This is a central place for LGBTI organisations (the full members of LGBTIQ+ Health Australia) that are working to support LGBTI people throughout the changing COVID-19 environment.
‘There are three factors that make LGBT+ people more vulnerable to coronavirus: the prevalence of smoking in the LGBT+ community, higher rates of HIV and cancer, and barriers to healthcare that mean LGBT+ people are reluctant to seek medical treatment’, states this open letter from over 100 renowned American LGBTI and Health Organisations (March 11, New York City).
It is well evidenced in Australia that LGBTI people experience higher rates of chronic health conditions such as cancer, which means that many are at risk of serious illness if they acquire COVID-19. You can read our joint statement with AFAO here.
Connecting these populations to care is made more difficult by the pervading structural access barriers to high quality and culturally safe healthcare LGBTI people still experience including actual and perceived discrimination and stigma when accessing services including primary health care.
We hope these resources might help your community to #ConnectWithCare
Commonwealth Department of Health Resources:
- The Minister for Health: Latest Statements
- Department of Health: COVID-19 resources for health professionals
- Department of Health: COVID-19 funding measures
- Department of Health: 30-minute online training module
- The Public Health Unit: COVID-19 National Guidelines for Public Health Units
- Department of Health: Support for the aged care workforce
- Department of Health: Temporary COVID-19 telehealth MBS items
Clinical Resources:
- ASHM: Directory of State and Commonwealth Resources
- RACGP: Directory of Clinical Resources on COVID-19
- AMA: AMA COVID-19 Statements
LGBTI and Community Health:
- NAPWHA: Managing community concerns about ARV supply
- AFAO: COVID-19 and HIV
- ASHM: BBV and STI Sector Webinar
- Scarlet Alliance: Resource Page for Sex Workers and Organisations
- AIVL Twitter Feed: Links to Isolated Drug Use and COVID-19
- Hepatitis Australia: Fact Sheet on Corona and Hepatitis B and C
- Thorne Harbour Health: Intimacy, COVID-19 and Communities
- APCOM: A Regional Response
- ACON Update on COVID-19
- Twenty10: Statement on COVID-19 impact
- ILGA: a global perspective
- Intersex Human Rights Australia: Intersex people and COVID-19
- Thorne Harbour Health: COVID-19 & LGBTIQ Women
Sex Work:
- Global Network of Sex Work Projects (NSWP) and UNAIDS: Joint Statement
- Scarlet Alliance: Emergency Support Fund for Sex Workers in Australia
Indigenous Health Services
- The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Advisory Group on COVID-19 – endorsed by the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC): ‘Management Plan for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Populations’
- Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia: Coronavirus Page
- Emerging minds: resources to support children and reduce worry and distress
- The Department of Health website COVID-19 resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and remote communities
- NACCHO Webpage: Aboriginal Health and Corona Virus
Disability Support:
- Royal Commission into Exploitation of People with Disability:
- Support for People With Disability Urgently Needed
- CID (a disability rights organisation led by people with intellectual disability): Mental Health and Coronavirus
- NDIS: Coronavirus Hub
- For Peer Organisations see:
In-Language and Translated Resources:
- Department of Health: Translated Resources
- NPS Medicine Wise: Community Languages
- SBS: Corona Coverage in 763 Languages
- WHO: Videos on Corona Basics and Regular Updates
- ETHNOlink: COVID-19 Resources in 49 Languages
Intersex Support:
- IPSA: Online Peer Hangouts for People with Intersex Variations
- IHRA: Facebook Page (Peers + Allies, Family and Friends)
- Intersex Human Rights Australia: Intersex people and COVID-19
Trans and Gender Diverse:
- Twenty10: Statement on COVID-19 impact
- ACON: What Trans People Need to Know
- DISCHARGED hold a free weekly peer support group via Zoom: ONLINE peer support group for trans, gender diverse and gender questioning people to talk about suicidal thoughts, feelings and actions
- AUSPATH: Response to the Cancellation of ‘Elective’ Surgeries
- The Gender Center: Practical Resources
- RACGP Article on Interactions with:
- Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs)
Mental Health and Wellbeing:
- MindOut: Community of Practice – Webinar Series for Health Professionals
- Department of Health: Head to Health Website Resources for Public
- Beyond Blue Forums: Looking After Yourself During Corona
- APS: Information Sheets for All Australians
- Headspace: Information For Young People
- MindSpot: 10 Tips for Coping with COVID
- ABC: Mental Health Tips When Working From Home
- The Conversation: Tips For a Crowded House
- ReachOut Forums: Forums Here on a Range of Topics
- Wendybird: Ways to Stay Connected Online
- Lung Foundation Australia: Mental Health and COVID-19 Video
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: Stigma and Young People Video
- Lung Foundation Australia: Mental Health and COVID-19 Video
- WHO: COVID-19 Stigma and Talking to Young People Video
- Black Dog Institute: Personal Mental Health Check In
- Say it Loud: Keeping our relationships healthy during COVID-19
- Joy.fm special: Michael and Cal talk about keeping social, keeping active, and keeping entertained in isolation
- World Economic Forum: Experts explain how to manage mental wellbeing during COVID-19
- Gottman Institute: Keeping it Together While Social Distancing
Older LGBTI People:
- Older Persons Advocacy Network: See Resources
- Mindspot: Wellbeing Course for People 60+
- Be Connected is an Australia wide initiative empowering all
- Australians with online learning resources: develop your digital skills and confidence.
