Celebrating our diverse staff during Mardi Gras and the work we do to support the LGBTIQ+ community |
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Every day, in every part of NSW, we are here for all those who need our care. We treat every person with kindness, respect and compassion, regardless of their background or culture.
As I shared in my message yesterday, recent events have been challenging – for NSW Health and the communities we serve. But we will not let these events define us or diminish the incredible efforts of our dedicated and caring people right across the state.
I encourage you to watch and proudly share the video featuring your colleagues speaking directly to the community and sharing a simple, but powerful message of unity and inclusion – we are here for you. |
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You have my sincere appreciation for continuing to ensure all people feel welcome, respected and safe when seeking healthcare.
A big part of that includes actively listening to and learning from the voices and experiences of our diverse communities. For example, our LGBTIQ+ community helps us better understand the health outcomes that matter the most to them. Their feedback informs and drives meaningful healthcare improvements – such as the Rainbow Resource – a first-of-its-kind toolkit developed by the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation’s Mental Health Network.
Set to launch soon, it was designed in collaboration with young people, child and adolescent mental health service clinicians, and LGBTIQ+ community advocates. It provides essential guidance for clinicians to deliver affirming, best-practice care for LGBTIQ+ young people and their families. But this is just one of the many ways we support inclusive, respectful and compassionate care. You can read more below and explore our NSW LGBTIQ+ Health Strategy 2022–2027.
Lastly, as celebrations for the 2025 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras take place across the country, including in regional, rural and remote NSW, now is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our LGBTIQ+ colleagues, patients and communities. The theme this year is Free to be. It reflects the values we celebrate here at NSW Health – embracing individuality and our shared sense of belonging within the health system. I look forward to participating in this year’s parade with our staff representatives and championing inclusive healthcare where everyone feels seen, safe, and valued. Kind regards, Susan Pearce AM (she/her)
Secretary, NSW Health |
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Accessing LGBTIQ+ health services in regional areas can be challenging. Some people may not know what support is available or are hesitant to seek care.
The Western NSW Local Health District is addressing these challenges through a local plan aligned with the NSW LGBTIQ+ Health Strategy 2022-2027. |
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“We identified key barriers, including a lack of awareness and mistrust of services," said Ben Walker (he/him), Project Lead.
"Our goal is to change perceptions, improve accessibility, and create a better experience for our consumers." To achieve that, the team collaborated with staff, consumers, and non-government organisations and providers. They developed 15 key recommendations and 48 targeted actions.
“These will be embedded into practice across the entire district over a 24-month period,” he said.
Key improvements include workshops in collaboration with ACON to upskill staff, and the formation of a consumer advisory committee. |
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“Consumer perspectives are at the heart of our work. By listening and collaborating, we are driving meaningful changes that will improve health outcomes.
“I'm inspired by the dedication and insight of everyone involved and look forward to seeing the positive impact this work will have.” |
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| Meet Beatrix White (they/them), Orthotist at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, and one of the staff members selected to participate in this year’s celebration.
“It will be a public display of solidarity and a commitment to improve healthcare outcomes for LGBTIQ+ people going forward. I am proud to play a small part in this next step,” said Beatrix. As a passionate queer and disability advocate, Beatrix is grateful for the opportunity to work alongside their communities. “Growing up around paediatric hospitals and wearing spinal orthoses throughout childhood shaped my perspective. I find it incredibly rewarding to use my experiences to connect with disabled or LGBTIQ+ kids and show them they can create a future of their choosing,” they said. |
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“Being a non-binary, neurodivergent person with dwarfism has enriched my connections with the patients and families. There’s a unique understanding between people who share similar experiences. I’ve found that this leads to greater openness and trust in patient interactions.”
Beatrix emphasises the importance of representation in healthcare. “Queer and disabled people deserve to see themselves reflected in the health workforce and systems they are accessing,” said Beatrix.
“To anyone struggling with their identity at work or elsewhere: you deserve to bring your full self to every aspect of life. You shouldn’t have to hide, make yourself smaller or ask for less because of who you are. “Your differences are your strength.” |
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Young people face many challenges as they navigate life. Accessing the right support can make all the difference.
Talia Burton (she/her) is a Clinical Psychologist at South Western Sydney Local Health District. She led the development of The Gender Sphere project to improve gender affirmative practices at Campbelltown Hospital’s Mental Health Adolescent Inpatient Unit. | |
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“A lot of the young people we support are navigating self-discovery. Sometimes the gender they identify with isn’t known or necessarily accepted by others,” said Talia.
