Minister for Health Rachel Stephen-Smith said the survey aims to identify obstacles to care that members of the LGBTIQ+ may experience when accessing specific health services.
“The ACT aims to be the most LGBTIQ+ welcoming and inclusive jurisdiction in Australia. This means ensuring LGBTIQ+ people have equitable access to services and support that is both appropriate to individual experiences and responsive to specific needs across all stages of life.
“This work will help us address concerns of the LGBTIQ+ community when accessing public health services in the ACT, leading to more inclusive and accessible services for the LGBTIQ+ community.
“We want everyone in our community to be able to access the health care and support they need—irrespective of their sexual orientation, sex or gender identity or other personal circumstances,” said Minister Stephen-Smith.
The key findings of the survey will be used to inform a new program of work that aligns with the ACT’s Government’s Capital of Equality Strategy and commitment to improving health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ+ Canberrans.
Agencies across the ACT Government including the ACT Health Directorate and the Office of LGBTIQ+ Affairs and key LGBTIQ+ community stakeholders have partnered in the development of this survey.
“We’re conscious that LGBTIQ+ people get surveyed and asked about their experiences a lot. Co‑designing this survey with community stakeholders has been critical to ensuring that it reflects and respects what we have previously heard,” said Minister Stephen-Smith.
Sel Cooper, Executive Director A Gender Agenda, welcomed the survey and said the community supports the ACT Government in undertaking this important activity.
“A Gender Agenda welcomes ACT Health’s survey on the health needs of the local LGBTIQ+ community and looks forward to working with ACT Health and the Canberra community to develop intersex, trans and gender diverse safe and inclusive services,” said Sel Cooper.
The survey is open now until 20 August 2020 and can be completed anonymously.
