Are you a member of the LGBTIQA+ community with a lung condition?
Are you a lung health care worker/researcher passionate about supporting equity and inclusion?
Do you want to make a difference to support lung health for the LGBTIQA+ community?
We are seeking motivated members of the LGBTIQA+ community and allies to create a national LGBTIQA+ Lung Health Community of Practice. Together we will create a road map to support lung health for the community.
Why is this important & what is our goal?
Almost 1 in 3 Australians are affected by lung disease. As a peak health body, Lung Foundation Australia is committed to advocating for and co-creating networks with communities of high unmet need to break down barriers to better understand, inform, screen and care for all people with lung disease.
Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/gender diverse, intersex, queer, asexual community and people of other diverse sexualities/gender identities not captured in the letters of the acronym (LGBTIQA+) face significant societal and health care inequities, stigma and discrimination. The LGBTIQA+ community have a disproportionately increased risk of lung conditions.
In Australia, there is currently no comprehensive understanding of lung health and disease in the LGBTIQA+ community. We cannot address factors affecting LGBITQA+ lung health if we are not asking the right questions to break down barriers and overcome lung health inequity.
As a proud ally organisation, we are co-creating a national LGBTIQA+ Community of Practice through
(1) visibility and building community
(2) education and connection
(3) health care partnership
(4) policy and advocacy
(5) harnessing research potential.
We are (i) building connections between LGBTIQA+ patients, carers, advocates, health care professionals and researchers and (ii) will empower individuals and mobilise allies towards equity in lung health literacy, research, clinical trials, policy and interventions.
A national approach to support lung health in the LGBTIQA+ community will ensure meaningful change to meet the needs of the community not just today, but lasting change for future generations to support all Australians with lung conditions to live their best life.
Get involved
Want to learn more or get involved in the Lung Foundation LGBTIQA+ Lung Health Community of Practice? Submit an expression of interest to join our steering committee or sign up to receive updates on initiatives email: allynetwork@lungfoundation.com.au