Researchers and health advocates in Australia are alarmed by a significant increase in the number of reported sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in the country.

A research team led by Associate Professor David Wilson from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) conducted the national surveillance report for HIV, viral hepatitis and STIs. Wilson says the increase in chlamydia cases has reached "epidemic" proportions among 15- to 30-year-olds.

"Over 74,000 people were diagnosed with chlamydia; that is an 18-per-cent increase from the previous year," he said.

New cases of gonorrhoea jumped 25 per cent to just over 10,000 in 2010.

Professor Wilson says increased testing was not enough to match the jump in diagnosis over the past year, and additional funding for awareness programs is needed.

"Prevention programs are starting. There has been some piloted programs in place. These are good measures but not enough," he said.

"We need to have some targeted, good prevention programs to reduce these epidemics that are clearly on the rise."

Researchers say the study shows disproportionate rates of gonorrhoea and chlamydia among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, particularly in remote and very remote communities.

The survey showed 36 per cent of all gonorrhoea cases in 2010 and 9 per cent of all chlamydia cases were among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

James Ward, head of UNSW's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Program, says a large pool of existing infection, youth demographics, and mobility are driving the STI epidemic.

"I think we need to have some systematic indicators for primary health care services delivering to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people," he said.

On the positive side, researchers say the latest survey showed low levels of syphilis, meaning eradication is within reach, and HIV infection rate is continuing to plateau, with 1,000 new cases annually.