About this work: 

 

In Australia LGBTIQA+ communities have been identified as a priority group in our National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement and it is well documented that the Queer community faces significant discrimination and barriers to accessing healthcare. Inequitable access to health care for the LGBTIQA+ community is often spoken about in advocacy by researchers, doctors and other health professionals with proximity to power – resulting in a lack of advocacy pieces that elevate the voices of the Queer community without this proximity to power.

 

LGBTIQA+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, asexual, plus (represents all other gender identities and sexual orientations). Throughout this page and within the film LGBTIQA+ and ‘Queer’ are used interchangeably to refer to the broader community. Queer is a term that has been reclaimed and is frequently utilised by many in the broader community, but not all – for some folks they choose not to use the term ‘Queer’.

LELAN’s goal with this project was to amplify voices from the LGBTIQA+ community about the discrimination, impacts and solutions connected to the queer healthcare equity gap

 

This short film is aimed at health systems broadly as a source of education about what individual professionals and services can do to help close the queer health equity gap and reduce barriers to accessing care.

When we say health professionals this includes everyone from admin staff at health-related services, allied health professionals, peer workers, GP’s, nurses, surgeons, psychiatrists, support workers and more.

It can also be a source of education for family, kin, friends, and the broader community about some of the additional barriers LGBTIQA+ folks face just to access the same health care as everyone else.

 

In doing this work, there was a particular focus on how queer people’s experiences in healthcare impacted them and the human cost of inequitable healthcare.  As well as what helped and harmed them the most when accessing care, what they wish all health professionals knew and ideas for how professionals and services can create more equitable care for the LGBTIQA+ community.

 

LELAN is grateful for the people that shared their experiences and wisdom in the film – Ariel, Chai, Kay, Oakley, Rainier and Sudhashree. We know that there is still a much broader diversity of voices that need and deserve to have their voices amplified.

This project was partially funded by a small grant from The Equality Project.

 

We’re On This Journey Together:

 

 

Want a printable flyer about this short film that you can give to your health professionals or to share with your networks?

  • Click here for an A4 Flyer
  • Click here for an A5 Flyer/Social Media Tile

LGBTIQA+ Information for Professionals and Community:

  • Rainbow Directory SA – Support when looking for LQBTIQ+ Services or Activities across SA
  • SA Rainbow Advocacy Alliance (SARAA) – is the peak body for LGBTIQA+ South Australians
  • Yarns Heal – a suicide prevention campaign for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and LGBTIQ+ Sistergirl and Brotherboy community
  • Thorne Harbour Health SA – An LGBTIQA+ community-controlled health organisation
  • Rainbow Tick – A world first quality framework to help health and human services organisations become safe and inclusive for the LGBTIQ community
  • Transcend Australia – Supporting Australian families and their trans, gender diverse and non-binary children and young people
  • Australian Human Rights Commission – LGBTIQA+ Rights – Projects and Reports
  • Equality Australia – combine legal, policy and communications expertise to advocate for LGBTIQ+ people
  • Shine SA – is a leading South Australian non government organisation delivering integrated services and programs in sexual and reproductive health
  • Equality Health – A collaborative of 10+ health clinics across Australia committed to diverse and inclusive healthcare environments for the LGBTIQA+ community

For professional development, online education, resources, and workshops:

Key LGBTIQ+ documents, public policy, strategy plans and care standards: