By Amber Craig-Rose, 2Spirits

At 2Spirits, we actively advocate for the challenging questions to be asked to keep our communities safe, to reduce shame, stigma, and better the health and wellbeing outcomes of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

We do this because our communities are invisible within the strategies that are designed to invest in and protect our Health and Wellbeing and communities and health care services need to get to a point where LGBTIQ+SB mob can be their authentic selves especially accessing health care.

In addition, we see a further need to advocate especially that gender diverse folk are highly represented, now more than ever, amongst our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and our communities and their services need to grow and shift in this space.

We know that our way of knowing, being, doing for sharing information works, and this was shown in our recent resource data. Our Wrapped & Ready program data showed a 35% increase for 2Spirits Condoman sex pack and #AllMobsPlaySafe sex packs during Brown Sugar World AIDS Day event social media promotion.

Our Brown Sugar World AIDS Day event is hugely supported and shows that having access to a safer event to commemorate, to celebrate, together as mob share knowledge, share positive sexual health messaging and to share people’s rights to appropriate heath care, that it can lead to better sexual health outcomes and overall social and emotional wellbeing.

We need to acknowledge these truths, to provide education and resources to our communities to keep our communities well and to destigmatise sex, gender, bodies, and sexual health so that our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mob have better knowledge and access to appropriate health care that represents different identities and includes holistically; Individual Identities, Culture, Health, and Wellbeing.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have the capacity to respond effectively, strategically, and sensitively to issues relating to health and wellbeing, HIV/AIDS, people living with HIV (PLHIV), alcohol and other drugs, youth and ageing relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTIQ Sistergirl and Brotherboy people.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals have the capacity and knowledge to make informed health and wellbeing and lifestyle choices. Organisations offer access to culturally appropriate and accessible services through environments free of discrimination and stigma.

2Spirits is working towards a future where:

All Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTIQ Sistergirl and Brotherboy people are valued and feel included in broader Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and LGBTIQ + SB (Sistergirl & Brotherboy) communities.

Part of this role is to advocate for those in our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTIQ+ SB communities which means acknowledging the gaps within our health sector and our Aboriginal Medical Services.

One of those gaps identified by our communities across QLD are folks identified at being a higher risk of HIV transmission are not always asked screening questions in their annual health checks about sex, sexuality, gender, and risky behaviours like substance use.

Annual Health screening should be seen as an opportunity to share information on harm minimisation that may reduce the risk of at-risk groups by providing access to education on prevention, testing and treatment.

We all have a role to play.

Published: March 2024