New National Plan for LGBTIQ+ Health
The Australian Government has committed $26 million to fund research into the health and well-being of LGBTIQ+ people. The investment was announced at the WorldPride 2023 Human Rights Conference in Sydney, alongside the unveiling of a new 10-year national action plan for LGBTIQ+ health.
Enduring challenges for LGBTIQ+ health
Despite progress in treating and preventing HIV transmission, Australia still faces challenges with LGBTIQ+ health. According to recent LaTrobe University research, more than one-in-four young LGBTIQ+ people have attempted suicide at some point in their lives, while over six in ten have sought counselling or other support.
Additionally, almost two-thirds of LGBTIQ+ respondents avoid seeing a GP when they need to, citing a lack of understanding, fear of judgement, poor past experience, and lack of trust. These statistics highlight the urgent need to address the systemic barriers that prevent LGBTIQ+ people from accessing the healthcare they need.
Game-changing investment
The funding has been warmly welcomed by the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO), which has strongly endorsed the investment. AFAO CEO Darryl O’Donnell has described the investment as a “game changer”, which promises to transform our understanding of LGBTIQ+ health and inform the scope and character of health services needed to address the health crisis facing our community.
“Stigma and discrimination are enormous hurdles standing in the way of LGBTIQA+ people seeking and receiving the healthcare they need,” O’Donnell said. “With such shocking disparities in health outcomes, it’s clear that primary health care is not working for LGBTIQA+ people. We need to better understand why and how to fix that.”
Over the coming months, the AFAO will be consulting with the LGBTIQ+ community across Australia to understand our needs and preferences for healthcare. The organisation recognises that there is incredible diversity across the community, and all of these perspectives must be taken into account to create more responsive primary healthcare services. From these consultations, the AFAO will advise the government on the changes needed to provide better primary healthcare for LGTBIQ+ Australians.
“We’re delighted the Government is committing to a new national plan to address health disparities for LGBTIQA+ communities, and look forward to partnering in its development and delivery. “ said O’Donnell.
The Australian Government’s investment in LGBTIQ+ health research comes as part of a broader effort to improve healthcare outcomes for our community. Despite progress in treating and preventing HIV transmission, Australia still faces significant challenges in addressing the health disparities experienced by LGBTIQ+ people.
The new 10-year national action plan will guide efforts to improve healthcare outcomes for our community. An LGBTIQ+ Health Advisory Group will be established to oversee the implementation of the plan, ensuring that the needs and preferences of LGBTIQ+ people are taken into account. The Advisory Group will work closely with healthcare providers, researchers, and policy-makers to develop strategies that address the root causes of health disparities and ensure that all Australians can access high-quality healthcare.
The $26 million investment in LGBTIQ+ health research will be administered through the Medical Research Future Fund and will support research into the social, cultural, and environmental factors that impact the health of LGBTIQ+ people. The funding will also be used to identify effective interventions and develop evidence-based policies that improve healthcare outcomes for our community.
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