In a radio interview, Basil Donovan from the Australian National Centre for HIV Epidemiology and Research said in a recent study he found just 4% of men and 7% of women aged between 16 and 25 get tested in any one year.
He said the figures fall far short of other countries such as Canada where 30% of 16 to 25s are regularly tested.
To combat the problem health experts are considering stepping up a plan to test people in toilets at festivals, sports events and pubs and nightclubs.
Jason Warriner, the clinical director for the Terrence Higgins Trust, said testing people in such venues is nothing new but if the schemes were rolled out on a larger scale they could reach far more people. The trust has been testing people in pubs, at festivals and Aussie rules football matches since 2008.
People are offered a sample cup and, those that accept, fill the cup and write on their phone number. If they are found to be positive they receive a phone call and will be advised of what steps to take.
Mr Warriner said: "Waiting for people to come to us doesn't really work."
He said making the whole process more convenient for people will greatly increase the numbers who are tested.