Health Minister Roger Cook has announced that the mental health services at Royal Perth and Bentley hospitals have been awarded the rainbow tick indicating they are inclusive of the LGBTIQ+ community. They are the first public health providers in Australia to achieve the accreditation.
“I am pleased to announce that the mental health inpatient services at Royal Perth Hospital and Bentley Hospitals, which are part of the East Metropolitan Health Service, have become the first public health services in Western Australia to achieve the Rainbow Tick accreditation.” Cook told parliament last week.
“The Rainbow Tick accreditation requires achievement against a set of nationally agreed standards that indicate delivery of safe and inclusive services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex—LGBTI—people in the community.
Cook explained to parliament that gaining the rainbow tick accreditation had been a major project for the hospitals.
“The six standards are organisational capacity, workforce development, consumer participation, a welcoming and accessible organisation, disclosure and documentation, and culturally safe and acceptable services. Since February 2016, the hospitals have been working toward achieving Rainbow Tick accreditation by improving practices to promote inclusivity of patients, carers and staff who identify as being LGBTI.”
To achieve the standards for the mental health inpatient services at the two hospitals, an extensive education program and policy and practice review was delivered across the two sites to promote and inform staff of practices that promote LGBTI inclusivity.
OUTinPerth staff were among the many different community members and LGBTIQ+ organisations that worked with the hospital on their education program to give staff a greater understanding of the specific needs and experiences of LGBTIQ+ people.
OIP Staff
