The Alliance - National LGBTI Health Alliance

LGBTI Strategy Review Input Template for The National LGBTI Health Alliance (The Alliance) July 2013 – June 2014

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GOAL 1 – LGBTI people will experience equitable access to appropriate ageing and aged care services ACTION AREAS Goal Description 1.1 Include information on and discussion about the needs of older LGBTI people, their families and carers in aged care related publications and information.

Key Achievements 2013 - 14 

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The Dementia Training Study Centres (DTSC) developed the ‘Sexualities and Dementia Education Resource for Health Professionals released in 2013. This was supported by ‘Train the Trainer’ Workshops in each DTSC jurisdiction (NSW/ACT, QLD, VIC/TAS, SA/NT and WA). The workshop offered 25 places to participants who were selected based on their capacity to influence change in their organisation, and are mostly from training or leadership roles. Val’s Café – LGBTI inclusive carers support services: Partnership with Carers’ Australia conduct research to understand the needs of older LGBTI carers and the carers of older LGBTI people.

Issues and Other Comments   

Consider My Aged Care Gateway advertising via LGBTI media channels Audit all publications in DSS and all government departments Regular articles in Ageing and Aged Care specific publications

Goal Description

Key Achievements 2013 - 14

1.2 In consultation with LGBTI communities, ensure the Gateway uses clear, visible indicators to identify aged care, respite and carer support services with specific expertise/interest in meeting the needs of LGBTI people. This will enable consumers to readily identify LGBTI inclusive aged care providers; and for aged care assessors or case managers to refer prospective clients efficiently and appropriately.

My Aged Care: In 2012-13 the Department fulfilled its 2012 Budget commitment to the development of the My Aged Care National Contact Centre and website (www.myagedcare.gov.au) which were launched on 1 July 2013. The website provides specific information for older LGBTI people, which will continue to be improved to better meet the needs of older LGBTI people, their families and carers. This will include ensuring the website uses LGBTI-inclusive language consistently.

Issues and Other Comments    

Clear indicators on website searchable for consumers to find appropriate service providers for LGBTI populations Review success of LGBTI screening and assessment question in identifying LGBTI people Consider pathway to a peer-reviewed method of indicating LGBTI inclusiveness to reassure users of the system. Educate providers and identify training needs of gateway and ACATs

Additionally, the My Aged Care contact centre developed and implemented training to the centre staff specifically focussed around providing a secure and discrimination free environment for LGBTI consumers to access aged care information. 

The Gateway has planned to include LGBTI indicators as part of their screening and assessment process.

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Goal Description 1.3 Use LGBTI-inclusive language and representation when developing new resources and reviewing existing resources. This will include developing a best practice intake and assessment form with accompanying procedures to help ensure it is culturally appropriate for LGBTI clients. These changes will be reflected in the aged care client record (ACCR).

Key Achievements 2013 - 14

Developed information specifically designed to meet the needs of older LGBTI people, which has been incorporated into national policy/training documents and operational tools of relevance to the aged care sector including:

  1.4 Identify and promote opportunities to maximise the health and wellbeing outcomes of older LGBTI people.

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1.5 Support the needs of geographically isolated LGBTI people, their families and carers and recognise these needs in the delivery of aged care services.

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DSS:

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Issues and Other Comments

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Conduct desktop audit of all policies and resources to ensure appropriate language Update ACCR with appropriate language options

the My Aged Care Website My Aged Care National Contact Centre training material Aged Care Assessment Program Guidelines and National Training Resource Home Care Package Guidelines Evergreen Life Care – The LGBTI Elders Wellbeing Project ACON – Living Older Healthy Visible Empowered Then and Now

Evergreen’s Wellbeing Project and ACON’s Project LOVE (both NSW) contained some rural aspects

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Specific outreach to older LGBTI people in rural areas to identify their unique needs Explore telehealth options for Community Visitors Schemes

GOAL 2

– The aged care and LGBTI sectors will be supported and resourced to proactively address the needs of older LGBTI people Goal Description 2.1 Make grants available from 2013–14 to expand the Community Visitors Scheme (CVS) to specifically include LGBTI people, their families and carers, to minimise social isolation.

Key Achievements 2013-14 

3 services were funded in 2013/14: o ACON Health (NSW) o Switchboard (VIC) o QuAC (QLD)

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The Community Visitors Scheme (CVS) has been expanded to include provision of support to older people from LGBTI communities who are socially isolated.

