Media Releases
Aged Care Act Exposure Draft Joint Submission
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (LHA) provided comments on the exposure draft of the new Aged Care Act (the Act). As a human-rights based aged care legislative framework, it promises significant improvements for older people receiving Government-funded aged care services.
Federal Government must deliver robust Aged Care Act without delay Rights of older people have been ignored for too long
The Federal Government must finally deliver a new Aged Care Act that protects and enforces the rights of older people, allows visitors in aged care at all times, and supports informal carers of older people without delay, organisations representing older people and carers say.
New Data Confirms Need for Focus on LGBTIQ+ Mental Health and Wellbeing
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (LHA) today called for urgent responses across Australia on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other sexuality, gender, and bodily diverse people’s (LGBTQ+) mental health, responding to a new article, Mental health findings for LGBTQ+ Australians, from the Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (ABS) 2020-2022 National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing.
Focus Needed on Reducing Harms among LGBTQ+ People Who Use Drugs
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (LHA) has called for urgent action to reduce harms associated with the use of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and other sexuality, gender, and bodily diverse people (LGBTQ+), responding to new data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s (AIHW) National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2022-2023[1].
LGBTIQ+ content on AIHW National Suicide and Self Harm Monitoring System
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (LHA) has welcomed the release of new data providing a clearer picture on the risk of mental health, self-harm and suicide for LGBTIQ+ communities within the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) National Suicide and Self Harm Monitoring System and called for more work to include broader national data on LGBTIQ+ populations.
LHA calls for rigorous evidence over opinions to ensure that trans and gender diverse young people have access to the care they need, at the right time, where they live.
LHA firmly opposes harmful misinformation that endangers the lives and mental health of trans and gender diverse individuals. These unfounded claims perpetuate stigma and isolation, disregarding the overwhelming consensus within the medical and psychological communities.
LHA calls for care using LGBTQ+ content on AIHW National Suicide and Self Harm Monitoring System
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare National (AIHW) Suicide and Self Harm Monitoring System today provided a new release of data drawing on Private Lives 3, the LGBTQ+[1] community survey by the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS).
New study examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on LGBTQ+ people
A new joint study has revealed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on LGBTQ+ people in Australia and their mental health, as well as rates of family and domestic violence and economic situations.
LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing peak welcomes National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children and calls for resources for sector
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia welcomes the release of the Federal Government’s National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children 2022-2032 and has called on governments across Australia to fund LGBTIQ+ community-controlled services to implement its recommendations.
AIHW report shows we're still in the dark on LGBTIQ+ people and family, domestic and sexual violence
Rates of family, domestic and sexual violence in LGBTIQ+ relationships are as high or higher than for the broader Australian population, but the lack of hard data means LGBTIQ+ people risk being forgotten in policy, planning, funding and new projects.
New podcast gives aged care workers an introduction to what matters to LGBTI older people
The Ageing Fabulously podcast is a new education resource for the aged care sector from LGBTIQ+ Health Australia’s Silver Rainbow program, giving aged care workers easy access to the issues important to older lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people accessing residential and home-based aged care services.
LGBTIQ+ health peak body welcomes paid domestic and family violence leave, calls for LGBTIQ+ inclusion in implementation
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (LHA) welcomes the introduction of legislation making 10 days of paid domestic and family violence leave available to all employees and calls for further action to ensure lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans/transgender, intersex, queer and other sexuality and gender, and bodily diverse people (LGBTIQ+) people are included.
2021 Census Data shows nothing for LGBTIQ+ Australians
As the first round of data from the 2021 Census is analysed for essential insight into the Australian population, we remain in the dark about lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex, queer and other sexuality and bodily diverse (LGBTIQ+) Australians.
National LGBTIQ+ Forum Demonstrates Parties Can Work Together
On 5 May the National LGBTIQ+ Election Forum was held at the Melbourne Pride Centre and online. The Forum was co-hosted by LHA, Equality Australia, the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO) and Intersex Human Rights Australia, and brought together Greens Senator Janet Rice, Labor Senator Penny Wong and Senator Andrew Bragg of the Liberal Party to answer questions from LGBTIQ+ people and community organisations. They were given an opportunity to pitch what their parties would do for LGBTIQ+ people should they win government.
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia urges care for trans and gender diverse communities
Peak organisation LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (LHA) is calling urgently for care in the media following ongoing conversations about trans women in sport.
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia calls on candidates to commit to tackling health disparities
With a federal election due to be called, LGBTIQ+ Health Australia is calling on all parties and independent candidates to commit to nine priorities to improve the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ+ people and communities.
