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LGBTIQ support for primary care

We host education and training, develop partnerships and commission services to enable better care for LGBTIQ+ people.

Scroll down to access our training modules for primary care and mental health care providers plus links to other resources and services.

We’re also supporting LGBTIQ+ communities in our region in many other ways including our 5-year LGBTIQ+ suicide prevention trial and its ongoing partnerships.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5-7t_qBw14
LGBTIQ people talk about their experiences accessing health care.

Primary health care for TGDNB people

This training module is designed to help GPs, practice nurses and medical students to become familiar with and sensitive to diverse terminology, experiences, health issues, standards and referral pathways with respect to trans, gender-diverse and non-binary (TGDNB) clients.

The overarching purpose of the program, the first of its kind in Australia, is to promote more inclusive and responsive services for TGDNB people in primary health care settings.

The full module takes about 60 minutes. It includes a variety of activities and visual content. Participants can complete individual units within the module at their own pace. 

Learning objectives

The module aims to help participants:

  • create an affirming and inclusive environment for TGDNB patients attending general practice and community care
  • understand the diversity of and terminology used by TGDNB people
  • become familiar with the standards of care for TGDNB patients, including eligibility, assessment and referral pathways for gender transition (affirmation) therapies
  • be aware of the key issues in hormone management and surgical options for gender affirmation
  • be competent in providing care for common psychosocial issues among TGDNB patients.

Access this module

Mental health care for TGDNB people

nwmphn tgdnb module
Artwork by Amery Johnston.

This training module is designed for a range of mental health professionals to become familiar with and sensitive to the diverse terminology, experiences, issues, standards, and referral pathways with respect to TGDNB clients.

The overarching purpose is to promote more inclusive and responsive service provision for TGDNB people in mental health care settings.

The full module takes approximately 2 hours to complete, covers a range of areas, and incorporates a variety of activities and visual content.

Learning objectives

The module aims to help participants:

  • be 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
  • be familiar with the various roles of mental health care providers for TGDNB clients before, during and after gender affirmation
  • apply known psychosocial influences on TGDNB clients’ mental health to their counselling practice with this population
  • understand the needs of families in supporting their child or young person through gender affirmation.

Access this module

Webinars

Watch these webinars discussing the development of this module:

  1. Dr Gavi Ansara: co-design can be used to improve services
  2. Amery Johnston (artist): the development of the module graphics
  3. Dr Ruth McNair (co-author): the development and use of the module so far