LHA acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia, their diversity, histories and knowledge and their continuing connections to land and community. We pay our respects to all Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and their cultures, and to Elders of past and present. 

The LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (LHA) Board of Governance is saddened that Australia has voted against an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament which would have created, an independent and permanent advisory body enshrined in the Constitution and ensured that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people could provide advice to the Australian Parliament and Government on matters that affect their lives.      

The lead up to the referendum has been challenging and has exacerbated the existing health disparities experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. LHA will work with its member organisations and the QLife service to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTIQ+ Sistergirl and Brotherboy communities now and into the future.  

LHA will continue to support the processes of agreement-making and truth-telling about Australia’s history within the framework of Voice, Treaty, Truth and continuing on its own journey of healing and building strong, transparent and respectful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTIQ+ Sistergirl and Brotherboy individuals and community-controlled organisations. LHA sees this work as critically important and is committed to listening, learning, and working towards decolonising the frameworks and processes at LHA.