Primary Care Resources - Safer Options

Making IPV Primary Care Services LGBTIQA+ Inclusive

In Western Australia, there is a shortage of inclusive primary care services that specifically provide support for LGBTIQA+ individuals experiencing IPV. When primary care services are not inclusive, they can worsen the situation for LGBTIQA+ individuals experiencing IPV by leaving them without receiving the need support.

Primary care services that offer support for LGBTIQA+ individuals experiencing IPV should commit to an inclusive LGBTIQA+ identity, build a positive reputation among the community, and modify their service provision to meet the needs of the LGBTIQA+ community.

Safer Options’ recommendations provide valuable information, education, and resources for primary care services to genuinely support and provide appropriate services for LGBTIQA+ individuals experiencing IPV. By following these recommendations, primary care services can bridge the gaps in support and create a safer, more inclusive environment for those seeking help.

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Follow the recommendations below to make your service inclusive and build a positive reputation among the LGBTIQA+ community.

LGBTIQA+ Understanding

To properly support LGBTIQA+ individuals, primary care providers need to educate themselves on LGBTIQA+ identities and experiences, and IPV to ensure they can provide appropriate support to their clients.

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Redefining the Norm

Primary care providers supporting LGBTIQA+ individuals experiencing IPV should not assume all clients are cisgender and heterosexual, and seek to understand how IPV can look in LGBTIQA+ contexts.

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Be Visibly Inclusive

After making active efforts to ensure your primary care service is LGBTIQA+ inclusive, it is crucial that this inclusivity is clear and explicit to LGBTIQA+ individuals so they know you are a safe space.

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Building Reputation

The reputation of a primary care service among the LGBTIQA+ community is very important. Genuine inclusivity plays a key role in building trust and creating a safe space for support.

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Ensuring Sustainability

Efforts towards inclusivity should aim for long-term sustainable change and impact within the LGBTIQA+ community. One-off attempts may unintentionally come across as tokenistic and may not have a lasting effect. Such actions can be noticed by LGBTIQA+ individuals and may affect your reputation.

Here are some things to consider:

Policy and Culture Change

Go beyond surface-level initiatives and focus on implementing systemic changes within your primary care service. This involves developing policies that promote inclusivity, diversity, and equal treatment for all clients, irrespective of their sex, gender and sexuality. These policies should be thoroughly integrated into the organisation’s culture and values, impacting every aspect of the service’s operations.

Obtain Rainbow Tick Accreditation

The Rainbow Tick accreditation is a widely recognised certification that demonstrates commitment to providing a safe and inclusive environment for LGBTIQA+ individuals. This accreditation can not only enhance your primary care service’s reputation among the community but also signal your dedication to ongoing improvement in inclusivity efforts.
rainbowhealthaustralia.org.au/rainbow-tick