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Commencing in 2013-14, the CVS expansion will include visits to Home Care Package consumers nationally as well as group visits within residential care homes with a particular focus on special needs groups.

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Switchboard led program

Issues and other Comments 

Review Year 1 success and consider for future rounds in other states.

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Goal Description

Key Achievements 2013-14

2.2 Review the National Aged Care Advocacy Program (NACAP) guidelines to include an emphasis on promoting and maximising access to advocacy for older LGBTI people, starting from the entry point.

The National Aged Care Advocacy Program (NACAP) was provided with additional funding to increase advocacy services nationally to meet an identified unmet demand within special needs groups, including LGBTI. The Aged-care Rights Service (TARS) are the NSW NACAP provider and have also been funded for the ‘Reaching OUT: Ageing and LGBTI Rights’ project, through the Aged Care Service Improvement and Healthy Ageing Grants fund (ACSIHAG).


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DSS has indicated a review of NACAP and HACC/CHSP Advocacy by June 2016. Recommend LGBTI Health Alliance be a part of review process and services for LGBTI people are considered. Access for NACAP providers to LGBTI AAC Training

This project is delivering education sessions to LGBTI audiences regarding rights associated with ageing, retirement village living, and advocacy for recipients of aged care facilities and HACC services. 2.3 Increase awareness and understanding of advance care planning among LGBTI people, their families and carers.

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Nil work done by Government. Some work done in NSW by Professor Cartwright Actively promote and fund advanced care planning activities.

2.4 Develop initiatives in dementia assessment and early diagnosis services; acute care; respite care; and palliative care that are inclusive of and responsive to the needs of LGBTI people.

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DTSC (Dementia Training Studies Centre) attached to Alzheimer’s Australia South Australia are looking at an e-learning module around LGBTI people and dementia The South Australian & Northern Territory and Queensland Dementia Training Study Centres have developed the Sexualities and

Dementia: An Educational Resource for Health Professionals. 

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Information/resources on/for Palliative Care has not yet been developed Information specifically for acute care (i.e. hospital settings) should be developed Information around dementia assessment has not yet been developed Information around respite assessment has not yet been developed

It is a self-directed learning resource and facilitators guide in CD – Rom and online format focussing on the particular needs of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex groups and issues around sexuality for people living with dementia. This project is enhancing health professional’s awareness of the specific needs of LGBTI people and improving their capacity to provide relevant health care. Discussion paper (based on literature review) Dementia, Transgender and Intersex

People: Do Service Providers Really Know What Their Needs Are? has been prepared 

and will be released in October 2014 Val’s Café – Understanding the needs of LGBTI people living with dementia: Partnership with Alzheimer’s Australia to understand the needs of older LGBTI people living with dementia and/or their carers and to educate service providers.

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Goal Description


2.5 Continue to support and evaluate 10 ACSIHAG Funded Projects to date: innovative programs, projects and services addressing the goals of this Strategy and  The Aged Care Rights Service – Reaching identified emerging issues, including OUT: Ageing and LGBTI Rights through the Aged Care Service  QAHC – Diversity in Aged Care – Improving Improvement and Healthy Ageing Grants Services for LGBTI Seniors Fund or any similar fund.  National LGBTI Health Alliance – Capacity and Policy Development to Support Older LGBTI Communities  National LGBTI Health Alliance – LGBTI Sensitivity Training  The Gender Centre – Transgender Aged Care Support  Living Positive Australia – Senior People Living with HIV Voices  Evergreen Life Care – The LGBTI Elders Wellbeing Project  Alzheimer’s Australia SA – National Dementia Support – Building Capacity in Dementia Care  ACON – Living Older Healthy Visible Empowered  Aged Care and Housing Group – Free to be  La Trobe University – Supporting aged care services to develop LGBTI inclusive services 

The Alliance is currently exploring a national clearing house option

Issues and other Comments

GOAL 3 – Ageing and aged care services will be supported to deliver LGBTIinclusive services Goal Description 3.1 Recognise members of all the Special Needs groups identified in the Quality of Care Principles 1997, including LGBTI people, by specifically including them in the Accreditation Standards, Community Care Common Standards and Flexible Care Standards. Support the aged care sector in understanding how LGBTI people fit within these accreditation frameworks.


