People with Disability Australia

About this organisation 

People with Disability Australia is the national peak cross-disability rights and advocacy organisation, led by people with disability, for people with disability. Since 1981, People with Disability Australia has championed the rights, health, and wellbeing of individuals with all types of disability. As a not-for-profit and the peak body for LGBTQIA+ people with disability, their vision is a socially just, accessible, and inclusive community where the human rights, belonging, contributions, potential, and diversity of all people with disability are recognised, respected, and celebrated with pride. 

Affirming Care for LGBTQIA+ People with Disability 

The project 

With support from nib foundation, People with Disability Australia will co-design and implement national best practice guidelines to support healthcare services in delivering gender, sexuality, and disability-affirming care for LGBTQIA+ people with disability. 

Grounded in research and guided by a national advisory panel, the project will bring together LGBTQIA+ people with disability and healthcare professionals to identify systemic barriers and promote best practices for inclusive and responsive healthcare. The guidelines will be piloted in ten healthcare organisations across Australia, including regional areas, with feedback used to refine them ahead of a nationwide launch in accessible digital formats. 

Why it matters 

Despite being recognised as a priority population in national strategies, LGBTQIA+ people with disability continue to face compounded barriers to healthcare, such as attitudinal bias, limited provider knowledge, and inaccessible services. These systemic inequities often contribute to poorer health outcomes and reduced access to safe, affirming care. 

This project will directly address these challenges by equipping healthcare professionals with practical, evidence-based guidance to deliver equitable, inclusive, and responsive services. By adopting the guidelines, healthcare services can become environments where staff, patients, and visitors of all genders and sexualities feel welcomed, included, and celebrated.