Federal Aged Care Minister Ken Wyatt says positive steps have been achieved in the training of the Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) aged care workforce, but more work needs to be done.
Releasing the LGBTI Aged Care Strategy Review today, Mr Wyatt said it was important the aged care industry continued with the work begun five years ago when the strategy was introduced.
“The Australian Government wants all senior Australians to access the services they need and expect as they get older – and recognising diversity is a key factor in meeting that expectation,” Mr Wyatt said.
The review noted substantial progress in aged care workforce training to support older LGBTI Australians, and improved collaboration between the government and the LGBTI sector.
Mr Wyatt said the Government had also implemented a range of other programs to support older LGBTI Australians.
More than $8 million has been allocated over the past five years to grants promoting the health and wellbeing of older people who are LGBTI.
The government was also providing more than $4 million to the National LGBTI Health Alliance over three years to provide LGBTI Awareness Training to aged care providers and workers.
“I thank the LGBTI Aged Care Strategy Working Group and applaud the contribution made by providers, peak bodies and individuals to ensure this review was comprehensive and provides a way forward,” Mr Wyatt said.
“The review has informed the development of the new Aged Care Diversity Framework, which I expect to release next month.”
For more information about the LGBTI Aged Care Strategy Review, visit the Department of Health’s website.
