Mornington welcomes health forum
An LGBTI health and wellbeing conference will be held for those living on the Mornington Peninsula area in April.
The conference will be hosted by Peninsula Health which has been working with local GPs and health care professionals to better deal with LGBTI health issues, using the help of an LGBTI advisory group set up a year ago.
Peninsula Health GLBTIQ Consumer Advisory Group volunteer Christopher Sloane said input from the LGBTI community has made a difference.
“There are some key areas of healthcare that affect people within the GLBTIQ community,” he said.
“For example, some people who are HIV positive have to travel extensively for social support. The advisory group has been working closely with local GPs and other health professionals to better provide relevant services closer to home.
“We have worked with hospital staff at Peninsula Health to ensure there is a more sensitive practice in place. Everyone feels much more comfortable, and we are already receiving some fantastic feedback.”
The volunteer group makes up one of 14 other consumer advisory groups working with Peninsula Health to represent marginalised population groups.
Peninsula Health Community Participation executive director Jan Child said the advisory group was now firmly a part of the health service’s network.
“We look forward to building on the work the group has already done to make a real difference to the way that health care is provided for all our community,” Child said.
INFO: The LGBTI health and wellness forum will be held on April 28. See the Peninsula Health website www.peninsulahealth.org.au/community-participation for details.
Hi Dave
My name is Simon Ruth and I’m Director of Complex Services at Peninsula Health and Chair of the GLBTIQ Community Advisory Group (CAG). I’m really sorry you had this experience with our service. If you’d like to contact me I can follow through with your complaint and ensure it doesn’t happen again. You can ring at Frankston Community Health Centre on 9784 8100. If I’m not around please leave me your contact details and I’ll get back to you. Peninsula Health has come a long way since establishing our CAG and it this sort of feedback that will help us improve into the future.
Look forward to hearing from you.
When my partner worked at Penninsular Health, he was not allowed accommodation while on a forced rotation to a country hospital, unless we could produce a marriage certificate. Straight couples were allowed. we were expected to pay for a hotel. Bronwyn Pike, and some Green Senators had to step in. The hospital sent a legal document saying how the award was federal, and we are not included in the Federal Equal Opportunity Act. This is just 7 years ago. We are still waiting for an apology.
It is one thing to talk the talk, and another to walk the walk.