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, including in healthcare settings. 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.
National Action Plan for the Health and Wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ People 2025–2035
The Action 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. This committee has now concluded its work.
How we’re supporting LGBTIQA+ people
We are committed to improving access to safe health care and support for LGBTIQA+ people.
We are investing in activities and programs to support implementation of the Action Plan. These include:
- The LGBTIQA+ Health Program provides grant funding to improve the accessibility and availability of dedicated health and wellbeing services for LGBTIQA+ people. We work with LGBTIQ+ Health Australia to deliver this competitive grant program.
- Two of the biggest national surveys on LGBTIQA+ health and wellbeing in Australia, conducted by La Trobe University. These surveys will help us monitor impact of the Action Plan and inform policy development.
- InterLink, a community-led psychosocial support services for people with innate variations of sex characteristics.
Other initiatives, programs and research
The government invests in many programs and services to support the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ communities.
Mental health
We fund QLife to provide anonymous and free LGBTIQ+ peer support and referral for people in Australia wanting to talk about sexuality, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships.
Research
In 2024, the government awarded $21.9 million across 13 grants through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) for research through the 2023 Models of Care for Sexuality & Gender Diverse People & People with Innate Variations of Sex Characteristics grant opportunity. You can find information about the grant projects being funded by searching by the grant opportunity name on the MRFF grant recipients webpage.
We also support LGBTIQA+ communities across a range of programs in the following areas:
- primary care
- mental health
- support and suicide prevention
- palliative care
- ageing and aged care
- sexual health
- cancer screening
- communicable disease prevention and control.
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
- Jesuit Social Services – Support After Suicide Hub (SASH) is the place to find support and connection for LGBTQIA+ people who have lost someone to suicide. SASH has information, resources, and an online community forum for LGBTQIA+ people bereaved by suicide aged 18+ to connect with each other
- Medicare Mental Health for LGBTIQA+ people (1800 595 212) – offers free support to anyone in Australia. You don't need an appointment or referral. You can connect with the service face-to-face, over the phone or via the website.
Find a list of services that can help you right now at Head to Health.
For a comprehensive list of LGBTIQA+ support services in your state or territory, visit QLife’s directory.
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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