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia calls on universities to prioritise LGBTIQ+ student safety following release of safety survey findings
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia is calling on Australian universities to prioritise the safety of LGBTIQ+ students after findings from the National Student Safety Survey showed LGBTQ+ students were more likely to experience sexual harassment and sexual assault in university contexts.
Federal Labor commits to 15 community sector workers in LGBTIQ+ community organisations
This media release was originally released by Linda Burney MP, Shadow Minister for Families and Social Services, and Senator Jenny McAllister, Shadow Assistant Minister for Communities and the Prevention of Family Violence
An Albanese Labor Government will provide dedicated funding to LGBTIQ+ community organisations to employ specialist domestic violence workers, ensuring LGBTIQ+ people receive appropriate family and domestic violence support.
LGBTIQ+ health peak body calls for great care to be taken when discussing the Religious Discrimination Bill this week
With the Federal Government’s Religious Discrimination Bill being debated in Parliament this week, LGBTIQ+ Health Australia is calling for politicians, media and others to take care when commenting in the public domain. LGBTIQ+ Health Australia is urging those commenting to consider the negative impacts that continued public attention on the Religious Discrimination Bill has had and will have on the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ+ people and communities.
Great day for preventative health of LGBTIQ+ people and communities
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (LHA) has welcomed a commitment to health equity in the Federal Government’s 2021-2030 National Preventative Health Strategy (NPHS), and the announcement that LHA is one of the twenty-one health groups across Australia that has been awarded funding under the Health Peak and Advisory Bodies Program.
AMA releases new position statement on LGBTQIA+ health
The AMA has released a position statement calling for an end to discrimination against people who are LGBTQIA+ in the healthcare system, including patients and health care workers.
Aged Care and Community Sector urges Australian Government to implement rights-based aged care act
A broad coalition of aged care and community sector organisations are urging the Australian Government to build on its current reform agenda and commit to implementing a rights-based Aged Care Act that embeds older people's rights at its core.
New national survey targets palliative care needs of LGBTIQ+ people
A new online survey asks LGBTIQ+ people and/or health professionals to share their views on palliative care for LGBTIQ+ communities in Australia.
ANZ Institute donates $100,000 to LGBTIQ+ peer support helpline Qlife.
We're extremely grateful to the ANZ Institute for their very generous $100,000 donation to the QLife program.
New Australian Bureau of Statistics 2020 Standard
New Australian Bureau of Statistics Standard for Sex, Gender, Variation of Sex Characteristics and Sexual Orientation Variables, 2020 ('2020 Standard').
Findings of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety and its Impact on LGBTIQ+ People
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (LHA) welcomes the public release of the much-awaited Final Report of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
Writing Themselves In 4 National Report
The ongoing and significant impact of stigma, discrimination, violence and abuse on LGBTQA+ people’s lives has been confirmed by Writing Themselves In 4, despite recent legal and social progress towards acceptance.
New name and Strategic Plan 2021-2023
It’s a new year and we’re launching a new name, and a new Strategic Plan!
Productivity Commission’s Final Report on mental health, and National Suicide Prevention Adviser’s Interim Advice to the Prime Minister
We have today released our formal response to the Private Lives 3 National Report, the Productivity Commission’s Final Report on mental health and the National Suicide Prevention Adviser’s Interim Advice to the Prime Minister.
Private Lives 3 Study
Findings from Australia’s largest national survey of the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ people to date, show that our communities are continuing to experience significant disparities across a range of health and wellbeing indicators, and concerning levels of discrimination, harassment and violence, compared to the general population.
MEDIA STATEMENT: National Suicide and Self-harm Monitoring System website
The National LGBTI Health Alliance welcomes the launch this week of the Department of Health funded website by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), noting that the new system will not be able to monitor everyone.
Shining a Light on Suicide Prevention: World Suicide Prevention Day
Today (10 September 2020) marks World Suicide Prevention Day across the globe and provides a unique opportunity to collectively shine a light on suicide prevention, to help save lives.
Media Statement: LGBTIQ+ Health Australia response to new report on sexual assault in Australia
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia welcomes the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s report on sexual assault in Australia, whilst also expressing concern at the lack of national data available to capture the experiences of LGBTI populations.
Jean Hailes and LGBTIQ+ Health Australia promoting good health and wellbeing
We're pleased to announce a community partnership with Jean Hailes for Women’s Health for Women’s Health Week 2020.
‘Check in on your health’ is this year’s message for what is Australia’s biggest week focusing on good health and wellbeing for all women, including LGBTI women and trans and gender diverse people of all ages.