Grants to fund LGBTIQA+ health projects at Deakin

RESEARCHERS at Deakin University have landed more than $2.75 million in the latest Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) grants round.

The researchers aim to boost health and wellbeing for LGBTIQA+ people with this funding.

This fresh influx of funds adds to almost $9.5 million awarded to Deakin in MRFF grants in February.

The funds amount to the federal government’s biggest ever investment in LGBTIQA+ health research.

The grants recognise the complex health needs of LGBTIQA+ individuals and the challenges they face in getting access to proper healthcare.

These issues often lead to worse physical and mental health outcomes.

Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Ged Kearney said the disparities should not be tolerated.

“We know that there are unacceptable disparities in health outcomes and significant barriers to getting the health care LGBTIQA+ people deserve.”

Deakin’s Associate Professor Alison Kennedy, Dr James Lucas, Dr Amie O’Shea, and Dr Louisa Smith will lead the charge on projects designed to tear down these barriers and enhance care.

One key initiative will see almost $2 million go towards developing a safe spaces model of primary healthcare for young LGBTIQA+ people in regional Victoria.

This model, a collaborative design with the sexuality diverse community, will serve young people aged 12-25.

The projects take an innovative approach, blending systems thinking with health economics to create inclusive and equitable healthcare services from the ground up.

“The intersectional needs of sexuality diverse young people in rural communities are a national and local priority and primary healthcare services are a key first-point-of-call in addressing those needs,” Prof. Kennedy said.