Researchers
Dr Heather McCormack, The Kirby Institute, UNSW
Dr Bridget Haire, The Kirby Institute, UNSW
Mx Shannon Harvey, Arts Design & Architecture
Funding
This project was part of the Australian Human Rights Institute’s 2024 seed funding round, receiving $7,000
Summary
Lack of familiarity with trans and gender diverse experiences among clinicians has previously been identified as a barrier to sexual healthcare and non-binary people in particular may struggle to navigate healthcare systems that have been designed with binary genders in mind even when services are explicitly trans-inclusive.
Non-binary people are more likely to have a negative experience when accessing sexual healthcare services than cisgender people and may avoid testing due to fears about discrimination, inadequate staff training, or discomfort disclosing gender to health professionals.
This study aims to address this evidence gap and assess the accessibility and inclusivity of publicly funded sexual health services in NSW for non-binary individuals from the perspective of clinicians working in one of these services. Through a human rights lens, it seeks to identify barriers and strategies for improvement, and produce recommendations for enhancing delivery of equitable and inclusive healthcare in line with the NSW STI Strategy.
Funding from the Australian Human RIghts Institute will assist with a qualitative study exploring clinician understandings of policy change and impact on clinical practice. Strengths-based and solution focused, it will look at what’s working and what could improve.