This article was originally published by QNews. You can find the original article here.
Equality Tasmania welcomes the launch of the Tasmanian Health Department LGBTIQA+ Action Plan.
“We congratulate the Department, and its LGBTIQA+ Reference Group, on developing this Plan.” spokesperson Rodney Croome said,
“This will help ensure discrimination and stigma are no longer hurdles to LGBTIQA+ Tasmanians living healthy, happy lives.”
The Plan was launched today by Mental Health Minister Roger Jaensch and Department Secretary Dale Webster.
Over the next three years the Department are committing to a set of actions which include;
Piloting a Tasmanian LGBTIQA-specific mental health service.
Having 85% of mental health staff trained in LGBTIQA+ inclusive healthcare.
Improving health outcomes through a promotional campaign addressing anti-LGBTIQA+ prejudice, stigma and discrimination.
Improving gender-affirming care by reducing wait times and establishing a lived-experience advisory group.
Advancing current work to ensure all Department data gathering recognises sexual orientation, gender identity and sex characteristics.
Establishing an LGBTIQA+ mental health small grants program.
Promoting best-practice care for people with innate variations of sex characteristics.
Doing more to advocate for LGBTIQA+ health equity at a national level and showcase the Department’s achievements.
Poorer mental health for LGBTQIA+ Tasmanians
“Local and national research shows that LGBTIQA+ Tasmanians have poorer health, including mental health, than other Tasmanians.” Rodney Croome said,
“This includes other LGBTIQA+ Australians also, and that our poorer health is due to discrimination and stigma.”
“The Department of Health’s LGBTIQA+ Action Plan shows a strong commitment to improving these poor outcomes.”
“Doing so through training of staff, improved access to services and addressing discrimination.”
“Many of the initiatives in the Action Plan will make a substantial difference to LGBTIQA+ health outcomes and are groundbreaking nationally.”
One of the major sources of information for the Action Plan was the Telling Us The Story report from 2021.
Some of the areas the report highlighted were fear about coming out in workplaces ‘for fear of being discriminated against.
Need for more dedicated support for LGBTIQ people experiencing family violence.
Media allowing hate speech and presenting gender critical, TERF, religious homophobia and transphobia as valid.
And fear about conversion therapy practices by religious organisations and psychologists telling LGBTIQ+ people they can overcome feelings of being transgender or bisexual.
The report was commissioned by the Tasmanian Government and conducted by the University of Tasmania.
Today’s launch coincided with the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the Department’s LGBTIQA+ Reference Group in 1999.
You can see the Action Plan here.
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