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National LGBTI Health Alliance had a meeting with Agency to discuss how the existing standards can be applied to LGBTI people. Accreditation Agency became Quality Agency in January 2014 resulting in a change in some key people. Some LGBTI organisations have been invited to present at “best practice” conferences of the agency

Issues and other Comments  

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DSS to identify how best to include LGBTI people within standards and identify timeline for approach. Two stage part: explanation of how LGBTI is included within current standards today and specific special needs mention in revised standards when revision process occurs within the next 3 years. Standards should be amended in time for the updated VET changes (2014/15) LGBTI training for Quality Assessors should be scheduled Re-engage with Quality Agency

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3.2 Promote understanding among aged care providers about the need for legal protection from discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, sex and gender identity, including unwanted disclosure of an individual’s LGBTI status.

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The Dementia Training Study Centres (DTSC) developed the ‘Sexualities and Dementia Education Resource for Health Professionals released in 2013. This was supported by ‘Train the Trainer’ Workshops in each DTSC jurisdiction (NSW/ACT, QLD, VIC/TAS, SA/NT and WA). The workshop offered 25 places to participants who were selected based on their capacity to influence change in their organisation, and are mostly from training or leadership roles. Val’s Café: Discrimination, depression and anxiety – Collaboration with Curtin University and funded by beyondblue. Interviews with 12 older LGBT people in 3 states to document their experience of discrimination and the effect on their mental health. Analysis of themes and construction of small case studies highlights the links between discrimination and mental health. Report to be released in September 2014. Val’s Café: Strategies for managing depression and anxiety – collaboration with the National Ageing Research Institute and RMIT. Funded by beyondblue. Interviews with 40 older LGBTI Australians to draw on their strategies for managing discrimination and preventing depression and anxiety. This information will form the basis of educational resources which will be piloted and evaluated in workshops for service providers, lectures for undergraduate students and a community forum for LGBTI communities.

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Annual Reporting, enforceable penalties and an evidence base of implementation has not yet been achieve and should be considered as part of accreditation changes. Exemptions for faith-based organisations still exist in other areas of service provision, employment etc.

Goal Description


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3.3 From July 2015, include LGBTI people in the Home Support Program Guidelines as a Special Needs group to receive Special Needs consideration in line with the Aged Care Act 1997.

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3.4 Review aged care program guidelines (including Home Support and Home Care) to help ensure that service providers are clear about the service delivery expectations for LGBTI clients.


Val’s Café: The Trans Project – Collaboration with The Gender Centre and TransGender Victoria to document the experiences and needs of older Trans people and to utilise this information to educate service providers. Val’s Café: The Intersex Project – Collaboration with Organisation Intersex International and aims to document the experiences and needs of older Intersex people and will utilise this information to educate service providers. As part of the Living Longer Living Better aged care reform package Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) Australians are now treated as a special needs group. Changes to the Allocation Principles 1997 mean that from 1 July 2012 the needs of LGBTI people will be specifically considered by community and residential aged care providers who work with this group. Discussion paper on CHSP design in July 2014 indicated LGBTI will be included as special needs group

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Deeper consideration of how LGBTI specialities will be provided by the new regional assessment teams (who have responsibility of linking vulnerable clients) will need to be considered.

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DSS Confirm why recent changes did not include an LGBTI review

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Goal Description


3.5 Ensure the Aged Care Complaints Scheme addresses LGBTI inclusion in its internal guidance and external awarenessraising materials aimed at consumers and industry. 3.6 Seek opportunities to recognise and promote excellence in LGBTI ageing and aged care initiatives, activities and programs.

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3.7 Support and resource aged care and LGBTI peak organisations to help their members and stakeholders implement this Strategy.

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The National LGBTI Health Alliance has been funded to support the implementation of the National Strategy

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Val’s Café: National LGBTI AAC Conference – conference aimed at service providers and will include a series of short plenaries addressing the goals of the National LGBTI AAC Strategy.

The QLD DTSC developed the ‘Sexualities and Dementia Workshop. SA/NT DTSC also has LGBTI as one of their national priorities and their 2014/15 Work Plan includes a project in this area.


Engage with LGBTI Health Alliance on how to reach LGBTI populations in a culturally safe and aware manner.

