Sydney Local Health District is home to one of Australia's biggest LGBTIQ+ communities and is committed to delivering the NSW LGBTIQ+ Health Strategy 2022-27.

Our large workforce consists of LGBTIQ+ community members, families and allies. We provide health services to one of the largest LGBTIQ+ populations in NSW.
 

Connecting with our community - Mardi Gras 2026

Join us at Fair Day, Sunday 15 February

Mardi Gras is a time when we connect to our LGBTIQ+ through community events. Sydney Local Health District will be at Fair Day 2026 on Sunday 15 February at Victoria Park from 10am to 3pm. 

Stop by our stall for free fresh fruit, colourful giveaways, and have a chat with our team about our health services. 

Find us not far from the Cleveland Street Entrance on City Road. We will be easy to spot, look for the colourful display that you can see in the image above.

If you are joining the celebrations, remember to play it safe and stay well:

• Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
• Be sun smart.
• Look out for each other.
• Seek help if you need it.

Pride Square Newtown Pop-Up Event 

On Thursday 19 and Friday 20, and Thursday 26 and Friday 27 February, from 4pm to 8pm, we will be partnering with ACON for our annual Pride Square Pop-Up events at Pride Square, 1 Bedford Street Newtown. We will be providing sexual health, party safe information, and promote sexual health testing.

This year features a free, inclusive drop-in STI testing clinic onsite on Thursday nights. 

Come down and see our friendly team on any of these nights. 

Highlights of our LGBTIQ+ inclusion work

As part of Pride month in June we took a moment to reflect and acknowledge what we have achieved so far. Here are some highlights of our LGBTIQ+ Inclusion work since 2022:

• We were the first local health District in NSW to appoint a dedicated role to focus on implementing the NSW Health LGBTIQ+ Health Strategy 2022-2027
• Launched the Sydney Local Health District Diversity and Inclusion statement, which has since been adopted by NSW Health and used statewide
• Regular presence at community events and spaces, such as Sydney World Pride, Sydney Mardi Gras Fair Day and Pride Square in Newtown   
• Worked with the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare to develop the LGBTIQ+ version of the Charter of Healthcare Rights which we launched in March 2023 as part of Sydney World Pride
• Supported the provision of Mpox vaccines to community through outreach pop-up clinics across the District and at Fair Day and Pride Square
• A comprehensive LGBTIQ+ resource SharePoint site internal to NSW health staff was launched, with information on a range of topics including inclusive language, education and training, inclusive healthcare and inclusive birthing. The site has had over 10,000 views to date
• Supported the development of the NSW Health Education and Training Institute LGBTIQ+ Inclusion Training and NSW Health LGBTIQ+ Capability Framework 2025 - 2029
• Provided support for the establishment of Kaleido LGBTIQ+ Health Service which opened in April 2025 

How we support the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ+ communities

We have a long history of supporting the health of LGBTIQ+ communities in a range of service areas and settings. Including our HIV response from the outset of the epidemic in Sydney with HIV testing and treatment; HIV Community Allied Health services; the only HIV Dementia residential facility in the world; and hosting the state-wide Multicultural HIV and Hepatitis Service and Pozhet Service for heterosexual people living with HIV.

We are proud to support our LGBTIQ+ families and young people through our Rainbow Families Antenatal classes and our Youthblock youth health service. 

We value and work closely with our LGBTIQ+ community partners – The Gender Centre, ACON and Twenty 10.

The NSW LGBTIQ+ Health Strategy 2022-2027

The NSW LGBTIQ+ Health Strategy 2022-2027 provides direction to all NSW Health organisations and staff, to deliver the best care to LGBTIQ+ people and work with them to achieve optimal health and wellbeing. This includes the health, wellbeing and safety of our health staff who are LGBTIQ+.

The Strategy’s vision is for LGBTIQ+ people in NSW to receive high quality, safe, inclusive and responsive healthcare that delivers outcomes that matter to them.

Priority population focus areas under the strategy include:

• LGBTIQ+ consumers and carers
• Trans and gender diverse people
• Trans and gender diverse young people
• LGBTIQ+ people experiencing mental health and at risk of suicide
• Intersex people

How we lead on LGBTIQ+ inclusion in health care

Sydney Local Health District was the first in NSW with a dedicated role to improve health services for LGBTIQ+ people.

As part of our LGBTIQ+ inclusion work we will:

• Identify and progress strategies to address priority areas for LGBTIQ+ inclusion.
• Look for opportunities to improve the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ+ communities through health prevention, promotion, research and partnerships.
• Engage with members of the LGBTIQ+ community.
• Improve our services, and increase the skills, knowledge and confidence of our staff to be more LGBTIQ+ inclusive.
• Increasing skills and knowledge of staff.
• Become an employer of choice for LGBTIQ+ people wanting to work in health services.