About LGBTIQA+ people’s health and wellbeing
It is a priority for the Australian Government to promote health equity and deliver better health outcomes for all Australians, including LGBTIQA+ people.
While there have been improvements in rights and protections for LGBTIQA+ people over time, many LGBTIQA+ people still experience discrimination, stigma and trauma. These experiences are linked to poorer physical and mental health outcomes when compared to the general population.
The government is working to ensure LGBTIQA+ people achieve equitable health and wellbeing outcomes. This includes access to safe, respectful, high-quality and inclusive health care.
How we’re supporting LGBTIQA+ people
We are committed to improving access to safe health care and support for LGBTIQA+ people.
On 1 March 2023, the government announced a pathway to better health and wellbeing for LGBTIQA+ communities. This includes:
- developing Australia’s first 10-Year National Action Plan for the Health and Wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ People, including establishing an expert advisory group to guide the development of the plan
- funding for LGBTIQA+ health and medical research.
National Action Plan for the Health and Wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ People 2025–2035
The plan provides a national framework to improve the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ people. The plan aims to address the unique barriers that LGBTIQA+ people experience when accessing health care.
The plan was informed by:
- national consultations with LGBTIQA+ people with lived experience
- 2 major reports on the health and wellbeing experiences of LGBTIQA+ people.
These are the:
The LGBTIQA+ Health and Wellbeing 10-Year National Action Plan Expert Advisory Group helped develop the plan.
Expert Advisory Group
The LGBTIQA+ Health and Wellbeing 10-Year National Action Plan Expert Advisory Group was established in June 2023. The members of the advisory group each have a wide range of expertise and experience in the LGBTIQA+ health sector. They provide expert advice on:
- LGBTIQA+ health and wellbeing issues
- national consultation activities
- the development of the national action plan.
For more details on the work of the advisory group, read the communiques published after each meeting.
Other initiatives, programs and research
The government invests in many programs and services to support the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ communities. These include:
- counselling
- suicide prevention
- palliative care
- aged care
- sexual health
- cancer screening
- communicable disease prevention and control.
In 2024, the government invested $22 million through the Medical Research Future Fund for research into models of care for:
- sexuality and gender diverse people
- people with innate variations of sex characteristics.
LGBTIQA+ support services
Mental health and wellbeing support
If you or someone you know is having a difficult time, please reach out for support:
- QLife (1300 184 527) – provides Australia-wide anonymous LGBTQA+ peer support and referral by telephone and webchat every day from 3 pm to midnight.
- InterLink (+61 7 3017 1724) – brings people together to talk about living with innate variations of sex characteristics with the support of trained counsellors and intersex peer workers.
For a comprehensive list of LGBTIQA+ support services in your state or territory, visit QLife’s directory.
Find a list of services that can help you right now at Head to Health.
In an emergency, call 000.
Related information
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
- Mental health and suicide prevention
- Sexual health
- State and territory health departments
- Young people’s health
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