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Fund a Rainbow Award in a National Aged Care Awards program Better Practice Awards Develop something like the UN Best Practice Case Studies

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GOAL 4 – LGBTI-inclusive ageing and aged care services will be delivered by a skilled and competent paid and volunteer workforce Goal Description 4.1 Support all government-funded aged care providers to develop policies and organisational processes to address discrimination and prejudice; and to promote inclusion of LGBTI people, carers and staff within a best practice framework and among other residents/clients.


La Trobe University – Supporting Aged

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Working It Out - also supporting individual aged care services to develop inclusive services Val’s Café: Supporting a Diverse Workforce – launch in September 2014 this project will document strategies that aged care services utilise to support the diverse aged acre workforce achieve LGBTI inclusivity. Project recognises that the diversity of ethnicity, geography, religion and age can influence a service provider’s willingness to be LGBTI inclusive. Val’s Café: Aged Care How2 – 12 month program launched in March 2104 called: How2 Create an LGBTI Inclusive Aged Care Service. Series of 5 workshops attended by staff from 9 aged care services. Participants are guided through the practical steps involved in implementing the national Standards for LGBTI inclusive practice in their service. This will be rolled out nationally.

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Care Services to develop LGBTI Inclusive Services (ACSIHAG)


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Consideration is needed to develop ‘change management projects’ targeting senior management and corporate governance boards Presentations at Better Practice Conference Workplace Inclusion Strategy

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Goal Description 4.2 Deliver the Living Longer Living Better commitment of $2.5 million over five years from 2012-13 to roll out LGBTI sensitivity training for the aged care workforce nationally.


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National LGBTI Health Alliance Training Project for Ageing and Aged Care Workers, being rolled out nationally through: o NSW/ACT - ACON o NT – NTAHC o QLD – QAHC o SA – Uniting Care Wesley o TAS – TasCAHRD/WIO o VIC – TGV and GLHV o WA – GRAI Aged Care and Housing Group – Free to Be Me Alzheimer’s Australia (SA) 2 day Caring for LGBTI People with Dementia training program for health and aged care professionals is being rolled out in South Australia by Alzheimer’s Australia South Australia (AASA) 2 LGBTI dementia awareness brochures (one for health professionals and one for LGBTI people) are being finalised by AASA The Gender Centre has also been offering & providing trans-specific education.


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Project continues until 2016 Sector has indicated that they would benefit from a 3hr (rather than full day) training package. Increased funding would be required to develop this option. Inclusive work practice

Goal Description 4.3 Investigate and pursue options to increase LGBTI resources in accredited training competencies. This includes the vocational education and training (VET) sector and the tertiary education sector in particular qualifications in aged care, home and community care, allied health, nursing, general practice and any relevant qualification related to aged care.

Key Achievements 2013-14  

Initial discussions within DoHA had occurred. A revision of the VET training package will be release in September 2014 for consultation


DSS to actively engage in the consultation process reviewing the VET education package. Current Review of Community Services and Health units and modules

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Goal Description 4.4 Facilitate opportunities to make professional development about LGBTI people continuously available for the aged care workforce, including nurses, general practitioners and allied health professionals. This will include support for the aged care sector to implement organisational change.


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The Dementia Training Study Centres (DTSC) developed the ‘Sexualities and Dementia Education Resource for Health Professionals released in 2013. This was supported by ‘Train the Trainer’ Workshops in each DTSC jurisdiction (NSW/ACT, QLD, VIC/TAS, SA/NT and WA). The workshop offered 25 places to participants who were selected based on their capacity to influence change in their organisation, and are mostly from training or leadership roles. ACH (large aged care service provider) in South Australia is developing a LGBTI elearning program for their staff. National LGBTI Health Alliance, through its partners in each state and territory, are funded to deliver sensitivity training to raise awareness across the aged care sector of LGBTI people and their ageing related issues and provide the knowledge and skills basis for organisations to work to become more LGBTI inclusive.

4.5 Ensure all aged care assessment team LGBTI Inclusive ACAS Assessment – Val’s Café: (ACAT) workers and Gateway employees Funded by Department of Health, Victoria to support are trained in LGBTI awareness relevant Aged Care Assessment Services (ACAS) in Victoria to their duties. This will include develop LGBTI inclusive assessment practices and understanding that people living with HIV services. A set of Guide Sheets is being developed in may experience age-related co-morbidities collaboration with participants. earlier than the general population.

