In 2013 there were almost 3000 notifications for Chlamydia in Hunter New England health district, compared to 2800 in 2010.
National data also shows that syphilis is now at its highest ever recorded level in Australia, with a decline in safe sex believed to be behind the rise.
To help with early detection among people aged between 15 and 24, the Hunter health district has opened up a new STI outreach clinic at the Maitland Headspace building.
Nurse manager Glenda Entwisle said they had been running the service for a couple of months on Mondays to help young people, the demographic deemed most at risk of contracting an STI, get tested.
“The number of chlamydia incidents has increased and our aim is to get people aware that they need to be tested,” she said.
“Chlamydia is often known as a silent infection because approximately 50 per cent of men and 75 per cent of women have no symptoms.
“If left untreated Chlamydia can cause pain, infertility and place people at greater risk of contracting other STI’s including HIV.”
The clinic is run from noon to 5pm every Monday and clients don’t need a Medicare card or to be a client of Headspace to attend.
In addition to getting tested young people can attend the service to seek sexual health advice and access free condoms.