News
Policy Submission: Inquiry into the health impacts of alcohol and other drugs in Australia
The Australian House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport recently held an inquiry into the health impacts of alcohol and other drugs in Australia. The consultation aimed to assess the effectiveness of policies, treatment services, and prevention strategies in reducing alcohol and other drug-related health harms.
Expressions of Interest: Silver Pride Advocacy Network - Living Experience Advisory Panel
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (LHA) is seeking expressions of interest from LGBTI older people to participate on LHA’s Silver Pride Advocacy Network, Living Experience Advocacy Panel (LEAP).
Share your story to improve access to gender-affirming care
Support MSAC Application 1754
The Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) advises the federal government on public funding for health services. It has received an application to fund gender affirming care for trans and gender-diverse people.
By sharing your story, you can help improve access to life-saving gender-affirming care. This material is designed to assist you in making a submission, to help make this change happen.
Policy Submission: Residential Care Service List
LHA has provided a submission to the Department of Health’s consultation on The Residential Care Service List. This list is an important framework for service providers and potential residents to understand what services residents may be able to receive at no extra charge when in a residential aged care service.
Policy Submission: National Lung Cancer Screening Program Guidelines
Cancer Australia recently invited feedback on their draft National Lung Cancer Screening Program Guidelines.
Policy Submission: Design Changes For Star Ratings
Star Ratings help enable older people and their supporters make more informed choices about the quality of available care options. However, LHA’s submission highlights that LGBTI older people may not see specific benefits from this system. It does not provide information on how their distinctive concerns may be addressed, such as being fully accepted and not facing discrimination.
Experimental LGBTI Population Estimates a Step Forward Ahead of 2026 Census
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today released experimental estimates on LGBTI+ populations in Australia, derived from four recent population-based surveys.
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia welcomes launch and financial investment in the first 10-Year National Action Plan for LGBTIQA+ health and wellbeing
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (LHA), the national peak body for LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing, congratulates the Government on the launch of Australia’s first 10-Year National Action Plan for the Health and Wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ People (Action Plan), and the significant investment of $15.5 million.
Submission on Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Bill 2024
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (LHA) has responded to the proposed ban on social media use for people under 16, highlighting the significant impact this could have on young LGBTIQ+ people.
Submission on the draft Advice on the National Suicide Prevention Strategy
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (LHA) has provided a detailed submission in response to the draft Advice on the National Suicide Prevention Strategy.
Submission on National Cancer Data Framework
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (LHA) has provided a submission in response to the National Cancer Data Framework consultation.
Submission for Reforms to Strengthen the National Mental Health Commission and National Suicide Prevention Office
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (LHA) has submitted recommendations in response to the proposed reforms to strengthen the National Mental Health Commission (NMHC) and National Suicide Prevention Office (NSPO).
Annual Report 2023-2024
This is LGBTIQ+ Health Australia's Annual Report for 2023-2024.
Webinar: Older LGBTI People with Dementia: Understanding Changes in Behaviour in Residential Care Settings - Part 2
On Wednesday 13 November, LGBTIQ+ Health Australia hosted the second part of its two-part webinar series on older lgbti people with dementia.
Submission to the Senate Standing Committees on Community Affairs on the Aged Care Bill
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (LHA) provided comments in September to the Senate Standing Committees on Community Affairs on the Aged Care Bill. LHA supports the development of a person-centred, aged care legislative framework.
Policy and Research Webinar: Our Voices Have Changed the World
On Wednesday 13 November, LGBTIQ+ Health Australia hosted an eye-opening webinar featuring Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Rights in Ageing Inc. (GRAI) groundbreaking publication, “Our Voices Have Changed the World”—a captivating series of interviews with older LGBTI individuals sharing their powerful journeys of love, resilience, and activism.
Webinar: Older LGBTI People with Dementia: Understanding Changes in Behaviour in Residential Care Settings
On Wednesday 06 November, LGBTIQ+ Health Australia hosted the first part of its two-part webinar series on older lgbti people with dementia.
Submission to the Draft National Carer Strategy
The LHA submission to the Draft National Carer Strategy highlights the unique challenges faced by LGBTIQ+ carers, advocating for enhanced recognition and support. It underscores the importance of understanding diverse caregiving dynamics, such as the role of 'families of choice,' and the additional barriers LGBTIQ+ carers encounter, including discrimination and social isolation. The submission calls for peer-led, community-controlled services and targeted research to better address the needs of both adult and young LGBTIQ+ carers. LHA stresses the need for inclusive education and policy measures that reflect the specific experiences of LGBTIQ+ people in caregiving roles.
Submission to the Draft National Nursing Workforce Strategy
The LHA submission on the Draft National Nursing Workforce Strategy emphasises the need for greater inclusion of LGBTIQ+ people in nursing policies to ensure culturally safe and equitable healthcare. Key recommendations include recognising LGBTIQ+ populations as a priority group, incorporating mandatory cultural competence training, and supporting LGBTIQ+ nurses through anti-discrimination measures and mentorship programs. The submission also highlights the importance of education on LGBTIQ+ health and gender-affirming care, and calls for strategies to address workforce shortages in LGBTIQ+ health services, especially in regional and remote areas.