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Develop a policy position for ACAT team members on comorbidities of HIV and the early ageing consequences. Work with ACAT teams on professional development of HIV related matters relevant to assessment (in particular early ageing)

GOAL 5 – LGBTI communities, including older LGBTI people, will be actively engaged in the planning, delivery and evaluation of ageing and aged care policies, programs and services. Goal Description 5.1 Promote the principles of consumer directed care to empower older LGBTI people, their families and carers to help ensure they receive culturally appropriate services.



Promotion of CDC to LGBTI people and ensure inclusiveness of providers

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Goal Description 5.2 Resource and support projects and approaches that seek to empower older LGBTI people as self-advocates and experts to be consulted about their own ageing and aged care needs and circumstances.

Key Achievements 2013-14    

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Project L.O.V.E – ACON Health Ageing and Diversity Action Groups – TARS Seniors Visitors Scheme – QuAC

Living Positive Victoria was engaged to deliver the ‘Senior People Living with HIV Voices’ project. This project will recruit, train and support a highly skilled team of older (50+) People living with HIV who will be dedicated to raising awareness of the issues affecting older people living with HIV in Victoria. Val’s Café: Then and Now: Older LGBTI People Share their Stories on Film – working with Minus 18 (a LGBTIQ youth organisation) to produce a series of short films about Older LGBTI people. It addresses the lack of films for the education of service providers and the broader community. To be premiered at the National LGBTI AAC Conference. Val’s Café: Educating Older People – partnership with Council on the Ageing Victoria. Research into older people’s needs related to sexuality and diversity. A module on Sexuality and Ageing will be developed in consultation with older people for COTA’s Challenging Aging education program.


Goal Description


5.3 Establish new and use existing LGBTI consultative mechanisms on an ongoing basis to engage with the LGBTI sector about ageing and aged care issues. This includes enabling mechanisms such as communication strategies.

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5.4 Include representatives from LGBTI communities and/or the LGBTI sector in all relevant ageing and aged care consultative mechanisms, to broaden discussions about the implementation of the Living Longer Living Better aged care reform package.

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National LGBTI Health alliance Ageing and Aged Care Working Group National Aged Care Alliance and its working groups

Government has consulted with sector via National Aged Care Alliance (NACA) committees. The Alliance is represented on: o Home Care Packages/CDC Working Group o Home Support Program Advisory Group  Quality Indicators Reference Group


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5.5 Continue to build and encourage partnerships between the federal government, state governments, LGBTI communities and the aged care sector, including Home and Community Care (HACC) and related agencies.

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The HACC Project – Val’s Café: Partnership with the Municipal Council Association of Victoria. Initially sought to work with HACC Assessors to develop their capacity to conduct LGBTI inclusive assessment. Now broadened to a sequential series of workshops for all HACC staff and the development of a HACC Pack (to be released in Oct 2014).

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Reconsider National LGBTI Health Alliance placement on Aged Care Sector Committee DSS Communications Strategy

Current Government has not placed LGBTI on its new Aged Care Sector Committee (formerly Aged Care Consultative committee), though has arranged to ensure voice is heard via NACA conduit No LGBTI representation has been included in Planning processes or their current advisory structures LGBTI representation at State and Territory level

Host a National Roundtable of State officials working in Aged Care and invite LGBTI Health Alliance to present on emerging issues

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Goal Description 5.6 Develop a communication plan to promote awareness of the National LGBTI Ageing and Aged Care Strategy and its annual reporting through DSS existing communication channels among all stakeholders, including the National Aged Care Alliance (NACA), other ageing and aged care peak organisations, and other Commonwealth agencies and levels of government.

5.7 Make funding available to develop the capacity of LGBTI advocates to establish information sources and support networks for LGBTI people through NACAP.


DSS have supported the Aged Care Channel to broadcast a 30 minute live forum promoting the Strategy to Aged care Channel members (aged care service providers), highlighting the Strategy’s principles, goals and actions and encouraging providers to adopt these when developing their own policies and processes to ensure they are equipped to provide culturally appropriate care to older LGBTI people.


Unclear if there remains a dedicated resource within DSS funded to focus on ensuring goals and actions within the strategy are completed. It appears much of the work to implement the strategy has been community led.

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The Dementia Training Study Centres are funded by the Department of Social Services and can further assist in promoting awareness of the National LGBTI Ageing and Aged Care Strategy. The DTSCs are already doing this by promoting LGBTI events, resources and training through their database.

