Ahead of Transgender Day of Visibility on 31 March, LGBTI health organisation ACON has announced the creation of a trans and gender diverse advisory group to advise on the development of ACON’s first Trans and Gender Diverse Community Health Strategy.
According to a statement made this morning, the advisory group will provide strategic advice on specific health issues relating to the TGD community, with the goal to support broader health system reform.
ACON President Dr Justin Koonin said that knowing how to better address transgender and gender diverse community health and wellbeing issues was of fundamental importance.
“As LGBTI health responses evolve, it has become clear that there are significant barriers to TGD inclusion in many aspects of health service provision, and unless we address these barriers carefully and pragmatically, we will see increasing disparity,” Dr Koonin said.
He continued: “All members of our communities should be benefiting from gains we are making in other areas of LGBTI health. The establishment of this advisory group will play a significant role in helping ACON achieve meaningful, and equal, health outcomes, as well as delivering a tool to assist community advocates, policy makers and ACON to improve the health and rights of TGD communities in NSW.”
ACON Board Director Atari Metcalf said it was important for members of the TGD community to get involved in the development process.
“Critical to improving our approach to TGD health promotion and intervention is engaging, consulting and resourcing peer-led and peer-driven responses. Members of TGD communities must be included in the development of any strategy aimed at addressing issues pertinent to them,” Metcalf said.
He added: “The advisory group will assist us in setting out the priorities and health programs needed to support the care, wellbeing and inclusion of TGD people."
“By working together, we can meet the overall health outcomes of TGD people by addressing health inequalities that many continue to face.”
