LGBTQI+ Inclusive Care Policy

Australian aged care providers have a clear obligation to deliver care that respects every resident's identity, including their sexual orientation and gender identity. An LGBTQI+ inclusive care policy sets out how your organisation will meet that obligation in practice. This page explains what the policy should cover, why it matters for compliance, and how Governa makes it easier to keep your documentation current.

What This Policy Covers

An LGBTQI+ inclusive care policy addresses how staff recognise and respect the identities of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and other gender and sexually diverse residents. It covers day-to-day care interactions, room allocation decisions, communication with partners and chosen family, and how complaints related to discrimination are handled.

The policy also sets expectations for staff behaviour, training requirements, and how the physical environment supports residents in expressing who they are. This includes how resident information is recorded, including preferred names, pronouns, and relationship structures, and how that information is shared with the care team.

Why It Matters for Aged Care Compliance

Providers delivering care under the Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards must demonstrate that every person receives individualised, respectful care that reflects their identity and preferences. Standard 1 (The Person) requires that residents are treated with dignity and that their identity, culture, and diversity are acknowledged in their care. Standard 4 (The Environment) requires that the physical and social environment supports each person's wellbeing and sense of belonging.

Beyond the Quality Standards, the Age Discrimination Act 2004 and the Sex Discrimination Act 1984 both apply to aged care settings. The Sex Discrimination Act was amended in 2013 to explicitly prohibit discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersex status. Providers who fail to address these protections in policy and practice face legal exposure and reputational risk.

LGBTQI+ older Australians have often experienced discrimination throughout their lives and may be reluctant to disclose their identity in a care setting. A documented, actively implemented policy signals that your facility is a safe and affirming place. This is also the foundation for organisations pursuing Rainbow Tick accreditation, a recognised LGBTQ-friendly standard in aged care and health services.

For a broader view of your obligations around identity and cultural respect, see our Cultural Diversity and Inclusion Policy, which addresses related requirements under the same Standards framework.

What a Good Policy Should Include

A well-written LGBTQI+ inclusive care policy goes beyond a general statement of respect. It should give staff clear, practical guidance they can apply in daily care interactions.

Policy ElementWhat It Should AddressRelevant Standard or LegislationIdentity recordingHow preferred names, pronouns, and relationship status are captured and shared with staffStandard 1 (The Person)Non-discrimination commitmentExplicit prohibition of discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, or intersex statusSex Discrimination Act 1984, Age Discrimination Act 2004Staff training requirementsFrequency and content of LGBTQI+ awareness training for all care and administrative staffStandard 1 (The Person)Physical environmentRoom allocation, signage, and shared spaces that support inclusion and safetyStandard 4 (The Environment)Complaints handlingHow residents can raise concerns about discrimination or disrespectful treatment and how these are resolvedStandard 1 (The Person), Age Discrimination Act 2004Partner and family recognitionHow same-sex partners and chosen family are included in care planning and decision-makingStandard 1 (The Person)

Your LGBTQI+ inclusive care policy should also connect with your broader resident rights documentation. Our Consumer Rights, Dignity and Choice Policy covers the overarching framework for resident autonomy and dignity that underpins this and related policies.

How Governa Helps Providers Stay Compliant

Keeping policies current as legislation and standards evolve is one of the most time-consuming parts of compliance management. Governa's AI-powered platform, including the Norma compliance bot, tracks regulatory changes and flags when your policies may need updating.

The Governa policy library gives providers a starting point with pre-built templates aligned to the Strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards. Each template includes the key sections auditors look for and maps content to specific Standards and legislation. You can customise the template for your facility and store it alongside your other compliance documents in one place.

You can browse all available templates in the Policy Templates Library, covering everything from clinical care to resident rights and workforce management.

Get Started

Download the free LGBTQI+ Inclusive Care Policy template below and adapt it for your facility. If you want to see how Governa can manage your entire compliance documentation suite, book a demo with our team today.