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  • Alliance commends changes to Better Access scheme

    The National LGBTI Health Alliance has commended Mental Health Minister, Mark Butler, for reinstating six additional therapy sessions for people referred by their GP.

    “A number of Alliance members had stated their concern that the reduction of sessions to 10 could disadvantage LGBTI and other people”, reported Alliance General Manager, Warren Talbot.

    “It is likely that LGBTI people, being referred by their GP to a psychologist, will have more complex and longer term mental health issues to deal with.The cost of counselling has been identified as a major barrier to people accessing mental health care and that affordable counselling options is essential for improving the mental health status of LGBTI people”

    “The challenge”, Mr Talbot said, “is what will happen in 2013 when the Better Access sessions will again be reduced to only 10.”

    Mr Talbot said that the Alliance supported the Commonwealth’s goals in terms of capacity building for mental health services, but 2013 may not be a realistic timetable.

     

     

  • Concerns re Libra advertisement

     

    Libra Ad could incite prejudice against Transgender Women

    The Alliance has issued a media Release concerning the recent Libra advertisement.

    The National LGBTI Health Alliance finds the Advertising Standards Bureau determination on the Libra tampon ad regrettable, in not fully understanding the message it sends to the wider community about transgender women.  General Manager of the Alliance, Warren Talbot, said the ad could incite prejudice against the transgender community.

    Click here to read the full Media Release. (PDF)

     

  • National LGBTI Health Alliance comments on Margaret Court

     

    The National LGBTI Health Alliance has stated that Margaret Court’s stated views on gay and lesbian sexuality are misleading and could be dangerous for young people or those uncertain about their sexuality.

    “There is no medical or scientific evidence for the simple view that sexuality is a “choice”, as Ms Court has suggested,” stated Alliance General Manager Warren Talbot.

    “The risk is that people who are uncertain about their sexuality might falsely conclude that they can be ‘cured’ of their homosexuality.  There is no medical evidence for that.

    “The higher rates of suicide among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people indicates that public figures need to be very careful in comments made”, Mr Talbot said.

     

  • '2012 to build on achievements of 2011 for the National LGBTI Health Alliance'

    The National LGBTI Health Alliance celebrates our big achievements from 2011!

    A detailed media release can be downloaded here: .PDF / .DOC

    "Considerable progress was made in priority areas that had been worked on for some time. In the short space of a year, the Alliance has grown from three part-time positions to 5 full-time and one part-time position, and has become involved in many new areas of health promotion for LGBTI Australians", Paul Martin said.

    Highlights of 2011 included:

    - MindOUT! Mental Health and Suicide Prevention project secures significant funding ($1.1m)

    - Funding helps to expand staffing resources

    - Involvement in supporting the first 'Parlimentary Friends of LGBTI' event in Canberra.

    - The LGBTI Ageing Roundtable

    - Contribution to DoHA LGBTI Working Group

  • Call for comment on draft submission to the Attorney-General

     

    The National LGBTI Health Alliance is calling for comments on the draft submission to the AG's Department in response to the Discussion Paper on the Consolidation of Commonwealth Anti-discrimination laws. Comments are due with the Alliance Friday 20 January 2012 at sujay.kentlyn@lgbtihealth.org.au

    The proposed Equality Act is of vital concern to the National LGBTI Health Alliance. Firstly we recognise the need for stronger, clearer, more effective laws against discrimination. Secondly the prejudice underlying and giving rise to discrimination is an important social determinant of health.

     

    The draft submission can be downloaded here. The report was prepared by Jamie Gardiner (Alliance member) and Sujay Kentlyn (Alliance Health Policy Officer).

     

  • Seasons Greetings from the National LGBTI Health Alliance!

    The National LGBTI Health Alliance would like to wish everyone a diverse, safe and happy holiday season!

    This has been a big year in the life of the Alliance and we would especially like to thank our members for their ongoing enthusiasm, knowledge and support.

    Please Note: Our offices will close for business on the 23rd of December 2011 and reopen on 3rd January 2012.

  • LGBTI Health Update - December

    The December edition of the monthly newsletter of the National LGBTI Health Alliance is now available for download here.

  • Released: Summary Report of the National LGBTI Ageing Roundtable

    The National LGBTI Ageing Roundtable was held on 18-19 October 2011. A summary report of the roundtable can be downloaded here.

  • Position Vacant - Project Officer (Policy)

    The National LGBTI Health Alliance has a vacancy for a Project Officer (Policy). The focus for this work is mental health and suicide prevention under contract from the Australian Department of Health and Ageing. Other policy priorities include ageing, and sex and gender diversity. The position is based in Sydney.

    You are an experienced individual highly motivated and with a demonstrated commitment to improve health outcomes, including community development and human rights, for LGBTI people.

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    To download the Position Description, please click here. Having read the position description, interested applicants can contact Barry Taylor on (02) 8568 1124 for further information. Applications close Wed,14 December 2011.

  • Position vacant - Membership and Information Services Officer

    The National LGBTI Health Alliance is Australia’s peak national health organisation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and other sexuality, sex and gender diverse (LGBTI) people.
    We have a vacancy for a Membership and Information Services Officer.  The focus for this work is administrative support for the Alliance’s national office.
    You are an experienced individual combining very good office (including computer) skills, interpersonal and communication skills, and capacity to manage information.
    If you would like to contribute the work of the Alliance, information about the above opportunity is available by emailing our General Manager, Warren Talbot, warren.talbot@lgbtihealth.org.au. Applications close COB Monday 21 November 2011.