During this year’s Mardi Gras festival, Sydney is hosting World Pride. It is the first time a city in the southern hemisphere had been chosen to host the event, and will incorporate the beloved parade, plus a broad festival offering across arts, sport, theatre, concerts, parties, First Nations programming and a human rights conference.
This is a great time for GPs in training and their practices to reflect on the care they deliver to queer Australians.
There are lots of great resources to help you deliver safe, inclusive care to people of diverse sexualities and genders (see links below) and, as with anything, it’s best to start with the basics.
- 1. Show your queer patients they are welcome by displaying the Progress Flag
– health information that’s relevant to them – and inclusive signage.
- 2. Educate yourself and your practice staff about inclusive language, acronyms and the signs and symbols queer people identify with.
- 3. Make sure your patient registration forms allow patients to express their identity in their way (unfortunately this isn’t easy in MD or BP!)
But most importantly, LGBTQIA+ people want to be treated by doctors who don’t make assumptions and approach them in an open, non-judgemental way (as you would with any patient!)
Check out these resources for more info – and happy Mardi Gras!
Resources
Rainbow Health Australia supports LGBTQIA+ health and wellbeing through research, training, resources, policy advice and service accreditation. By clicking the link, you can find essential documents such as ‘Inclusive Practices for Non-Binary Practices’, ‘Affirmative Care for Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming People’, and an LGBTIQ Language Guide.
A Guide to Sensitive LGB Care
Published by the University of Melbourne, this document contains important information you will need when seeing Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual patients, such as specific health issues to look for, displaying sensitivity during consultations, making your practice inclusive, and referral networks.
LGBTIQ support for primary care
Access training modules, webinars, and resources on Trans, Gender Diverse, and Non-Binary people in healthcare settings, provided by North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN).
ACON
ACON is a great organisation based out of New South Wales with a focus on community health, inclusion, and HIV responses for people of diverse sexualities and genders. Check out their inclusive language guide.
Thorne Harbour Health
Thorne Habour Health offers a range of health services, programs, and projects aimed at delivering community-led and culturally appropriate services that improve the health and wellbeing of LGBTQIA+ people living throughout Victoria, South Australia, and beyond.
TransHub: Information for clinicians
Transhub is a brilliant place for those seeking to strengthen the clinical care they deliver to trans patients and clients. It is developed in collaboration with leading health professionals who specialise in the healthcare and affirmation needs of trans and gender diverse people across Australia.
