Premium Content:

LGBTQIA+ advocates welcome new Tasmanian mental health initiatives

LGBTQIA+ advocacy group Equality Tasmania and mental health advocates Working It Out have applauded the State Government’s announcement of several important LGBTIQ+ mental health initiatives.

- Advertisement -

Premier and Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Jeremy Rockliff, this week released the 2022-23 implementation plan for the state’s mental health strategy.

The strategy identifies LGBTIQ+ Tasmanians as one of three priority groups due to the much higher levels of mental health risk for this community, resulting primarily from discrimination and stigma.

The plan includes:

  • Funding to develop a Tasmanian LGBTIQ+ mental health service model
  • Funding for LGBTIQ+ inclusion training to be made mandatory for all health department employees
  • Establishing already-funded LGBTIQ+ peer navigators in the north and north west of the state
  • Assessment of all Department of Health services for LGBTIQ+ inclusion

Working It Out’s acting CEO, Olivia Hogarth, congratulates the Tasmanian Government on these initiatives.

“Working It Out welcomes a plan which addresses recommendations from both state and national reports regarding the increased mental health risks for LGBTIQ+ people,” Hogarth said.

“As Tasmania’s only dedicated LGBTIQ+ support and education service, Working It Out looks forward to working with the state government to further understand the lived experience of the LGBTIQ+ communities, recognise the gaps in the mental health sector, and develop a model that will best address those needs and gaps.”

Equality Tasmania board member, Andrew Badcock, adds that “because of discrimination and stigma, LGBTIQ+ Tasmanians, especially those who are trans and gender diverse, have some of the worst mental health outcomes in Tasmania.”

“The State Government is to be applauded for taking positive steps towards reducing the higher-than-average levels of mental health distress experienced by LGBTIQ+ Tasmanians.”

“We will continue to campaign to ensure the mental health service model the government will develop becomes a reality.”


You can support our work by subscribing to our Patreon
or contributing to our GoFundMe campaign.

Latest

‘Reckless’: New First Nations-led comedy thriller premieres this November

The new series from SBS and NITV brings the drama to Fremantle.

City of Vincent Film Project returns to celebrate local stories and creatives

The initiative highlighting local stories and supporting WA creatives is back for another round in 2026.

Bibliophile | ‘The Warrumbar’ tells a story of Australia’s haves and have-nots

The year was 1969 when thirteen year-old Robbie rode three miles to high school, with one sister sitting on the handle bars.

Former actor Laurence Fox gains retrial over racist defamation claim

An appeal court has found that Fox's counter claim in a libel case should have been heard, but the original judgement will remain.

Newsletter

Don't miss

‘Reckless’: New First Nations-led comedy thriller premieres this November

The new series from SBS and NITV brings the drama to Fremantle.

City of Vincent Film Project returns to celebrate local stories and creatives

The initiative highlighting local stories and supporting WA creatives is back for another round in 2026.

Bibliophile | ‘The Warrumbar’ tells a story of Australia’s haves and have-nots

The year was 1969 when thirteen year-old Robbie rode three miles to high school, with one sister sitting on the handle bars.

Former actor Laurence Fox gains retrial over racist defamation claim

An appeal court has found that Fox's counter claim in a libel case should have been heard, but the original judgement will remain.

Fresh Tracks | The latest tunes worth checking out

New tracks from Ladytron, Melanie C, Sudan Archives, Courtney Barnett, Tame Impala, Louis Tomlinson and Eurovision star ADONXS.

‘Reckless’: New First Nations-led comedy thriller premieres this November

The new series from SBS and NITV brings the drama to Fremantle.

City of Vincent Film Project returns to celebrate local stories and creatives

The initiative highlighting local stories and supporting WA creatives is back for another round in 2026.

Bibliophile | ‘The Warrumbar’ tells a story of Australia’s haves and have-nots

The year was 1969 when thirteen year-old Robbie rode three miles to high school, with one sister sitting on the handle bars.