Southern Adelaide Local Health Network (SALHN) recently sought community input on their Community Engagement Strategy 2021-2024.
SARAA made a submission outlining how SALHN can engage with LGBTIQA+ people to reach the strategy goal of building a healthier, stronger community that is diverse, inclusive and safe for today and into the future. Our recommendations included:
- acknowledging the large gap in reliable data available about LGBTIQA+ people
- referring to the growing body of published literature on LGBTIQA+ Australians including Writing Themselves in 4, Understanding LGBTI Lives in Crisis, Private Lives 3, the Health and Wellbeing of Transgender Australians and the annual update on mental health statistics provided by LGBTIQ+ Health Australia
- listening to recommendations of our LGBTIQA+ Community Advisory Group who identified gender affirming healthcare and increased mental health support as key issues for our community
- talking to local community groups like Pride of the South.