FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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.

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.

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.

Kaleido will provide a range of LGBTQ+ inclusive and affirming primary care and specialist services.

Our primary care services will include:

• General Practice (GP) Medicine
• Gender affirming care
• Sexual Health, including Cervical Screening and Sexual Health Clinic for people with a cervix and a PrEP and PEP Clinic
• Psychology & Counselling
• Nursing Care
• Lived Experience Peer Support Services in areas such as mental health, sexual health and trans and gender diverse health
• Onsite Pathology services

Kaleido will also partner with other healthcare providers to offer a range of integrated in-reach specialist and allied health services at the centre, tailored to meet the unique needs of LGBTQ+ people.

Specialist services will include:

• Gender affirming care
• Mental Health
• Sexual Health
• Child, Family and Youth Health
• Drug Health
• Cancer Screening & Support

Please note services may change over time and not every service will be available immediately upon opening.

No, you can self-refer to many of our specialist and allied health services, or your existing GP can refer you directly to any of our clinicians.

Alternatively, you are welcome to book an appointment to see a Kaleido Health GP for a specific health concern (e.g. STI testing) while keeping your usual GP.

Bookings are required for most of our services unless otherwise advertised as a special walk-in clinic.

Kaleido Health is a mixed-billing service.

Most of our GP and mental health services will require the payment of a gap fee (i.e. you will need to pay the difference between the Medicare rebate available for your service and the service cost).

Some services may require private billing (full fee payment) if you don’t have a valid referral or management plan, or are not eligible for Medicare.

If you are experiencing financial hardship, talk with us before your appointment about your eligibility for discounted or bulk-billed rates.

Most of our peer support, nursing, and in-reach services will be free of charge (but please note these may be subject to eligibility, depending on the service).

Yes, for most of our fee-for-service allied health and specialist service providers (depending on your coverage).

You can find us in the Belltower building at 2 Cornwallis Street, Eveleigh NSW 2015, on Gadigal land.

By Train – Kaleido Health Centre is located 150 metres from the Redfern Train station. The best exit from Redfern station is Marian Street – from there, exit and head south toward Cornwallis Street. There is an outdoor accessible ramp and elevator terminating at the main entrance to Kaleido.

By Bus – The closest bus stop is Redfern Station, Gibbons Street Stand B (200 metres from Kaleido Health Centre) which is serviced by bus routes 308 and 310.

By Road – Kaleido Health Centre is approximately 15 minutes by car from the Sydney CBD. Some on street parking is available in the local area and underground public parking is located at Romeo’s IGA shopping complex adjacent to Kaleido.

Yes. There is an outdoor accessible ramp and elevator terminating at the main entrance to Kaleido Health Centre.

We are committed to providing inclusive and accessible care for all individuals, regardless of their abilities or background. We value diversity and strive to create a welcoming and safe environment for everyone.

Our staff will be trained to support individuals with a range of different abilities, and we will work to accommodate any specific needs that our clients may have. We believe in respecting the dignity and autonomy of all individuals, and we are dedicated to promoting equitable access to healthcare for everyone in our community.

All services that are clinically appropriate for delivery online will be available via telehealth for people who can’t physically attend.

Some services that require a physical clinical examination or procedure (e.g. sexual health screening, vaccinations, etc.) will require a face-to-face visit to the centre.

For some GP services, Medicare regulations may require you to visit the centre once in person before commencing telehealth consultations.

We will be open for accepting online bookings via HotDoc or telephone shortly before opening.

Yes. You can make a donation here.

Donations $2 and over are tax-deductible.