Celebrating and supporting trans and gender diverse communities

During WorldPride, there was policy change to support the needs of trans and gender diverse communities.

• During Sydney WorldPride, some key policy announcements were made which support accessible healthcare for trans and gender diverse communities, including:

– A new national LGBTQIA+ health plan and $26m in research funding.

– Alex Greenwich’s Equality Bill was introduced to the NSW Parliament which included noting an opportunity to reform the ID documents process.

– Australian Capital Territory is set to become the first place in Australia to ban unnecessary and non-consensual medical procedures on intersex people.

– A bilateral commitment to outlawing conversion practices ahead of the NSW State election.

• A focus on LGBTQIA+ inclusion across the region also saw a spotlight on the need for domestic investment. During the Conference the Albanese Government announced a 10 year National Action Plan for the health and wellbeing of the LGBTQIA+ community and a $26 million investment in healthcare and medical research focusing on LGBTQIA+ people funded through the Medical Research Future Fund, addressing Equality Australia’s call for funding.

“LGBTQIA people have significantly poorer mental health, disparities in other health outcomes and can often struggle to get the right care and treatment… Quite simply, this plan will save lives.”

– Equality Australia CEO Anna Brown, remarks to the Human Rights conference on the $26 million investment in healthcare

There is still an ongoing commitment and more policy that will be required to support trans and gender diverse communities.

People with a trans experience are 67% more likely to be out of work, 22% less likely to say they are engaged and 13% less likely to report feeling safe at work compared to those with a diverse sexual orientation (Pride in Diversity AWEI 2022 Survey). Policy and practice can address specific barriers to inclusion for transgender and gender-diverse team members.

“We will put [gender and sexually diverse people] at the heart of the co-design process. For far too long you have been without the support of the government. I see you. I hear you, and I want to stand with you. I can’t wait to work with you.”

– Ged Kearney, Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care at the Human Rights conference on the National Action Plan for the health and wellbeing of the LGBTQIA+ community

Live & Proud Opening Concert