To boost the system wide implementation of the NSW LGBTIQ+ Health Strategy 2022-2027, NSW Health has allocated $2 million for 21 LGBTIQ+ health projects over 2023-24 and 2024-25. The list of projects and key contacts is below.
In November 2023, the Ministry held a forum with project leads to discuss how Communities of Practice could support collaboration, sharing of ideas and learnings, and avoid duplication. If you are a NSW Health staff member and interested in supporting your organisation’s project, please contact the project lead provided.
Organisation: Agency for Clinical Innovation
Contacts: Linda Soars, Deborah Howe
Evidence-check to identify access and cultural safety strategies for LGBTIQ+ young people in need of public mental health services. The evidence check and statewide solution design workshops will inform the development of a LGBTIQ+ framework for change for mental health services across NSW.
Organisation: Cancer Institute NSW
Contact: Lindsey Jasicki
Development of strategies and resources to promote the inclusion of LGBTIQ+ people in research, including cancer clinical trials. In partnership with ACON, the cancer clinical trials workforce, investigators and the LGBTIQ+ community members will be consulted to understand barriers and challenges. Information and educational resources will be developed to support an inclusive approach to the planning and conduct of clinical trials. A public campaign will be developed to raise awareness of cancer clinical trials across LGBTIQ+ communities.
Organisation: Central Coast Local Health District
Contact: Monique Feeney
Implementation of the NSW LGBTIQ+ Health Strategy in CCLHD including:
Organisation: Health Infrastructure NSW
Contacts: Hannah Bleyerveen, Jenny Green
Development of a best practice recommendation report for improving LGBTIQ+ inclusion in public hospitals through infrastructure and facilities.
The project has three main components:
Organisation: Hunter New England Local Health District
Contact: Katie Wynne
HNELHD has two co-located public adult clinics providing dedicated gender-affirming medical therapy. With growing demand, this project will evaluate the services and consider redesign options to improve efficiency and enhance quality.
Organisation: Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District
Contact: Sarah Adams
Development of a whole of organisation, sustainable structure for the implementation of LGBTIQ+ health initiatives across ISLHD services. Scoping work to document and assess a range of initiatives and innovative service models occurring across ISLHD services and a gap analysis will inform future activities.
Organisation: Justice Health & Forensic Mental Health Network
Contact: Shani Prosser
Quality improvement project to improve healthcare access and provision for transgender people in and leaving custody. Literature and stakeholder consultation will inform the design of interventions. Findings will also guide service linkages and pathways to improve health and social outcomes in custody and on release.
Organisation: Murrumbidgee Local Health District
Contact: Deanna Cass
A skilled inclusion professional will lead MLHD’s Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Action Plan activities. This will include localised training, the development of resources and initiatives such as the Festival of Inclusion, and delivery of unconscious bias training.
Organisation: Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District
Contact: Lee Velandia
Rainbow Health Australia will deliver a two-part LGBTIQ+ training program for administration staff and wards-people.
This training offers:
Organisation: Northern NSW Local Health District
Contact: Paula Sheehan
LGBTIQ+ young people engaged with headspace services will be trained and renumerated as co-designers and co-presenters of a face-to-face training program for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS) services and frontline NSW Health staff including emergency departments and Intake services.
Organisation: Northern Sydney Local Health District
Contact: Jemma Clifton
A project officer will support local implementation of the NSW LGBTIQ+ Health Strategy, focusing on:
Organisation: NSW Ambulance
Contacts: Stephanie Looi, Claire Walker
This project seeks to improve NSW Ambulance clinician knowledge, attitudes and practice of mental health and suicide risk assessment in an out of hospital environment for LGBTIQ+ patients.
Organisation: NSW Health Pathology
Contact: Judith Kempton-Webb, Lorreta Thomson
Collection staff together with referrers and transgender people to will develop a training program focusing on providing safe and affirming practice that is responsive to the needs of the transgender community. The project will involve:
Organisation: South Eastern Sydney Local Health District
Contacts: Marianne Gale, Tony Jackson
This project aims to improve the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ+ families and enhance their care experiences across the first 2000 days.
In partnership with LGBTIQ+ consumers and families, partners (ACON, Rainbow Families, Twenty10) and staff, we will identify enablers and barriers to access and develop best evidence responses to provide safe, trauma-informed, affirming, and inclusive maternity, Child and Family Health (CFH) and Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CAMHS) services.
Organisation: South Western Sydney Local Health District
Contact: Mandy Williams
The Gender and Sexually Diverse Project Officer will facilitate the expansion of the Gender Sphere package, and other inclusive projects.
This will enhance gender and sexually diverse consumer and carer experiences, as well as workplace culture, capability, service provision, and equity in SWSLHD. The Project Officer will work with various services and stakeholders to establish and maintain inclusive and therapeutic environments for LGBTIQ+ consumers and carers.
Organisation: STARTTS
Contacts: Parissa Bozorg, Jasmina Bajraktarevic
The Health Service Capacity Building Training program will be co-designed and delivered to a broad range of healthcare settings and teams include youth health, drug and alcohol, emergency departments, mental health, anti-natal/maternity and Violence Abuse and Neglect Services.
Organisation: St Vincent’s Health Network Sydney
Contact: Brandon Bear
A suite of online resources will be developed for trans and gender diverse patients to access during a healthcare service stay
Based on the Patient Liaison Officer model and lessons from the Chaplaincy program, the Liaison Officer will be available to meet with patients by appointment to assist in navigating the healthcare system.
The Liaison Officer will also work with Sexuality and Gender Diversity Programs Team and the Pride@SVHNS Network to develop and deliver training programs on working effectively with trans and gender diverse patients, clients and consumers.
Organisation: Sydney Local Health District
Contacts: Flora Tao, EJ Heine
Development of training and resources for healthcare interpreters to build their knowledge of the healthcare needs of LGBTIQ+ clients and to increase confidence in providing appropriate, safe and informed interpreting. At a minimum this will be provided to SLHD HCIS but developed with state-wide scalability in mind.
Organisation: Sydney Children’s Hospital Network
Contact: Deanna Darwall
A Diversity Health Coordinator will lead activities including a current state assessment with consumers and clinicians to identify barriers and facilitators to healthcare access and delivery for LGBTIQ+ patients and families; development of a project framework to enable service redesign, system linkages, and capacity building to improve patient experiences; and project evaluation.
Organisation: Western NSW Local Health District with outreach to Far West Local Health District
Contact: Trevor Slattery
The LGBTIQ+ Project Officer will coordinate activities to ensure the delivery of high-quality, safe, inclusive and responsive healthcare.
The LGBTIQ+ Project Officer will:
Organisation: Western Sydney Local Health District
Contacts: Graeme Pringle, Jo Fuller
The LGBTIQ+ Project Officer will lead the development of a local NSW LGBTIQ+ Health Strategy implementation plan to influence system change and improve outcomes for LGBTIQ+ communities.