Calls are growing for the Federal Government’s latest round of LGBTQIA+ health funding to be reviewed after it was found that Tasmania and the Northern Territory received no state-based funding.
Earlier this week, the Albanese Government announced more than $18.1 million in funding to improve the health and wellbeing of LGBTQIA+ Australians.
The package included $10 million for a new national training and accreditation program to help GPs and primary healthcare providers deliver more inclusive and affirming care.
As well as $8.1 million for 18 community-led health projects across Australia.
While organisations in NSW, VIC, QLD, WA, SA and the ACT secured funding, no projects based in Tasmania or the Northern Territory were successful.
You can see the full list of grant recipients here.
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- ‘Dangerous’: LGBTIQ Tasmanians are struggling in healthcare
Equality Tasmania calls for funding review
Equality Tasmania has now urged LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (LHA), which administered the grants, to reconsider the outcome.
Spokesperson Andrew Badcock said it was particularly disappointing given the state’s health challenges.
“Tasmania has the highest rate of LGBTIQA+ mental health risk and suicide ideation among all the states and territories, high rates of housing and income risk, the most dispersed population across regional and rural areas, and the most recent legacy of criminalisation, yet zero applicants from our state were funded,” he said.
While acknowledging that some national projects may ultimately benefit Tasmanians, Badcock argued the impact would be limited.
“Some national projects were funded, but their per capita spend in Tasmania will be very little,” he said.
“This is an example of the unique disadvantages facing LGBTIQA+ Tasmanians being overlooked and forgotten.”
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Equality Tasmania is calling on LHA and the Federal Government to ensure at least one Tasmanian project receives funding in this and future grant rounds.
“It’s not too late to rectify this mistake and ensure national LGBTIQA+ funding is truly national, and supports projects in every Australian state and territory,” Badcock said.
National investment aims to improve healthcare access
The funding announcement forms part of the National Action Plan for the Health and Wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ People 2025–2035.
Alongside the $8.1 million in community grants, the Government has committed $10 million to a national healthcare initiative led by La Trobe University’s Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society in partnership with ACON, Thorne Harbour Health and technology company Portable.
The program will establish a voluntary training and accreditation scheme for primary healthcare providers.
As well as a searchable national directory of accredited services, with the goal of making it easier for LGBTQIA+ people to find healthcare that is safe, respectful and inclusive.
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Health Minister Mark Butler said the investment would help improve access to affirming healthcare across Australia.
“Every Australian deserves health care that is safe, accessible, respectful and free from judgement,” he said.
While the national training initiative is designed to benefit communities across the country, Equality Tasmania argues future funding rounds should ensure every state and territory also has locally delivered projects that respond to the unique needs of their own LGBTQIA+ community.
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