GRAI (GLBTI Rights in Ageing Inc) last night launched its new training project designed to assist aged care services in providing safe and inclusive services for LGBTI clients.

GRAI June Lowe overcame a sore throat to deliver an introduction to the program, citing their research paper ‘We don’t have any of those people here’ as evidence of how LGBTI older people can face discrimination or not have their needs met because their sexuality or gender identity may not be visually recognizable to the staff.

Project Coordinator Susan Harwood will be leading a team of skilled professionals offering free, one day training sessions to aged care providers of all stripes: residential facilities, community caregivers, retirement villages and services engaging with the older community. The project is part of a national initiative coordinated by the National LGBTI Health Alliance in partnership with ACON (AIDs Council of NSW).

Guest Speaker Dr. Gavi Ansara, Senior Health Policy Officer of the National LGBTI Health Alliance spoke about inclusive ageing care for LGBTI people, in particular transgender, intersex and gender non-binary people. Dr. Ansara outlined some of the issues that are often faced by trans* and intersex older people, including access to hormones, recognition of their gender identity by aged care staff and problems that can arise from their biological family members being given control of their medical care.

Following his speech, Dr. Ansara joined a number of other experts for a panel discussion on LGBTI inclusive aged care. The panel was made up of Dr. Vivenne Cass, Beth Cameron, Terry Pitsikas, Ray Glickman, and Graham Lovelock.

GRAI’s LGBTI sensitivity training sessions will commence in June of this year.

For more information, or if you’d like to book a free training session, contact Project Coordinator Susan Harwood at susan.harwood@iinet.net.au

See more photos of the event below.

Sophie Joske