The LGBTQ+ community in Sydney will soon have access to a community-controlled and inclusive health service set to open later this year.
The first of its kind in NSW, the Kaleido Health Centre will be operated by LGBTI+ health organisation ACON and is expected to open in the South Eveleigh precinct by spring this year (between September and November) in the Belltower building,
The centre will provide queer people with access to a range of primary care including general practice, sexual health services, mental health support, gender-affirming healthcare and more.
ACON has been working towards establishing a service like Kaleido since 2016.
“ACON has been engaged in advocacy and education efforts for a long time to learn about the health needs of LGBTQ+ communities,” said ACON deputy chief executive officer and Kaleido Health project lead Karen Price.
“We have applied this deep understanding of our communities in building this service, which we think will make a big difference in NSW.”
The Kaleido model has been operating in the US for decades, Price said, and this centre would benefit all those in the community.
Kaleido Health is a service that will benefit from expertise in the system, in a for-purpose service designed around the health issues we know our communities need most.
“Through Kaleido Health, we aim to directly improve access to appropriate, safe, inclusive and person-centred LGBTQ+ health care,” Price said.
The NSW government has provided $4.2 million in funding for the centre’s development as part of the state’s LGBTIQ+ health strategy for 2022-2027.
“Our state has come a long way in supporting improved health outcomes for LGBTQ+ individuals but there is still much more to do,” said NSW Health Minister Ryan Park.
“I look forward to NSW Health working with ACON to ensure the Kaleido Health Centre makes inroads in this space so everyone in NSW receives the high quality healthcare they deserve,”
Kaleido will operate in partnership with NSW Health, primarily with the Sydney Local Health District, which will provide some clinical services when operations commence.
“We are excited to partner with ACON to open Kaleido and look forward to continuing to create opportunities to improve the services delivered and how we deliver them to the LGBTIQ+ community,” said Local Health District chief executive officer Dr Teresa Anderson.
Gay Sydney News reporter