LGBTIQA+ inclusion

cohealth has a long standing commitment to promoting human rights and health equity. We recognise that LGBTIQA+ people face significant barriers accessing health care services and employment and are committed to removing these barriers and working towards health equity. We strive for LGBTIQA+ health equity and our aim is that all LGBTIQA+ staff and clients have a safe, inclusive and affirmative experience of cohealth, every time. 

Diversity and Inclusion Strategy

cohealth has a Diversity & Inclusion Strategy for 2020 – 2023 (PDF 5.1mb). This strategy articulates cohealth’s commitment to provide culturally safe and inclusive services and work environments as a matter of core business. It sets out our diversity and inclusion vision, strategic goals and the steps we will take to impact change.

The Diversity & Inclusion Strategy draws on the information gathered and themes identified in the review of cohealth’s previous equity plans. Its development is based on consumer, staff and partner agency consultation, in addition to a comprehensive literature review of best practice for achieving equity and inclusion within health and wellbeing services.

LGBTQIA+ safe environments

cohealth is dedicated to creating safe and respectful environments, for people accessing our services and for our staff. We value collaboration and feedback from all LGBTIQA+ clients and staff so we can continue to improve our delivery of safe and responsive services and workplaces.

We work to ensure our physical environments are visually welcoming, and regularly audit spaces to review accessibility, safety and inclusion.

Rainbow tick accreditation

Rainbow Tick is a quality framework that helps organisations show that they are safe, inclusive, affirming services and employers for the LGBTIQA+ community. As of 2022, cohealth is a Rainbow Tick accredited organisation.

Achieving Rainbow Tick is a demonstration of cohealth’s commitment to being a LGBTIQA+ inclusive service and workplace. ​​​​​​​Rainbow Tick aligns with cohealth’s commitment and ongoing work to strive for LGBTIQA+ health equity.

Awards 

In 2022, cohealth won Supporting LGBTIQ+ Health at the 2022 Victorian Public Healthcare Awards. cohealth was also awarded Premier’s Health Service of the Year (Primary)). Additionally cohealth’s ArtsGen’s Transomatics podcast was the 2022 winner of the Victorian Government’s Driving Health Equity Award.  

In 2023, cohealth was a finalist at the LGBTQ Inclusive Innovation Award and won the prestigious Gold Service Provider at the national Pride in Health and Wellbeing awards, 

Staff Training

All our staff have or are currently being trained in LGBTIQA+ inclusion. This training is to ensure staff are aware of the issues faced by LGBTIQA+ people when accessing health services and employment. This ensures staff develop the awareness and skills to create safe and affirming experiences for LGBTIQA+ people.

Consumer Participation

We want to hear from you. cohealth supports our consumers and community members to be involved in advisory group meetings. This is where we talk to people about the way we work and services we provide to make sure they are meeting the needs of the community we serve.

At the community advisory group meetings, Community Advisors share how services impact them based on their lived experience. We want to hear how our organisation can best support the diverse needs of our community. Find out more about Community participation or contact participation@cohealth.org.au to inquire about becoming a community advisor.

Inclusion in the workplace

Our inclusive workplace culture enables staff to bring their whole selves to work, where uniqueness is valued, and people experience a feeling of belonging. All staff connect over a shared passion of promoting human rights, it’s central to our culture.

cohealth conducts staff diversity and inclusion surveys to help us better understand the people who work at cohealth and how we can continue to improve, including:

• initiatives that improve recruitment, staff support and professional growth/advancement
• targeted staff professional development opportunities
• advocacy priorities
• improving systems and processes to be more inclusive and affirmative

cohealth has a staff LGBTIQA+ group for staff to come together and discuss issues affecting them as well as organising involvement in community events such as Midsumma and Tilde film festival.

Learn more about our workplace culture on the dedicated cohealth careers website

Bathrooms

cohealth supports the right of trans, gender diverse and non-binary people to use the toilets they feel most comfortable with.

Policy submissions

cohealth proactively and responsively develops policy submissions to represent and promote our position on key areas of policy and social debate.

Victorian LGBTQI strategy August 2020 (Download PDF – 178KB)

Religious discrimination bill 2019 – second exposure draft – January 2020 (Download PDF – 117KB)

Helpful resources

Trans gender diverse inclusion guide (PDF 1.6MB)

Pronouns (PDF 298KB)

Creating safe environments (PDF 672KB)