News

LHA has made a submission to the Department of Social Services’ consultation on a new approach to programs for families and children, welcoming the opportunity to create a more flexible, coherent and equitable national system. The submission emphasised that families in Australia are diverse, including LGBTIQ+ parents and caregivers, families raising LGBTIQ+ children and young people, and families with children who have innate variations of sex characteristics. LHA argued that explicit commitments to inclusion, equity and the removal of structural barriers are essential if the reforms are to achieve their stated vision.

LHA made a submission to the consultation on the draft Pharmacist Capability Framework, recognising pharmacists as highly accessible health professionals for many LGBTIQ+ people, particularly in regional and rural areas. The submission welcomed the move to a future-focused, capability-based framework, while stressing that health equity, cultural safety and inclusive practice for LGBTIQ+ populations must be made explicit, given pharmacists’ expanding roles across prescribing, vaccination, harm reduction and sexual health.

The Australian Government is reviewing the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 to ensure it aligns with the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and addresses recommendations from the Disability Royal Commission. The review aims to strengthen protections, improve access to justice, and promote inclusion for people with disability across all areas of life.

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care is reviewing the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards to ensure they remain relevant and effective in promoting safe, high-quality care. This first consultation for the third edition focuses on strengthening governance, integration, and cultural safety across the health system.

LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (LHA) has provided a submission on the draft 2025 Clinical Guidelines for the Early Detection of Prostate Cancer, welcoming the recognition that people other than cisgender men – including trans women, non-binary people and intersex people – may have a prostate and benefit from early detection.

LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (LHA) has contributed to the national consultation on models of care for youth mental health, calling for urgent improvements in access, safety, and inclusion for LGBTIQ+ young people.