News
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.
Leading mental health organisations say proposed ban won’t make social media safe
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (LHA) has joined other leading mental health organisations in signing a joint statement promoting for evidence-based improvements to online safety. Australia’s leading mental health organisations believe the proposed social media ban will risk cutting young people across Australia off from mental health support, exposing them to new harms and leaving many without any support.
Webinar: LGBTIQA+ primary health care priorities in Western Australia: Insights for advocacy and action
On Wednesday, 18 September, LGBTIQ+ Health Australia hosted a powerful discussion on LGBTIQA+ primary health care priorities in Western Australia, offering key insights for advocacy and action.
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.