Aged Care Sector:
- Silver Rainbow: For Aged Care Workers
- Department of Health: Aged Care and Corona Virus Advice
- Dementia Australia: Tips for Carers, Families and Friends of People Living with Dementia
- Communicable Diseases Network of Australia: Prevention Guidelines in Aged Care
- Royal Commission Into Aged Care Submission Extension: See LGBTIQ+ Health Australia Update
Rainbow Ageing is a national research project that aims to provide new data on the health and well-being of older lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Australians, led by the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS) at La Trobe University. The project is funded by the Australian Research Council and involves four partner organisations, including LGBTIQ+ Health Australia, COTA Australia, SANE Australia, and Carers Australia. There will be 14 articles published in all. Here are the first 5.
Communicating Corona:
- Mindframe: Reporting Guidelines
- Croaky Article: Ethics and Communications
- Croaky Thread: Corona Virus Thread
- The Conversation: Reporting on Corona Must be Ethical
Organisational and Corporate Support:
- Fairwork Australia: Corona Virus and Workplace Changes
- Safe Work Australia: Information for Employers
- ABC News: Tech Tips When Working From Home
- eSafety Commission: Staying Safe Online
- Heads Up: Workplace Mental Health Resources
- WHO: Workplaces and COVID-19 Guide
Workplace resourcing (WWDA):
- Zoom (requires the internet):
- Zoom has a Youtube channel with helpful videos.
- Download WWDA’s Plain English document on how to use Zoom.
- Skype (requires the internet):
- Skype how-to-videos
- Skype Essentials for Mac video
- Skype for Windows Desktop video
- Skype has a Youtube channel with helpful videos.
- Facetime (requires the internet):
- Apple Support has a Youtube channel
Diversity Council of Australia: excellent research and tools!
- Getting flexible – Quick wins
- Future-Flex: Taking a strategic approach to flexibility
- Flexibility tools
- Compliance
- DCA’s research:
Domestic and Family Violence:
Due to social distancing and self isolation requirements, many women and children may be more susceptible to experiencing violence and abuse: Royal Commission into Disability Abuse statement on COVID-19.
- 1800 RESPECT – 1800 737 732
- Lifeline – 131 114
- Relationships Australia – 1300 364 277
- DV Connect – 1800 811 811
- Men’s Referral Service – 1300 766 491
- Safe Steps Crisis Line (VIC) – 1800 015 188
- WithRespect: family violence and intimate partner violence service supporting LGBTIQ+ communities and their families (Vic).
- NSW Domestic Violence Line – 1800 656 463
- ACT 24/7 Crisis Line – (02) 6280 0900
- TAS Family Violence Counselling and Support Service – 1800 608 122
- SA Domestic Violence Crisis Line – 1800 800 098
- WA Women’s Domestic Violence 24h Helpline – 1800 007 339
- Queerspace (Victoria only)
Legal Aid:
- Redfern Legal Centre Factsheet No. 7: NSW COVID-19 Public Health Laws and Police Powers
- HRLC: Over 200 organisations outline human rights concerns at outset of COVID crisis
- Legal Aid resource page: https://www.legalaid.nsw.gov.au/get-legal-help/covid-19
- OHCHR: COVID-19 AND THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF LGBTI PEOPLE
- Aus Covid Policing website: 32 additional reports
- Fair trading: landlords and Evictions
And While You’re Here:
- Encourage All People to Update Their Medicine List
- Videos From IHRA: Let’s Talk About Intersex
- Broad Agenda: Gender and Corona
- Womens Agenda: Childcare without Grandparents
Science:
- Epidemiologist-Designed, No-Sew face Mask to Protect Yourself and Others from Coronavirus COVID-19: https://youtu.be/q8GwjVihGj4
- This study examined homemade masks as an alternative to commercial face masks: Several household materials were evaluated for the capacity to block bacterial and viral aerosols
- Bill Bowtell: Clocking Corona Youtube Series on Pandemic Health Messaging
- Kirby Institute: Lecture by Professor Raina MacIntyre: The COVID-19 pandemic update: transmission, herd immunity and is an exit strategy possible?
- Airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2: The world should face the reality
Australian Data here is based on media reports and verified with updates from state and federal health departments: https://www.covid19data.com.au
The pressure on our health system is immense and we must all contribute to reducing infections.
Our important work continues across ageing and aged care, disability, mental health and suicide prevention and LGBTI health more broadly. Please see the regularly updated LGBTIQ+ Health Australia Program and Policy here.
Please see our referral pages for COVID-19:
- Connect with Care: for the LGBTI Sector and Organisations
- Connect with Confidence: for the LGBTI Communities and Individuals
- Connect with Community: for the Health Sector and Services
