Connect
Connect is a national public health initiative led by Thorne Harbour Health, designed to increase access to free HIV self-testing kits through a network of vending machines across Australia.
- UXUIDesignFront-End BuildAccessibilityIntegration
- hivconnect.org.au/
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Challenge
Following a successful pilot in South Australia, Connect received funding to expand nationally. Grade was engaged to design and build a new multilingual, mobile-first website that would bring together all aspects of the program into a single, trusted digital hub.
The platform supports people seeking HIV self-testing, provides clear education and next steps, and underpins the operational rollout of vending machines across multiple jurisdictions.
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Solution
Grade partnered closely with Thorne Harbour Health to deliver a platform that is human-centred for the public and operationally robust for the internal team.
The brief called for a solution that would:
Simplify access to free HIV self-testing kits
Provide clear, culturally appropriate information about HIV and test results
Support multiple languages to reach priority populations
Meet accessibility and safety standards, including Quick Exit functionality
Integrate with Thorne Harbour Health’s wider digital ecosystem
Enable the operational rollout and management of vending machines nationally
Key focus areas included:
Mobile-first experience design
The site was designed for mobile as the primary use case. User flows are streamlined, fast-loading, and discreet, supporting people who may be accessing information privately or on the go.
Clear public pathways
The website guides users through three simple, action-oriented journeys:
Get a Test Kit, where users complete a short flow and receive an SMS code that unlocks a free HIV self-test kit at any Connect vending machine
Understand Your Result, with clear explanations of negative, positive, or invalid results and what to do next
Find Services and Support, providing access to appropriate support services across jurisdictions
Multilingual design and accessibility
The platform supports multiple languages including Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia, Vietnamese, Hindi, Spanish, Bahasa Melayu, Simplified Chinese, and Farsi. Language switching is simple and prominent, helping signal safety and inclusivity even when translations are not actively used.
Brand consistency and trust
The design refines and extends the original Connect pilot branding, ensuring visual consistency while reinforcing credibility and public health trust.
CMS and scalability
A flexible WordPress build with WPML enables efficient management of multilingual content, SEO optimisation, and rapid updates as the program expands.
Safety and accessibility standards
The site meets WCAG 2.1 AA requirements and includes Quick Exit functionality to protect users in sensitive environments.
Post-launch operational tooling
Following launch, Grade designed and built a new internal self-service admin system to replace the original interface. This system allows the Connect team to remotely test, activate, and manage vending machines as they are deployed nationwide, providing greater operational independence, speed, and control.
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Results
The Connect platform now provides a national digital and operational foundation built for scale and long-term impact.
A fast, mobile-first experience supports discreet access to HIV self-testing
Clear pathways help users move quickly from information to action
Multilingual support improves accessibility for culturally diverse communities
Streamlined content management enables rapid updates across languages
A custom admin system supports efficient activation and management of vending machines
Optimised technical structure and SEO improve discoverability and engagement
The platform is positioned to support ongoing rollout, program evolution, and future integrations.
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Impact
Beyond functionality, Connect represents a shift in how equitable health access is delivered digitally.
By removing digital, language, and operational barriers, the platform helps Thorne Harbour Health reach more people with less friction. It supports communities that have historically faced stigma and access challenges, while equipping internal teams with the tools needed to manage a growing national program with confidence.
Connect is now not just a website, but a living digital service that quietly and safely Connects people to testing, education, and support across Australia.
Working with the Grade team was a really positive experience. They took a very lay-person approach, which helped translate what communities and health organisations need into something that is visually functional and easy to use.