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LGBTQI+ Culturally Appropriate Care Training plays a crucial role in equipping palliative care volunteers to become supportive allies. The session was facilitated by Jen Walsh, a non-binary expert with extensive experience in volunteer management and inclusive palliative healthcare for the LGBTQI+ community. They have assisted develop the Rainbow Palliative Care Toolkit.

Throughout the training, we emphasised the significance of establishing trust and promoting inclusion when providing palliative care to LGBTQI+ individuals, as their varied identities often expose them to different forms of discrimination. It is essential to create a space where individuals feel safe, appreciated, and accepted, which encourages open dialogue and trust, especially during the coming-out journey.

This can be accomplished by using open-ended and inclusive language when engaging with community members. Another easy and effective way of breaking barriers and building trust is by wearing a rainbow lanyard or badge. This immediately lets the patient know you acknowledge them without verbal communication.

The training attracted 30 volunteers from various services across NSW and overall, the training was highly beneficial in empowering palliative care volunteers to become strong allies. It’s important to acknowledge that being an ally is a privilege that demands continuous effort and commitment.

Further information about to assist with palliative care and making end-of-life decisions for LGBTQI+ community can be found here.