LGBTIQ health and wellbeing
ARCSHS is the largest research centre focussed on LGBTIQ health and wellbeing in Australia, and since the 1990s has led the field internationally in investigating the experiences and needs of LGBTIQ communities. This research theme aims to advance knowledge of the lives of LGBTIQ individuals and communities, particularly as they relate to health and wellbeing. The new knowledge produced is used by the Centre and others to lead public discussion around the experiences of LGBTIQ communities, and to inform service delivery and policy responses.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQA+ factsheets
2024
Darcy Wallis, Kris Wilson, Natalie Amos, Ashleigh Lin, Adam Bourne , Shakara Liddelow-Hunt, on behalf of the Trans Pathways, Private Lives 3 and Writing Themselves In 4 study teams
Between 2017 and 2020, several national surveys of LGBTQA+ people across Australia were conducted by the Telethon Kids Institute (now the Kids Research Institute) and by ARCSHS. These included:
- Trans Pathways: a study of trans and gender diverse young people and their mental health and care pathways
- Private Lives 3: a study of health and wellbeing among LGBTQ+ adults (aged 18+)
- Writing Themselves In 4: a study of health and wellbeing among LGBTQA+ young people (aged 14-21)
Each of these studies heard from some LGBTQA+ people who were also Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. To highlight their specific and unique experiences, this project sought to draw together the responses from these LGBTQA+ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and present them in a series of seven factsheets, exploring a range of different topics.
LGBTQA+ mental health and suicidality
State- and Territory-based briefing papers
2024
Jordan Hinton, Gene Lim, Natalie Amos, Joel Anderson, Adam Bourne
Drawing from three national samples of LGBTQA+ health data in Australia (Private Lives 3, Writing Themselves In 4, and Pride and Pandemic), these reports document the rates and associations of mental health and suicidality for LGBTQA+ community members at the State and Territory level in Australia. Across eight individual reports, analyses focus on State- and Territory-level rates of suicidality, mental ill-health, healthcare service access and modalities, risk factors such as discrimination and harassment experiences, and protective factors such as community- and school-based belonging. Each report also documents the association between these factors and levels of suicidality within each State and Territory in Australia.
To establish a broader context for these results, each report also provides comparative estimates between (a) the State or Territory results with general population estimates in Australia from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and (b) a comparison between States and Territories (broadly) from the available data. Lastly, these reports also provide an assessment of each State or Territories current policy and programming context (along with an assessment at the Primary Health Network level) to establish ways of furthering policy and health reform at the State and Territory level.
Download the LGBTQA+ mental health and suicidality state- and territory-based briefing papers
Read more about the LGBTQA+ mental health and suicidality project
Rainbow Realities
In-depth analyses of large-scale LGBTQA+ health and wellbeing data in Australia
2024
Natalie Amos, Gene Lim, Pip Buckingham, Sharaka Liddelow-Hunt, Julie Mooney-Somers, Adam Bourne
The Rainbow Realities report has been commissioned by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care to inform development of the 10-year LGBTIQA+ Health and Wellbeing Action Plan. It reflects the commitment of the Australian Government to ensure the needs and experiences of LGBTIQA+ people are carefully considered in the development of the Action Plan. This report represents one component of the national consultation process, which also includes engagement of an Expert Advisory Group, a report on LGBTIQA+ inclusion within State, Territory, Commonwealth and Public Health Network strategies and action plans, an examination of perceptions on primary care provision for LGBTIQA+ communities and other targeted consultation activities. Rainbow Realities provides a synthesis of pre-existing findings as well as more than 50 new analyses derived from the data of six surveys of LGBTQA+ populations in Australia: Private Lives 3, Writing Themselves In 4, SWASH , Trans Pathways, Walkern Katatdjin (Rainbow Knowledge) and Pride and Pandemic. In total, the surveys received more than 20,000 responses from LGBTQA+ people, spanning all parts of the country and a wide range of intersectional backgrounds.
Read more about the Rainbow Realities project
Improving spiritual healthcare for LGBTQA+ Australians
Beyond conversion practices: A community report
2024
Timothy W. Jones, Jennifer Power, Tiffany Jones, Joel Anderson, Nathan Despott, Maria Pallotta-Chiarolli, Percy Gurtler, Christine Migliorini
This is the is the final community report from a series of studies into lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and asexual (LGBTQA+) conversion practices in Australia. The report provides a brief overview of findings from a major national survey of LGBTQA+ Australians’ religious experiences, including experiences of LGBTQA+ conversion practices.
Read more about the Catalysts of Change project
Catalysts of Change
Interventions and service pathways for gay, bisexual, trans and queer (GBTQ) men who have used family violence in Victoria, Australia
2024
Shane Worrell, Alyssha Fooks, Carolyn Gillespie, Vincent Silk, Libby Jamieson, Max Castle, Jake Peterson, Adam Bourne
This report explores how gay, bisexual, trans and queer (GBTQ) men who have used violence in an intimate or family relationship are encouraged to change their behaviour and commit to a life of non-violence.
