Admin Manager

MEDIA RELEASE

15 May 2026

PRIMARY CARE IS A CRITICAL FRONTLINE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION SYSTEM – INTERNATIONAL DAY AGAINST HOMOPHOBIA, TRANS & BIPHOBIA

On this International Day against Homophobia, Trans & Biphobia on 17 May, Engender Equality is encouraging LGBTIQA+ people to see their doctor as more than just a clinician, but rather a resource for intervention and support in intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual violence. 

Engender Equality CEO, Alina Thomas said, 

“The prevalence of violence among LGBTIQA+ people is significant with Australia’s largest survey of the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ adults (1) showing 61% of this cohort have experienced violence from an intimate partner. 

“For LGBTIQA+ people, disclosing violence and abuse is compounded by stigma, discrimination, minority stress, and systemic barriers to people seeking help.  

“For this reason, Engender Equality has produced guidelines for front line workers which aims to reduce barriers created by discrimination and heteronormative assumptions” Ms Thomas said. 

Sadly, the fear of a lack of skills and understanding among service providers means many LGBTIQA+ people choose not to access services at all. There is fear of discrimination by law enforcement and support services, and insufficient strategies protecting LGBTIQA+ individuals from violence and discrimination, making it difficult for survivors to find legal recourse and other supports. 

Kathryn Fordyce, CEO Laurel House said, 

“Research shows the rate of child sexual abuse is reported at disproportionately high rates among gender and sexuality diverse Australians (2).” 

“Compared with one in five heterosexual Australians, more than half of sexuality diverse Australians reported experiencing child sexual abuse (3). 

“Further to this, more than half of gender diverse Australians reported child sexual abuse, compared with 37.3% of women and 18.8% of men.  

“Private Lives 3 research confirms the disproportionately high rates of sexual violence experienced by LGBTIQA+ people, with nearly 50% of respondents having been coerced or forced into unwanted sexual acts.  

“In the most recent incidents reported, the perpetrator was most commonly a cisgender man.  

“For many LGBTIQA+ people, experiences of sexual violence, child sexual abuse and intimate partner violence are not isolated from broader experiences of stigma, discrimination and barriers to help-seeking.  

“This reinforces why safe, affirming and informed primary care matters and involves asking safely, listening without assumptions, and connecting people to specialist support,” Ms Fordyce said. 

Ends. 

(1) Hill, A. O., Bourne, A., McNair, R., Carman, M., & Lyons, A. (2020). Private Lives 3: The health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ people in Australia. Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University. 
https://www.latrobe.edu.au/arcshs/documents/arcshs-research-publications/Private-Lives-3.pdf 

(2) Higgins, D. J., Lawrence, D., Haslam, D. M., Mathews, B., Malacova, E., Erskine, H. E., Finkelhor, D., Pacella, R., Meinck, F., Thomas, H. J., & Scott, J. G. (2025). Prevalence of Diverse Genders and Sexualities in Australia and Associations With Five Forms of Child Maltreatment and Multi-type Maltreatment. Child Maltreatment, 30(1), 21–41. https://doi.org/10.1177/10775595231226331  

(3) National Office for Child Safety. How many people have experienced child sexual abuse? 
https://www.childsafety.gov.au/about-child-sexual-abuse/how-many-people-have-experienced-child-sexual-abuse

Media Contact: Alina Thomas  0438 788 291 

Additional Information 

Download a copy of the LGBTIQA+ Family Violence Practice Guidelines. 

The Primary Care Family and Sexual Violence Support Program is funded by Primary Health Tasmania (Tasmania PHN), through the Australian Government’s Primary Health Networks Program. Engender Equality is a not-for-profit agency leading the program in partnership with Laurel House. 

More information including how General Practices and Aboriginal Health Services can connect with the service is available at 03 6268 1663, admin@pcfsv.org.au or https://engenderequality.org.au/pcfsv/. 

If you would like to engage a lived experience representative (case study), please see Advocates for Change – Engender Equality, email advocates@engenderequality.org.au or phone: 0415 740 524. 

MEDIA RELEASE

7 May 2026

NURSES SEE THE SIGNS OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT – INTERNATIONAL NURSES DAY

During International Nurses Day on 12 May, Engender Equality acknowledges the role nurses play in breaking the cycle of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and sexual assault.

Engender Equality CEO, Alina Thomas said,

“Nurses and midwives are often among the first professionals to recognise signs of family and sexual violence and child sex abuse.

“They have unique opportunities for private conversations with patients while tests are underway and the opportunity to build trusted relationships.

“Patients experiencing family and sexual violence may present with physical injuries, chronic pain, anxiety, depression, pregnancy complications, or behavioural changes.

“In many cases, individuals may not disclose violence directly, making early identification more complex. A supportive response from a nurse or midwife can make a meaningful difference.

“Even brief interactions can help individuals feel heard, validated, and more confident in seeking further support.

General practitioners and nurses have mandatory reporting obligations under Tasmanian law through the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1997 and the Family Violence Act 2004. Fulfilling those obligations is both a legal requirement and a professional responsibility designed to protect children and vulnerable people.

Jess Drew, Manager, Primary Care Family and Sexual Violence Support Program said,

“Our work with general practitioners, nurses, practice managers and reception staff in clinics throughout Tasmania over the past year means they are well placed to respond if their patient chooses to disclose family and sexual violence and child sexual abuse.

“We’ve been working with clinics on our SAVADA framework which encourages them to: Spot the signs; Ask appropriate questions; Validate and believe; Assess risk and safety; Document; and take Action to refer the patients further.

“All general practices and Aboriginal Health Services throughout the State also have a dedicated family and sexual violence support specialist available to provide advice should any patient choose to disclose.

We encourage anyone experiencing family or sexual violence to reach out to their doctor and disclose their situation to whomever they feel most comfortable speaking with, so they can receive help.

Ends.

Media Contact: Alina Thomas 0438 788 291

Additional Information
This Primary Care Family and Sexual Violence Support Program is funded by Primary Health Tasmania (Tasmania PHN), through the Australian Government’s Primary Health Networks Program. Engender Equality is a not-for-profit agency leading the program in partnership with Laurel House.

More information including how General Practices and Aboriginal Health Services can connect with the service is available at 03 6268 1663, admin@pcfsv.org.au or https://engenderequality.org.au/pcfsv/.