LGBTQ+ health and wellbeing
Inclusive health care for LGBTQ+ communities
Everyone deserves access to health care where they feel safe, respected and understood.
LGBTQ+ communities are diverse and include people of different ages, cultures, bodies, genders, sexualities, relationships and life experiences. Health needs and experiences are different for every person.
Healthy North Coast works with communities, health professionals and partner organisations to better understand the health needs of LGBTQ+ people across the North Coast and support more inclusive, accessible and responsive health care.
Our focus includes improving access to care, strengthening the capability of primary health care providers and supporting better mental, physical and social health and wellbeing.
LGBTQ+ health on the North Coast
LGBTQ+ people are part of every community across the North Coast.
Many LGBTQ+ people live healthy and connected lives. However, discrimination, stigma, social isolation and difficulty finding inclusive health care can contribute to poorer health outcomes for some people.
Living in a regional or rural community can create additional challenges when appropriate services are limited or require people to travel.
Healthy North Coast’s Health Needs Assessment identifies LGBTQ+ people as a priority population and highlights a number of areas where health outcomes and access to care can be improved.
These include:
- mental health and wellbeing
- suicide prevention
- alcohol and other drug support
- access to inclusive and affirming health care
- trans and gender diverse health
- sexual health
- domestic and family violence
- social connection and isolation
- the health and wellbeing of older LGBTQ+ people.
LGBTQ+ people who experience other barriers to health care – including people living with disability, people experiencing homelessness, culturally and linguistically diverse communities and people experiencing domestic and family violence – may face additional challenges accessing appropriate support.
Understanding these different experiences is important to developing health care that works for everyone.
Mental health and wellbeing
Mental health is one of the most significant health concerns identified by LGBTQ+ people in our region.
In Healthy North Coast’s 2024 Better Health Community Survey, 61% of the 297 LGBTQ+ participants identified mental health as a primary concern, compared with 39% of participants in the broader survey population.
Experiences of discrimination, stigma, rejection, isolation and difficulty accessing appropriate services can affect mental health and wellbeing.
Support is available.
Healthy North Coast commissions a range of mental health services across the North Coast, providing different levels of care depending on a person’s needs.
This includes services for children and young people, adults and people experiencing more complex mental health challenges.
Trans and gender diverse health
Trans and gender diverse people should be able to access health care that is safe, respectful and responsive to their individual needs.
Health care may include everyday primary and preventive health care as well as gender-affirming health care for people who choose to access it.
A GP or other appropriately qualified health professional can help with general health needs and, where appropriate, discuss gender affirmation, treatment options, referrals and other support.
Healthy North Coast is working with health professionals and community partners to strengthen access to inclusive and gender-affirming primary care across the North Coast.
- Sexual health and preventive care
- Looking after your health includes regular preventive care.
- Depending on your individual health needs, this can include:
- regular health checks
- sexual health testing
- HIV and sexually transmissible infection prevention and testing
- vaccinations
- cervical screening for people with a cervix
- breast screening where appropriate
- bowel screening
- contraception and reproductive health care
- mental health and wellbeing support.
Screening and preventive care should be based on your body, individual health needs, age and risk factors rather than assumptions about gender or sexuality.
A GP or sexual health service can help you understand which health checks, screening and preventive care are right for you.
Alcohol and other drugs
Alcohol and other drug concerns were also identified as an important health issue through Healthy North Coast’s community consultation.
In the 2024 Better Health Community Survey, 47% of LGBTQ+ participants identified alcohol and drug use as a concern, compared with 31% of participants in the broader survey population.
People use alcohol and other drugs for many different reasons. If alcohol or drug use is affecting your health, relationships or everyday life, confidential support is available.
Healthy North Coast commissions alcohol and other drug treatment and support services across the region.
Drug and Alcohol Service – Mid North Coast Local Health District
Drug and Alcohol Service – Northern NSW Local Health District
Domestic and family violence
Domestic and family violence can happen in any relationship, family or community.
Healthy North Coast’s Health Needs Assessment identifies domestic and family violence as an important health issue for LGBTQ+ communities.
LGBTQ+ people experiencing violence may face additional barriers to seeking help, including fear of discrimination, being misunderstood or not finding a service that recognises their relationship, gender or sexuality.
Everyone has the right to feel safe and to receive respectful support.
Healthy ageing and staying connected
Older LGBTQ+ people have diverse lives, relationships and experiences.
Some have lived through periods when their sexuality or gender was criminalised, pathologised or heavily stigmatised. These experiences can influence how comfortable someone feels disclosing their identity or accessing health and aged care services later in life.
Social connection is also important for health and wellbeing as we age.
Healthy North Coast works with health, aged care and community organisations to improve access to appropriate care and help people stay healthy, independent and connected.
Improving LGBTQ+ inclusive care
Improving access to health care also means making sure health professionals have the knowledge and confidence to provide inclusive care.
Healthy North Coast works with ACON and other partners to strengthen LGBTQ+ inclusive practice across primary health care.
This has included LGBTQ+ inclusive practice education for GPs and primary care professionals, with a particular focus on improving care for trans and gender diverse people.
The training helps health professionals better understand LGBTQ+ health needs, recognise barriers to accessing care and build practical skills for providing safe, respectful and gender-affirming care.
Healthy North Coast also supports general practices to improve the way they engage with trans and gender diverse patients and create more inclusive and patient-centred health care environments.
This work is part of our broader commitment to improving health equity and ensuring people across the North Coast can access appropriate care.
Working together for better health
Improving LGBTQ+ health requires more than one service or part of the health system.
Healthy North Coast works with LGBTQ+ communities, general practices, ACON, Aboriginal Medical Services, Local Health Districts, mental health and alcohol and other drug services, community organisations and other partners to improve how people access and experience health care.
Our approach focuses on understanding local health needs, strengthening primary health care, improving connections between services and supporting a health system that responds to the different needs of our communities.
For LGBTQ+ people, this means working towards health care that is easier to access, inclusive, respectful and connected.
Understanding LGBTQ+ health in our region
LGBTQ+ people are identified as a priority population in Healthy North Coast’s 2025–2028 Health Needs Assessment.
The assessment brings together health data, community consultation and insights from health and service providers to better understand health needs and gaps in care.
It identifies particular challenges relating to mental health, alcohol and other drugs, inclusive health care, domestic and family violence and the experiences of older LGBTQ+ people.
It also highlights an important challenge: there are gaps in available health data for LGBTQ+ communities, particularly in regional areas.
Ongoing engagement with LGBTQ+ people and community organisations is therefore essential to understanding people’s experiences and ensuring future health services, policies and investment respond to local needs.
Healthy North Coast is committed to supporting the implementation of the National Action Plan for the Health and Wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ People 2025–2035 and the NSW LGBTIQ+ Health Strategy 2022–2027 in collaboration with regional partners.
Additional information and resources
Find additional information and resources about LGBTQ+ health and wellbeing from trusted organisations.
ACON
Health information, programs and support for LGBTQ+ people and communities in NSW.
NSW Health
Information about LGBTQ+ health, services, mental health, trans and gender diverse health and other support.
Learn more about LGBTQIA+ people’s health
Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Information about the National Action Plan for the Health and Wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ People 2025–2035 and national health initiatives.
View the National Action Plan for the Health and Wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ People
