Support for GPs and mental health practitioners to enhance your LGBTIQA+ inclusive care
Free health professional education, training and support is available to support you and your practice staff to enhance the delivery of safe and inclusive care to LGBTIQA+ patients. 'LGBTIQA+' refers to people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans/transgender, intersex, queer, asexual and other sexuality, gender, and bodily diverse people.
LGBTIQ+ Australians may face discrimination and unique challenges to their health and wellbeing, as well as barriers to accessing health and support services. These challenges may differ depending on a person's other attributes, such as their age and cultural background.
—Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW),
Free online training modules through University of Melbourne to support trans, gender-diverse and non-binary (TGDNB) patients
North Western Melbourne PHN and the University of Melbourne have partnered to develop 2 free training modules to help primary health care workers provide support to trans, gender-diverse and non-binary (TGDNB) patients. The free modules are available online through the University of Melbourne’s e-learning portal.
Module 1: Primary health care for trans, gender diverse and non-binary people
The primary health care for trans, gender diverse and non-binary people training module is designed to help familiarise GPs, practice nurses and medical students with:
ways to create an affirming and inclusive environment for TGDNB patients accessing general practice and community care
diversity of and terminology used by TGDNB people
standards of care for TGDNB patients, including eligibility, assessment and referral pathways for gender transition (affirmation) therapies
key issues in hormone management and surgical options for gender affirmation
common psychosocial issues among TGDNB patients.
The full module takes 60 minutes to complete. Individual units within the module can be completed at the participant’s own pace.
Participants can claim continuing professional development (CPD) hours for this course through RACGP (via enrolment of the module).
Module 2: Mental health care for trans, gender-diverse and non-binary people training module
The mental health care for trans, gender-diverse and non-binary people training module is designed for a range of mental health professionals to promote more inclusive and responsive service provision for TGDNB people in mental health care settings. The module helps mental health professionals to:
become familiar with the diversity of and terminology used by TGDNB people
create an affirming and inclusive environment for TGDNB clients attending mental health care settings
build rapport and take a person’s gender history sensitively
be aware of the gender affirmation care criteria in the current standards of care for TGDNB adults, children and adolescents
become familiar with the various roles of mental health care providers for TGDNB clients before, during and after gender affirmation
understand the needs of families in supporting their child or young person through gender affirmation.
The full module takes approximately 2 hours to complete. Individual units within the module can be completed at the participant’s own pace.
Participants can claim continuing professional development (CPD) hours for this course through RACGP (via enrolment of the module).
Peer support through Rainbow Health Australia’s Project ECHO Community of Practice program
Rainbow Health Australia (RHA) is partnering with the Centre for Mental Health Learning and Project ECHO to present a new Community of Practice program for the mental health sector, funded by the Victorian Department of Health.
The twice-monthly sessions combine guest speakers and a peer-led case discussion supported by expert panellists, including psychiatrist Dr Tram Nguyen, clinical social worker and educator Liam McIntyre, RHA inclusion experts, LGBTIQA+ peer practitioners, lived and living experience speakers, and other specialists in LGBTIQA+ mental health.
Topics will include a variety of LGBTIQA+ mental health topics, from emerging or challenging areas of professional practice to LGBTIQA+ inclusion in service systems, staffing and policies.
Sessions are highly interactive, and participants have the opportunity to connect with their peers, broaden their networks, share their own expertise and gain new knowledge, confidence and resources to support their practice.
Who can attend the Community of Practice, LGBTIQA+ Inclusion in Mental Health ECHO?
This multidisciplinary Community of Practice is open to all mental health practitioners, as well as managers, inclusion portfolio holders, and other interested service staff and sector stakeholders, regardless of the level of experience with LGBTIQA+ inclusive practice.
If you're managing a tricky practice or inclusion issue, RHA invite you to present it for feedback from your peers and RHA experts.
How to participate in the Community of Practice
This Community of Practice will be delivered via the international iECHO platform.
Sign up to iECHO and the RHA program.
You can email the RHA team to express interest in a case for discussion in an ECHO session. They’ll guide you on next steps. Case discussion is the heart of ECHO learning, with peer-led discussions happening in ECHO programs around the world every day.
For further information, please email rainbowhealthaus@latrobe.edu.au.