“It’s important that we create a safe space where they feel welcome. “A key initiative was introducing a screening tool. Over four months, we found 57 per cent of our consumers identified as gender and/or sexually diverse.
“That means more than half of our consumers might not have received LGBTIQA+ inclusive care from the start because there was no established way for them to share their status.” |
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With a pathway now in place, Talia and the team regularly review processes and participate in the annual Health and Wellbeing Equality Index. It assesses LGBTIQA+ inclusive service provision and workforce inclusion. The team also played a key role in forming the Rainbow Inclusion Committee to promote LGBTIQA+ inclusive practices across services. |
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Southern NSW Local Health District launched their very first Mini Mardi Gras Float Competition.
Staff are invited to craft mini floats out of toy trucks, shoe boxes or anything that sparks inspiration. Entries must feature signs, banners or text with messages of LGBTIQ+ inclusion. | |
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Lee Caldwell (he/him), Project Officer, leads the Pride in Southern initiative. He hopes the competition brings a dash of joy to staff while promoting the diversity of the workforce.
“This is a time to acknowledge the origins of Mardi Gras and reflect on both the struggles and our power. It’s a celebration of self-expression and self-love, and of course, an excuse to break out the glitter.”
Winners will be announced on Friday February 28 with a virtual parade to follow.
Check out some of the entries below. |
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Entries for Southern NSW Local Health District's mini Mardi Gras Float Competition |
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Supporting LGBTIQ+ youth with the Rainbow Resource |
Three out of five young people accessing Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in NSW identify as LGBTIQ+. This makes affirming, best practice care vitally important.
The new Rainbow Resource is an online toolkit developed by the Agency for Clinical Innovation with CAMHS clinicians, LGBTIQ+ young people and community advocates. It helps clinicians understand and support LGBTIQ+ young people and their families, and fosters an inclusive and effective therapeutic environment. Find out more about the toolkit by watching the video below. |
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When Tony Price (he/him) began his nursing career in the early 1990s, HIV care looked very different. “Developing AIDS related conditions was not a matter of if, but when. You’d get to know your patients, their partners and families, and often they would pass away,” said Tony. Today, Tony is the Senior Nurse Manager for Sexual Health and Blood Borne Virus Services at the Albion Centre |
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| Thanks to advances in treatment, HIV is now a manageable health condition. But people still face stigma, discrimination and isolation in the community," said Tony.
Tony has worked in the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District for 25 years. “It’s incredibly satisfying working with nurses and empowering them to deliver the best possible care to our clients,” he said.
Set up at the height of the HIV epidemic in 1985, The Albion Centre will be 40 years old on 26 February this year. It currently provides care to 1,300 HIV positive clients. The dedicated multidisciplinary team includes doctors, nurses, psychologists, nutritionists, social workers, pharmacists, receptionists and researchers.
“It provides a much-needed space in which clients feel a sense of safety, respect, and just as importantly, that they have a voice.” |
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As a proud member of the LGBTIQ+ community, Nicholas Bates (He/Him) understands the unique challenges LGBTIQ+ individuals face during their journey through and out of hospital care. This is why he is dedicated to supporting the Safe Passage project at Balmain Hospital in Sydney Local Health District. |
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Led by the Balmain Hospital consumer representative group, Safe Passage aims to improve the experiences of LGBTIQ+ people and their support persons during transfers and aftercare.
“For example, same sex partners are often assumed to be just friends of the patient, which means they may miss out on important updates about the patient's condition, changes in treatment, or hospital transfers,” said Nicholas. “By actively seeking consumer input, we can provide care that genuinely meets the community's needs and fosters an inclusive, respectful environment.”
