Kaleido Health is a specialised LGBTQ+ health service that will deliver inclusive, person-centred, integrated health care specifically for sexuality and gender diverse people in NSW across a range of health services.

Kaleido Health will provide primary care services alongside specialist services including, mental health, sexual health, gender affirming healthcare, drug health, cancer screening and support, and other services for sexuality and gender diverse people.

Kaleido Health is specifically designed to be a culturally safe, inclusive and affirming service for sexuality and gender diverse people – including those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and/or queer (LGBTQ+)* – but all people living in NSW are welcome at Kaleido, regardless of your sexual orientation or gender identity.

*We understand and acknowledge the importance of self-determined identities to those who have fought for and earned them, noting that these identities may sit outside of the LGBTQ+ acronym.

Yes. While we have excellent examples of LGBTQ+ focused services run by community-controlled health organisations similar to ACON across Australia, to our knowledge no other service offers the same breadth and scale of integrated, multidisciplinary care for LGBTQ+ people as Kaleido Health.

Kaleido Health will offer a mixture of primary care GP and mental health services alongside specialist services in high-need areas of care for our communities. The service will also be integrated with broader NSW health service system, with care pathways across the state. The service is supported by experienced clinical partners such as Sydney Local Health District, St Vincent’s Health Network Sydney, and Central Eastern Sydney PHN.

ACON acknowledges that our model has been greatly influenced by that of Aboriginal Medical Services, an inspiring example of successful, culturally safe, community-controlled health organisations. We are also inspired by longstanding multidisciplinary community-controlled health services in the USA, such as Callen-Lorde, Whitman-Walker and Fenway Health.

Kaleido Health is a separate entity to ACON, with its own CEO and its own Board of Directors. However, there will be a close relationship between ACON and Kaleido Health. Our aim is to ensure Kaleido Health establishes the same strong community connection, values and expertise that our communities expect from ACON.

We know that LGBTQ+ communities experience significant health disparities when compared to the general population in Australia due to a number of systemic and societal factors. Lack of access to sensitive and appropriate care also contributed to poor health outcomes for people of diverse sexualities and genders.

ACON has engaged for a long time in advocacy and education efforts to build an understanding of our communities needs. In our 40 year history, we’ve learned a lot about the health needs of LGBTQ+ people, and the barriers that stop them receiving the care they need. We’ve also learned a lot from the clinical services we have been delivering over the past 10 years, alongside some dedicated leaders in the NSW Health system.

With Kaleido Health, we have applied our understanding of our communities and of our health system to build a new service that we think will make a big difference in NSW. We know that integrated care – that is specialists working alongside GPs and with links to the broader health system – delivered in a community setting and with a community heart is something that communities want. We also know we need to add capacity to the system – not compete with those already doing great work.

Kaleido Health will help to improve the provision of health care to LGBTQ+ people across NSW, help increase the knowledge and capacity of health service professionals across NSW, and contribute to improved health and resilience of sexuality and gender diverse communities.

No, Kaleido Health services are for people of all ages, including young people and those under 18.

Some clinics or services may be for specific age groups only (e.g. youth clinics, 18+ services) but this will be highlighted in the service description when you go to book.

Kaleido Health is specifically designed as a service for sexuality and gender diverse people, but all people living in NSW are welcome to access their care at Kaleido Health – including intersex people.

Kaleido Health recognises that intersex people share some similarities but also many differences with LGBTQ+ people in terms of their rights and health care needs and experiences. We acknowledge that many intersex people share with LGBTQ+ people experiences of stigma and discrimination, and Kaleido Health aims to provide trauma-informed, inclusive, non-judgemental and person centred services for everyone.

ACON is proud to affirm the Darlington Statement and stand alongside intersex people as allies, affirming their right to self-determination and supporting the work of peer-led intersex networks such as Intersex Peer Support Australia (IPSA) and Intersex Human Rights Australia (IHRA). Kaleido Health shares these values and principles, including the importance of peer leadership.

Kaleido Health respects the intersex human rights movement and will seek to support this movement without tokenism or co-opting the issues intersex people experience as a means for other ends.