industry & reform
The Aged Care Diversity Action Plan for Senior LGBTI
Australians was launched recently, in which Silver Rainbow had
input. Break down the framework for us.
In 2017, we launched the Aged Care Diversity Framework, so
that’s like an overarching document. It applies to government
aged care providers, peak bodies and also has consumer actions.
That was very much “What does inclusion look like at high
policy level?”.
That also looked a lot at intersectionality. So, you’re not just
someone who might be lesbian, you might also be Aboriginal, you
might be homeless – that intersectionality of needs.
The National LGBTI Health Alliance was also working very
closely with the Federation of Ethnic Community Councils of
Australia, the Australian Association of Gerontology and the
National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation.
We all worked together on the diversity framework.
From there, we moved onto working on the various action
plans: three action plans plus a generic action plan. That was
much more implementation orientated.
The alliance took on the responsibility of consulting nationally
to develop the supports for the LGBTI elders action plan and the
consumer guidance documents. We held about 19 consultations
across the whole of Australia in remote areas, and also had online
surveys and encouraged people to make submissions.
From that, we synthesised everything into the first draft. Then
there was about a year of ongoing review and redrafting until we
ended up with the document we launched.
Is any of this legislated? Are there penalties if providers aren’t
trying to be inclusive? What sort of safeguards are there?
Under the Aged Care Act, there’s what they call the special
needs groups, and LGBTI elders and elder people are part of
those special needs groups. That covers how services need
to be inclusive. Also, under the Sex Discrimination Act, which
was changed in 2013, aged care providers are not allowed to
discriminate in the delivery of services to LGBTI people. They’re
the two legislative safeguards.
In terms of the action plans, they’re not legislated; they’re
guides, suggestions, good practice. But they also link in very nicely
to the new aged care standards, which also very clearly state that
providers need to address diversity and meet the needs of diverse
characteristics of the people within their care. ■
Dementia
Fundamentals
Symposium
Greater capability, better care
The Dementia Centre is now offering
an intensive one-day seminar.
Leading sector experts will cover proven
and latest thinking on key topics. Each topic
is comprehensively evidence based and
proven in clinical practice.
Join us at one of the following locations
AUCKLAND
HOBART
MELBOURNE
SYDNEY
Book now or learn more at dementiacentre.com/events
or contact us at [email protected]
*Group discount requires a minimum of 3 people. See website for full terms and conditions.
16 agedcareinsite.com.au
GR SAV
OU E 3
P B 0%
OO ON
KIN
GS
*