The Australian Federal Government marked World Pride 2023 by announcing a new national action plan and $26 million investment in health and medical research focusing on LGBTIQA+ communities.
The 10 Year National Action Plan for the Health and Wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ people will guide how Australia addresses health disparities and make improvements across the health system.
LGBTIQA+ Australians face unique and complex health needs and added barriers to accessing suitable care which the new national action plan seeks to address.
Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Aged Care said that while progress has been made in the provision of healthcare to LGBTIQA+ Australians, there is still work to do.
“While many LGBTIQA+ people live happy and healthy lives, others continue to experience discrimination, stigma, isolation, harassment and violence — all of which leads to poorer health and mental health.”
“The sector called on the government to develop an action plan — we listened and we have acted” Minister Butler said.
Flourish Australia welcomes the Federal Government’s extra commitment to LGBTIQA+ healthcare.
In 2021, 41.9% of LGBTIQA+ people aged 18 and over reported that they had considered attempting suicide in their lifetime, compared with 13.3% of the general population.
Research shows these outcomes dramatically improve when the barriers of discrimination and stigma are removed.
We are committed to supporting the LGBTIQA+ community. Flourish Australia is a proud member of ACON's Welcome Here Project, with our sites proudly committed to guaranteeing a safe space for people to be who they are no matter where they live.
We are also a member of Pride in Health and Wellbeing, part of the ACON Pride in Inclusion programs, that helps service providers in health and human services to develop and deliver culturally appropriate and safe services to people from the LGBTIQA+ community.
We are proud that last week we were awarded Bronze Service Provider status as part of the Health and Wellbeing Equality Index Award, publicly recognising our commitment to the LGBITQA+ community and demonstrating that everyone is welcome at Flourish Australia.
We welcome the Federal Government’s commitment to the 10 year National Action Plan for health and wellbeing, and targeted funding focusing on LGBTIQA+ communities.
To find out more about our commitment to diversity head to https://www.flourishaustralia.org.au/about/diversity-our-vision-future
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