Catalysts for Change: Practice guide
Read more about the Catalysts of Change project
LGBTQA+ people with disability
Violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation of LGBTQA+ people with disability: a secondary analysis of data from two national surveys
2022
Adam O Hill, Natalie Amos, Adam Bourne, Matthew Parsons, Christine Bigby, Marina Carman, Anthony Lyons
This report was compiled to inform the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. It presents data on the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, queer and asexual (LGBTQA+) people with disability in Australia. These data are from two large national online surveys, Writing Themselves In 4 and Private Lives 3, which were conducted in 2019. Writing Themselves In 4 focused on young people aged 14-21 years and Private Lives 3 focused on adults aged 18 years and older.
The report covers a wide range of experiences and issues of concern for LGBTQA+ people with disability. This includes: disclosure of their sexuality or gender identity to others, and the extent to which they feel accepted or supported when doing so; how safe they feel at work, in educational contexts and in LGBTQA+-specific spaces; their experiences of harassment, abuse and discrimination; family and intimate partner violence; their mental health or experiences of suicidal ideation or attempt; and how connected they feel to communities of people living with disability and/or those who are LGBTQA+.
Read more about the LGBTQA+ people with disability report and view supporting resources
Responsive pandemic practice
LGBTIQ+ family violence service innovation in Victoria during COVID-19
2022
Shane Worrell, Jackson Fairchild, Carolyn Gillespie, Alyssha Fooks, Stephanie Lusby, Marina Carman, Libby Jamieson, Adam Bourne
LGBTIQ+ family violence services in Victoria, Australia, underwent a significant transformation due to the impacts of COVID-19. Responsive pandemic practice explores how two LGBTIQ+ community-controlled organisations responded to the suspension of most in-person family violence services in 2020.
Practice guide:Lessons from pandemic-driven LGBTIQ+ family violence service innovations
Read more about the Responsive pandemic practice project
Lean on Me
Exploring suicide prevention and mental health-related peer support in Melbourne’s LGBTQ communities
2021
Shane Worrell, Andrea Waling, Joel Anderson, Jackson Fairchild, Anthony Lyons, Christopher A. Pepping and Adam Bourne
Lean on Me Executive Summary (PDF 0.5MB)
Explore the full list of Lean on Me publications and information
Writing Themselves In
A National Study on the Sexual Health of Same-Sex Attracted and Gender Questioning Young People
1998-2021
Writing Themselves In is the largest national study series exploring the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ young people in Australia. These studies have documented high levels of harm, and examined the impact that stigma and discrimination had on the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ+ young people, as well as seeking to better understand who LGBTIQ+ young people turn to when in need.
Download the latest Writing Themselves In 4 National Report
Explore the full list of Writing Themselves In publications.
Healing Spiritual Harms
Supporting recovery from LGBTQA+ change and suppression practices
2021
This research report presents findings from a project conducted in partnership with the Brave Network, the Australian LGBTIQ+ Multicultural Council (AGMC) and the Victorian Government on recovery support needs of survivors of LGBTQA+ change and suppression (conversion) practices. The report provides a detailed account of survivors’ support needs. Its findings are intended to inform health practitioners and others working to meet the support needs of LGBTQA+ people who are recovering from the harms associated with LGBTQA+ change and suppression practices.
Private Lives
A national survey of the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ people in Australia
2016-2020
Private Lives is a series of national surveys of the health and wellbeing of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer Australians. The first Private Lives was released in 2006, and was, at that time, the largest survey of its kind conducted anywhere in the world.
Download the latest Private Lives 3 National Report
Explore the full list of Private Lives publications.
TRANScending Discrimination in Health & Cancer Care
A study of trans and gender diverse Australians
2019
Lucille Kerr, Christopher M. Fisher and Tiffany Jones
TRANScending Discrimination in Health & Cancer Care (PDF, 2.2MB)
Understanding LGBTI+ Lives in Crisis
2019
Andrea Waling, Gene Lim, Sheila Dhalla, Anthony Lyons and Adam Bourne
In partnership with Lifeline Australia, and with support from QLife and ACON, this research report presents findings of lesbian (L), gay (G), bisexual (B), transgender (T), intersex people (I), and other sexual identity and gender diverse individuals (+) use of crisis support services (CSS) in Australia. This is the first research of its kind in Australia that explores the needs of LGBTI+ people during a time of personal or mental health crises. It focuses on their uptake and familiarity with crisis support services in Australia, their perceptions and experiences with crisis support services, and where they might seek other professional mental health service support during a time of crisis. This study enhances the evidence base for those working to design, resource or deliver services to meet the needs of LGBTI people in Australia during times of crisis.
Understanding LGBTI+ Lives in Crisis (PDF, 4.6MB)
From Blues To Rainbows
The mental health and well-being of gender diverse and transgender young people in Australia
2014
Elizabeth Smith, Tiffany Jones, Roz Ward, Jennifer Dixon, Anne Mitchell and Lynne Hillier