Nicholas finds his work as Community Participation Coordinator at Balmain Hospital and Community Health Services deeply rewarding. |
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“I enjoy seeing consumers becoming empowered within the health system. I’m very fortunate to work with people who are not afraid to challenge the status quo,” said Nicholas. “There are changes to the way services are delivered, which is a direct result of consumer feedback and consumers standing up for the rights of patients and their carers. “We still have a long way to go, but it’s an honour to work with people who have a vision for what our health system should look like.” |
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Every year, Melinda Smith (she/her) from Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network sings with the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir at Mardi Gras. |
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“The choir is non-auditioned and inclusive. It’s open to all people who love to sing and support the LGBTIQ+ community, including straight allies,” said Melinda. “I love to perform with the choir because I love to blend my voice with others in harmony. There is something so uplifting about the combination of many voices to make a beautiful sound.” Going hand in hand with her choir role, Melinda works as Manager of Disability Strategy and Inclusion. She collaborates across disciplines to embed disability-informed practice. |
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“I am passionate about fostering inclusion in our society, from the NSW Health workforce to our patient population,” said Melinda.
“Meeting people’s disability support needs can improve health outcomes and reduce contact with the justice system.
“As a queer community we can never take our rights for granted. We have achieved so much in my lifetime, including marriage equality. But history and current world circumstances show us that this can change, and rights can be undone. Advocating for inclusion and protecting our rights remains as important as ever.”
Learn more about the choir and their upcoming events on the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir website. |
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Q: Why do we need specific policies, strategies and services to support LGBTIQ+ people?
A: All people who use our health services deserve safe, high quality and respectful care that meets their needs. This means considering the factors that influence their experiences – whether it be their age, abilities, culture and social context, or many other factors.
For some people, their gender, sexuality or bodies may influence their experiences and how people see them. We know that people from LGBTIQ+ communities have significant disparities in health and wellbeing compared to the general population. The actual or anticipated experience of stigma and discrimination can impact on the willingness of people to use health services and receive the care they need.
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| By having strategies, policies and services that aim to address the unique needs of LGBTIQ+ communities, we can improve access to and acceptability of health care services, which in turn will help to improve health outcomes.
The NSW LGBTIQ+ Health Strategy aims to improve health outcomes by focusing on the needs of specific communities, enhancing the education and training available to staff, and improving the capture and use of data. It is critical the action we take is done in collaboration with the LGBTIQ+ community to make sure our work is targeted, effective and speaking to their needs.
Tish Bruce (she/her)
Executive Director, Health and Social Policy
NSW Ministry of Health
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Build a meaningful career in the alcohol and other drugs sector |
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A new webpage for job and training opportunities in the alcohol and other drugs sector is now live. |
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Brendan Crozier (he/him) is a senior allied health manager at South Eastern Sydney Local Health District. He supports people asking for help with alcohol and drug use.
“It’s a privilege to be able to walk beside people on their journey and to deeply connect with them,” he said. Join Brendan and the team enriching health in millions of ways every day by browsing the job page today. |
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Specialist Trans and Gender Diverse Health Service
To enhance existing services, the Specialist Trans and Gender Diverse Health Service is now available, providing gender affirming healthcare for people aged under 25. It provides safe, person-centred care to young people, their families, and carers such as medical, nursing, and allied health specialist care. To learn more, visit the NSW Health website. |
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Introduction to LGBTIQ+ Inclusive Health Care education and training An e-learning module titled Introduction to LGBTIQ+ Inclusive Health Care is available on My Health Learning. This resource aims to increase LGBTIQ+ awareness and capability in the NSW Health workforce, including the prevention of stigma and discrimination in health services. Go to My Health Learning and enter course code 223561775 to access this training. |
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From the Critical Intelligence Unit
The Critical Intelligence Unit (CIU) Evidence Digest highlights transformative clinical innovations.
Recent features include: Telerehabilitation for people with cognitive dysfunction, direct-acting oral anticoagulant for stroke prevention and large language model for diagnostic reasoning
AI in mental healthcare, thrombolysis for ischaemic stroke beyond the 4.5-hour window and digital health technology for improving medication safety.
Subscribe for Wednesday morning updates or explore the CIU's living evidence table on AI in healthcare.
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| Explore the future of neuroscience-driven therapy
Join STARTTS for a free workshop on how neuroscience-informed therapies are assisting individuals to heal trauma and successfully manage other mental health challenges in a non-invasive and integrative ways. When: 25 March 2025 6:00 to 8:00pm Where: Camperdown Quarters, Sydney Find out more about the event or secure your spot on the event page. |
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Every NSW Health staff member has access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Details on how to access EAP are on your local intranet. More information on mental health services and support is available on the NSW Health website. |
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NSW Health acknowledges Aboriginal people as the traditional custodians of the lands and waters of NSW and pays respect to Elders past, present and future. |
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Feeling social? Follow NSW Health |
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