News
Webinar series: Older LGBTI People with Dementia
Join us for an informative webinar series tailored for aged care providers. Each session will focus on case study discussions, offering practical tools and insights to enhance support for LGBTI clients.
Submission in response to the consultation on the review of Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Health Assessment Items
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (LHA) has submitted its response to the consultation on the review of Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Health Assessment Items. In its submission, LHA highlights the significant health disparities experienced by LGBTIQ+ populations, which are often under-addressed in current MBS health assessments.
Submission to the Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC) Data Policy Framework Consultation
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (LHA) has submitted its feedback to the Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC) Data Policy Framework Consultation.
Submission with feedback on the National Roadmap to Improve the Health and Mental Health of Autistic People
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (LHA) has provided feedback on the National Roadmap to Improve the Health and Mental Health of Autistic People.
Submission in Response to Australia’s Ninth Periodic CEDAW Report
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (LHA) has made a submission in response to Australia's Ninth Periodic Report under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
Visiting someone with dementia: resources
The Silver Rainbow program has assisted with the creation of these resources which provide guidance and activities to support connection with an LGBT+ person living with dementia overtime.
Their development was led by Dr. Louisa Smith at Deakin University and co-designed with six people who had visited LGBT+ people living with dementia over an extended period of time.
A central aim of these resources is that they will become a record of a growing friendship, and provide a useful tool to look back on as someone’s dementia changes.
Please find them below.
Strong leadership from Albanese Government on the 2026 Census for LGBTQ+ communities
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (LHA) today congratulates Prime Minister and Assistant Minister Andrew Leigh, who is responsible for the Census, for demonstrating strong leadership by listening to experts, swiftly considering the advice and deciding to include a new topic on gender and sexual orientation in the 2026 Census.
Joint Statement in support of the inclusion of three new topics on gender, variations of sex characteristics, and sexual orientation variables into the 2026 Census
Joint Statement in support of the inclusion of three new topics on gender, variations of sex characteristics, and sexual orientation variables into the 2026 Census
Silver Rainbow factsheets to support older LGBTI people
The Silver Rainbow program aims to improve the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people as they age and enter the Australian aged care system.
The ten factsheets below have been created for aged care workers to provide guidance on how to support LGBT people in aged care.
Factsheet: Trans and Gender Diverse Older People
The term trans and gender diverse describes people whose gender differs from what was presumed for them at birth (sometimes referred to as “assigned at birth”).
Factsheet: LGBTI Older People and Palliative Care
Palliative care provides quality of life and comfort for someone who has a life-limiting illness and is expected to die.
Factsheet: LGBTI 101
Language is inclusive when we use words in ways that show our respect for how people describe their own relationships, genders and bodies. It is important to show this respect even when describing people who are not present.
Factsheet: LGBT People and Elder Abuse
The World Health Organisation defines elder abuse as something that happens where there is a relationship of trust between an older person and another person, and the other person does something that causes harm or distress to the older person.
Factsheet: LGBT Older People and Social Isolation
LGBT older people are more likely to experience social isolation and loneliness because they are often separated from their family of origin.
Factsheet: Intersex Older People and Ageing
Intersex refers to people who are born with sex characteristics that don’t fit medical norms for female or male bodies. There are around 30-40 different types of intersex variations recognised by doctors, as well as other types of physical diversity that fit this definition.
Factsheet: Older People Living with HIV
HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) attacks the immune system, and if left untreated, can make it harder for the body to fight infections and related diseases.
Factsheet: LGBT Older People and Families of Choice
A ‘family of choice’ (or ‘chosen family’) is a group of people who are chosen by a person to be their family. They often include partners, ex-partners and close friends.
Factsheet: LGBT People and Dementia
For many LGBT older people, their life experience as an LGBT person is important to them and a big part of who they are. It is often overlooked when they get diagnosed with dementia.
Factsheet: Coming out and disclosure of LGBT older people
LGBT older people receiving aged care services may hide their true selves. This may be because they fear experiencing discrimination and that their unique needs will not be understood.
Lack of LGBTIQ+ inclusion in the next census will adversely impact health outcomes
The Albanese Government’s decision that it will not include questions counting LGBTIQ+ Australians in the 2026 Census (as reported by Sky News) shows a shameful lack of commitment to addressing the health and wellbeing disparities experienced by LGBTIQ+ people. This will have a lasting negative impact on people’s lives for many years.
“Stop dithering on older people’s rights”: Older Australians call on MPs to stop delaying action on aged care reform
Older people are urging a bipartisan approach from the Federal Government and Opposition to urgently introduce a new rights based Aged Care Act.
Rainbow Realities: In-depth analyses of large-scale LGBTQA+ health and wellbeing data in Australia
Rainbow realities brings together existing findings and new analyses from six large scale surveys of LGBTQA+ populations in Australia: Private Lives 3, Writing Themselves In 4, SWASH, Trans Pathways, Walkern Katatdjin (Rainbow Knowledge) and Pride and Pandemic. In total, these surveys received more than 20,000 responses from all parts of the country.
Rainbow Realities: In-depth analyses of large-scale LGBTQA+ health and wellbeing data in Australia
Rainbow Realities was launched on Tuesday 9 April at LGBTIQ+ Health Australia's 12th Health in Difference Conference in Canberra by The Hon Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Aged Care.
WEBINAR: Free to Exist: Participation data on LGBTIQA+ young people in sport and physical activity
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Young LGBTIQA+ people continue to experience and witness alarming rates of homophobia/biphobia/ transphobia in sport and movement settings. |
Health in Difference Conference Communique
Please find the 12th Health in Difference Communique below.
PODCAST: The grassroots values of humanity - Vitor Rocha, Palliative Care Lead, Murray Primary Health Network
Vitor Rocha joins Palliative Care Australia Thursdays@3 epsiode as the Palliative Care Lead with Murray Primary Health Network, based in Bendigo.
WEBINAR: Embracing Inclusion: Providing Supportive Palliative Care for LGBTIQ+ Communities
On Wednesday 15 November 2023, LGBTIQ+ Health Australia and Palliative Care Australia hosted a powerful conversation on Embracing Inclusion: Providing Supportive Palliative Care for LGBTIQ+ Communities’.
LGBTI and dementia scoping review summary
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia in partnership with Dementia Support Australia commissioned the Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, to complete a scoping review of the needs, service access and current practices to support LGBT+ older adults living with cognitive impairment and dementia.
ARTICLE: PROMOTING INCLUSIVE PALLIATIVE CARE FOR LGBTIQ+ PEOPLE
Discrimination drives many LGBTIQ+ people to avoid disclosing their diverse bodies, sexual orientations or genders in healthcare, which has a direct impact on their end-of-life planning, according to Dr Ruth McNair, a General Practitioner and Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne.
Article: Research highlights challenges in palliative care for LGBTIQ+ communities
Even with progress in addressing barriers faced by LGBTIQ+ people, research shows there's still significant work to be done, especially in palliative care and end-of-life services, according to Dr Fiona Ann Papps, an Associate Professor in Psychological Sciences at the Australian College of Applied Professions (ACAP).