GOAL 6 – LGBTI people, their families and carers will be a priority for ageing and aged care research Note: Some LGBTI people may elect not to disclose their sexual orientation, sex or gender identity. Goal Description 6.1 Increase the knowledge base, and practice guidelines about the health, wellbeing and experiences of LGBTI people within the residential and community aged care system.

Key Achievements 2013-2014  

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NARI Research Evergreen Life Care’s LGBTI Elders Wellbeing Project which aims to improve the health and wellbeing outcomes of LGBTI elders across a range of healthy ageing indicators relating to health, social and mental health status, risk factors and preventative behaviours (including dementia). ACON’s Project L.O.V.E. (inc information from NSW’s 45&UP study) Val’s Café: Discrimination, depression and anxiety – Collaboration with Curtin University and funded by beyondblue. Interviews with 12 older LGBT people in 3 states to document their experience of discrimination and the effect on their mental health. Analysis of themes and construction of small case studies highlights the links between discrimination and mental health. Report to be released in September 2014. Val’s Café: Strategies for managing depression and anxiety – collaboration with the National Ageing Research

Issues and Other Comments 

Diversity communication strategy is needed

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Goal Description

6.2 Engage with the Australian Bureau of Statistics to include LGBTI indicators in the Australian Census and the Survey of Disability, Ageing and Carers (SDAC). Encourage the inclusion of LGBTI indicators within all ageingrelated research projects.

Key Achievements 2013-2014 Institute and RMIT. Funded by beyondblue. Interviews with 40 older LGBTI Australians to draw on their strategies for managing discrimination and preventing depression and anxiety. This information will form the basis of educational resources which will be piloted and evaluated in workshops for service providers, lectures for undergraduate students and a community forum for LGBTI communities.  Val’s Café: The Trans Project – Collaboration with The Gender Centre and TransGender Victoria to document the experiences and needs of older Trans people and to utilise this information to educate service providers.  Val’s Café: The Intersex Project – Collaboration with Organisation Intersex International and aims to document the experiences and needs of older Intersex people and will utilise this information to educate service providers  

ACON Project L.O.V.E. DSS has commenced preliminary discussions about inclusion of an LGBTI indicator within the SDAC


 Finalise question, in partnership with LGBTI sector and experienced researchers

Goal Description



6.3 Identify opportunities for appropriate inclusion of LGBTI indicators within aged care datasets and other monitoring mechanisms, following further consultation with the LGBTI sector.

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DSS to Host meeting with ABS, AIHW and Health to discuss further

6.4 Include LGBTI-related data and research in the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) data clearinghouse.

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Action Needed

6.5 Engage with the AIHW to develop more available data related to older LGBTI people as part of research projects.

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Action Needed

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Further Action Needed

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Action Needed

6.6 Identify opportunities for qualitative and quantitative research to be used in the development and evaluation of service provision to LGBTI people, and in healthy ageing initiatives that are inclusive of LGBTI people. 6.7 Evaluate DSS-funded projects specific to LGBTI people and establish partnerships with existing research bodies with LGBTI expertise to establish best practice approaches in aged care.

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PROJECT: Understanding & meeting the needs of older intersex & trans people in Australia (Gender Centre)

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Other Achievements Sex and Gender Guidelines On 30 May 2013, the Attorney General’s Department (AGD) published the Australian Government Guidelines on the Recognition of Sex and Gender to standardise the evidence required for a person to establish or change their sex or gender in personal records held by Australian Government departments and agencies. The goal of the Guidelines is to: • develop a consistent sex and gender classification system for Australian Government records; • develop a consistent standard of evidence for people to change or establish sex and/or gender on personal records; and • maintain consistent collection of sex and/or gender information across Australian Government departments and agencies. The guidelines became effective on 1 July 2013 and apply to all Australian Government departments and agencies that maintain personal records (including employee records) and/or collect sex and/or gender information.

Sex Discrimination The passing of the Sex Discrimination Amendments Regulation 2013 has provided an opportunity to give clear direction to providers of their legal obligations with regards to discrimination and prejudice. The Sex Discrimination Amendments (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Intersex Status) Regulation 2013 was given Royal Assent on 28 June 2013. The amendments provide that religious organisations are not exempt from the Sex Discrimination Act in providing Commonwealth-funded aged care services.

Other Issues and Comments