “think about it” — get assessed, and a clinician will help you decide whether PEP is right for you.
When You Might Need PEP
PEP may be appropriate after a possible HIV exposure such as:
Condomless sex with someone who has HIV and is not known to have an undetectable viral load
Condomless sex with someone whose HIV status is unknown and who may be at higher risk
A condom breaking or slipping during sex with an at-risk partner
Sharing needles or injecting equipment
Sexual assault
A needlestick or occupational exposure (for example, in healthcare work)
Not every exposure needs PEP — the level of risk varies, and a clinician will assess your specific situation to decide. But that assessment should happen urgently, not later. If you’re unsure whether your situation qualifies, seek advice rather than assuming it doesn’t.
Where to Get PEP Urgently
Because PEP is time-critical, knowing where to go matters:
During clinic hours — book an urgent PEP consult with Clinic365, or seek other care that can assess you promptly.
After hours, or if you can’t be seen quickly — your nearest hospital emergency department, which can provide PEP at any time.
Some areas also have dedicated PEP information lines that can direct you to the nearest service.
The key message is not to let the 72-hour window slip because a clinic is closed. Emergency departments provide PEP around the clock precisely because of the time pressure. It’s always better to be assessed and told you don’t need PEP than to miss the window.
How PEP Works, and Taking It
PEP works by using a combination of antiretroviral (HIV) medicines to stop HIV replicating in the body during the critical period just after exposure, before it can establish a lasting infection. Taken correctly for the full course, this gives the body the chance to clear any virus it has been exposed to. It’s the same class of medicines used to treat HIV, used here for a short time to prevent it.
What to expect at your assessment
When you seek PEP, a clinician will quickly assess the exposure and your risk. If PEP is appropriate, you’ll usually start it the same visit. The assessment typically includes a discussion of what happened and when (to gauge the risk and confirm you’re within the window), a baseline HIV test to confirm you’re HIV-negative before starting, other baseline tests such as an STI screen, hepatitis, and kidney and liver checks, a pregnancy check where relevant, and starting the PEP course with advice on how to take it. Starting PEP doesn’t wait for all results — if you’re within the window and the risk warrants it, you begin straight away, and results are reviewed as they come back.
Taking PEP: the 28-day course
PEP is taken every day for 28 days (four weeks). Taking it consistently, at around the same time each day, is important — missed doses reduce how well it works. Complete the entire course even if you feel fine, and don’t stop early. If you have trouble with the medicines or side effects, contact your clinician rather than simply stopping, as adjustments can often be made. During the 28 days and until follow-up testing confirms your status, it’s sensible to use condoms and avoid sharing equipment, to protect both yourself and others.
Effectiveness, side effects and follow-up
PEP is highly effective at preventing HIV when it’s started quickly and taken correctly for the full course. It is not, however, 100% guaranteed — which is another reason to start as early as possible and complete every dose. Modern PEP is generally well tolerated; some people experience mild side effects, particularly in the first days — nausea, tiredness, headache or an upset stomach — which usually settle and can often be managed. Side effects are not a reason to stop PEP on your own: if they’re troubling you, contact your clinician. After finishing the course, you’ll have HIV testing at set points — commonly a few weeks after finishing and again at around three months — to confirm the exposure did not lead to infection, usually with STI screening at the same time.
PEP vs PrEP — and What Comes Next
PEP and PrEP are related but different:
PEP
PrEP
When taken
After a possible exposure (emergency)
Before and around potential exposure (ongoing)
Timing
Start within 72 hours; taken for 28 days
Taken ahead of time, on an ongoing basis
Purpose
Urgent prevention after a risk
Continuous protection against HIV
If you find yourself needing PEP — or thinking about it — more than occasionally, that’s a strong sign PrEP would suit you better. PrEP provides ongoing protection so you’re covered in advance, rather than racing a 72-hour clock each time. A clinician can help you switch to PrEP once your PEP course is complete.
Frequently asked questions
PEP stands for post-exposure prophylaxis — a short course of HIV prevention medicines taken after a possible exposure to HIV to stop it taking hold. It’s an emergency measure, highly effective when started quickly and taken correctly. It’s different from PrEP, which is taken before exposure, and it must be started within 72 hours of the exposure.
PEP must be started within 72 hours (3 days) of the possible exposure, and the sooner the better — ideally within hours. After 72 hours it’s no longer effective. This is why PEP is treated as an emergency: don’t wait to see how you feel or think it over. Seek care straight away so you don’t miss the window.
Consider PEP after a possible HIV exposure — such as condomless sex with someone who has HIV without an undetectable viral load or of unknown higher-risk status, a condom breaking with an at-risk partner, sharing needles, sexual assault, or a needlestick injury. Not every exposure needs PEP; a clinician assesses your risk. If unsure, seek advice urgently rather than assuming you don’t qualify.
During clinic hours, book an urgent consult with Clinic365 or seek other care that can see you promptly. After hours, or if you can’t be seen quickly, go to your nearest hospital emergency department — they provide PEP around the clock. Some areas have PEP information lines to direct you. Don’t let a closed clinic cause you to miss the 72-hour window.
PEP uses a combination of antiretroviral (HIV) medicines to stop HIV replicating in the body during the critical period just after exposure, before it can establish a lasting infection. Taken correctly for the full 28-day course, it gives the body the chance to clear any virus it has been exposed to. It’s the same class of medicines used to treat HIV.
PEP is taken every day for 28 days (four weeks). Taking it consistently at around the same time each day matters, as missed doses reduce how well it works. Complete the full course even if you feel fine, and don’t stop early. If side effects or other issues arise, contact your clinician rather than stopping, as adjustments can often be made.
PEP is highly effective at preventing HIV when started quickly and taken correctly for the full course. It’s not 100% guaranteed, which is why starting as early as possible and completing every dose matters so much. Starting within the window, taking it consistently, and finishing the 28 days together give the best protection.
Modern PEP is generally well tolerated. Some people have mild side effects early on — nausea, tiredness, headache or an upset stomach — which usually settle and can often be managed. Serious side effects are uncommon. Side effects aren’t a reason to stop PEP yourself; if they’re troubling you, contact your clinician, who can help you complete the course.
Before starting: a baseline HIV test to confirm you’re negative, plus an STI screen, hepatitis and kidney and liver checks, and a pregnancy check where relevant. Starting PEP doesn’t wait for all results if you’re within the window. Afterwards: HIV testing at set points (commonly a few weeks after finishing and again around three months) to confirm your status.
PEP is taken after a possible exposure as an emergency — started within 72 hours and taken for 28 days. PrEP is taken before and around potential exposure, on an ongoing basis, for continuous protection. If you find yourself needing PEP more than occasionally, PrEP would likely suit you better, providing protection in advance rather than racing a 72-hour clock each time.
If it’s been more than 72 hours, PEP is unlikely to be effective, but you should still seek advice. A clinician can discuss HIV and STI testing, follow-up, and whether ongoing prevention like PrEP is right for you going forward. Don’t let passing the window stop you from getting checked and supported — there are still worthwhile steps to take.
Yes. Needing PEP more than occasionally is a strong sign that PrEP would suit you better. PrEP provides ongoing protection against HIV, so you’re covered in advance rather than relying on an emergency course each time. A clinician can help you transition to PrEP once your current PEP course is finished. It’s a more sustainable form of protection.