Webinar: MRFF Insights: Transforming LGBTIQA+ health through leading research - Part 2
On Thursday, 17 October, LGBTIQ+ Health Australia hosted the second part of its two-part symposium, showcasing groundbreaking health and medical research aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ communities in Australia.
Terence Humphreys featured in QNEWS: The impact of trauma
Terence Humphreys, Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Director of LGBTIQ+ Health Australia was recently featured in QNews' October issue speaking on the ways LGBTIQ+ people are disproportionately impacted by poor mental health.
Webinar: MRFF Insights: Transforming LGBTIQA+ health through leading research - Part 1
On Thursday, 10 October, LGBTIQ+ Health Australia hosted the first part of its two-part symposium, showcasing groundbreaking health and medical research aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ communities in Australia.
LGBTQA+ Mental Health and Suicidality: Western Australia (WA) Briefing Paper
This briefing paper documents the rates and associations of mental health and suicidality for LGBTQA+ community members in Western Australia based on data from three major surveys of LGBTQA+ health and wellbeing - Private Lives 3, Writing Themselves In 4, and Pride and Pandemic - bringing together findings in a clear, easy-to-use format, broken down on a state-by-state basis. It focuses on State- and Territory-level rates of suicidality, mental ill-health, healthcare service access and modalities, risk factors such as discrimination and harassment experiences, and protective factors such as community- and school-based belonging. Each report also documents the association between these factors and levels of suicidality.
LGBTQA+ Mental Health and Suicidality: Victoria (VIC) Briefing Paper
This briefing paper documents the rates and associations of mental health and suicidality for LGBTQA+ community members in Victoria based on data from three major surveys of LGBTQA+ health and wellbeing - Private Lives 3, Writing Themselves In 4, and Pride and Pandemic - bringing together findings in a clear, easy-to-use format, broken down on a state-by-state basis. It focuses on State- and Territory-level rates of suicidality, mental ill-health, healthcare service access and modalities, risk factors such as discrimination and harassment experiences, and protective factors such as community- and school-based belonging. Each report also documents the association between these factors and levels of suicidality.
LGBTQA+ Mental Health and Suicidality: Tasmania (TAS) Briefing Paper
This briefing paper documents the rates and associations of mental health and suicidality for LGBTQA+ community members in Tasmania based on data from three major surveys of LGBTQA+ health and wellbeing - Private Lives 3, Writing Themselves In 4, and Pride and Pandemic - bringing together findings in a clear, easy-to-use format, broken down on a state-by-state basis. It focuses on State- and Territory-level rates of suicidality, mental ill-health, healthcare service access and modalities, risk factors such as discrimination and harassment experiences, and protective factors such as community- and school-based belonging. Each report also documents the association between these factors and levels of suicidality.
LGBTQA+ Mental Health and Suicidality: South Australia (SA) Briefing Paper
This briefing paper documents the rates and associations of mental health and suicidality for LGBTQA+ community members in South Australia based on data from three major surveys of LGBTQA+ health and wellbeing - Private Lives 3, Writing Themselves In 4, and Pride and Pandemic - bringing together findings in a clear, easy-to-use format, broken down on a state-by-state basis. It focuses on State- and Territory-level rates of suicidality, mental ill-health, healthcare service access and modalities, risk factors such as discrimination and harassment experiences, and protective factors such as community- and school-based belonging. Each report also documents the association between these factors and levels of suicidality.
LGBTQA+ Mental Health and Suicidality: Queensland (QLD) Briefing Paper
This briefing paper documents the rates and associations of mental health and suicidality for LGBTQA+ community members in Queensland based on data from three major surveys of LGBTQA+ health and wellbeing - Private Lives 3, Writing Themselves In 4, and Pride and Pandemic - bringing together findings in a clear, easy-to-use format, broken down on a state-by-state basis. It focuses on State- and Territory-level rates of suicidality, mental ill-health, healthcare service access and modalities, risk factors such as discrimination and harassment experiences, and protective factors such as community- and school-based belonging. Each report also documents the association between these factors and levels of suicidality.
LGBTQA+ Mental Health and Suicidality: Northern Territory (NT) Briefing Paper
This briefing paper documents the rates and associations of mental health and suicidality for LGBTQA+ community members in the Northern Territory based on data from three major surveys of LGBTQA+ health and wellbeing - Private Lives 3, Writing Themselves In 4, and Pride and Pandemic - bringing together findings in a clear, easy-to-use format, broken down on a state-by-state basis. It focuses on State- and Territory-level rates of suicidality, mental ill-health, healthcare service access and modalities, risk factors such as discrimination and harassment experiences, and protective factors such as community- and school-based belonging. Each report also documents the association between these factors and levels of suicidality.
LGBTQA+ Mental Health and Suicidality: New South Wales (NSW) Briefing Paper
This briefing paper documents the rates and associations of mental health and suicidality for LGBTQA+ community members in New South Wales based on data from three major surveys of LGBTQA+ health and wellbeing - Private Lives 3, Writing Themselves In 4, and Pride and Pandemic - bringing together findings in a clear, easy-to-use format, broken down on a state-by-state basis. It focuses on State- and Territory-level rates of suicidality, mental ill-health, healthcare service access and modalities, risk factors such as discrimination and harassment experiences, and protective factors such as community- and school-based belonging. Each report also documents the association between these factors and levels of suicidality.