This Aged Care Employee Day, we celebrate the staff, volunteers, visiting health professionals, and students working in residential aged care across Australia.
To support their efforts, the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS) at La Trobe University, in collaboration with Southern Cross University and several leading Australian universities, has today launched Pride In Our Work, a national survey of residential aged care workers and volunteers.
The survey aims to understand the barriers to, and enablers of, inclusion for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) people living in, working, and visiting residential aged care across Australia. The survey forms part of the MRFF funded project that will co-create a rainbow inclusive model of residential aged care from 2025-2028.
Professor Mark Hughes, lead chief investigator of the project, says “For the first time, we are able to learn from staff, volunteers and professional visitors like GPs about what helps build pride and inclusion in residential aged care”.
Many aged care workers strive to support LGBTQ+ older adults but may face challenges, including limited resources, training, or organisational support. Addressing these issues through research is essential to developing a care environment that respects diversity and promotes the well-being of all residents, staff and visitors.
Led by Dr Ruby Grant, Senior Research Fellow at ARCSHS, the survey invites aged care staff, volunteers, students and visiting health professionals to share their experiences of promoting diversity and inclusion in their workplaces. “Aged care workers play an essential role in shaping welcoming and inclusive environments. Through this survey, we aim to amplify their voices, celebrate their achievements, and identify areas for further support and growth,” says Dr Grant.
Findings from the survey will inform a co-designed, LGBTQ-inclusive model of care, which will guide new training programs, policy developments, and best practice frameworks across Australia.
Participation is voluntary, confidential, and takes just 15 minutes. Your insights matter and can help shape the future of inclusive aged care.
Help us celebrate Aged Care Employee Day by participating and sharing this survey in your networks. Let’s continue building aged care communities that are inclusive for everyone.
Take the 15-minute anonymous survey now
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