There are many sources of support and information to help you, your chosen family and carers. The availability of services may vary depending on where you live, and some services will be free but others might have a cost.
Useful organisations
Advance care planning | |
| Advance Care Planning Australia | Information about planning future health care, including advance care directives. |
Cancer support and information | |
| Telephone service for people affected by cancer, as well as practical support, legal and financial services. | |
| Share your thoughts and experiences with other people affected by cancer. | |
| Find information and insights in our series The Thing About Cancer and The Thing About Advanced Cancer, plus relaxation and meditation tracks in Finding Calm During Cancer. | |
| Provides information and support to people affected by breast cancer; offers LGBTIQ+ specific articles. | |
| Supports young people aged 12–25 affected by their own or a close family member’s cancer diagnosis. | |
| LGBTQI+ specific information about cancer screening and prevention. | |
| Provides information and support on prostate cancer; has online information for LGBTIQA+ people. | |
| Provides support for gay, bisexual and transmen diagnosed with any form of cancer, survivors of cancer, and their partners | |
Carer services | |
| Carer Gateway | Practical information, support and useful resources for carers. |
| National body working with state and territory carers associations to provide information and advocacy for carers. | |
| Provides government payments and services; includes Centrelink and Medicare | |
Complaints and regulatory organisations | |
| Anti-Discrimination New South Wales | Lodge a complaint about discrimination experienced in NSW. |
| Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency | Registration body for health practitioners. Also investigates complaints about the conduct of health practitioners. |
| Australian Human Rights Commission 1300 656 419 | Information and advice about Australia’s discrimination legislation and disability standards; investigates complaints about unlawful discrimination. |
| Fair Work Ombudsman 13 13 94 | Information and advice about Australia’s workplace rights and rules, including awards, entitlements and national employment standards. |
| Health Care Complaints Commission 1800 043 159 | Lodge a complaint about the ethical or professional conduct of health practitioner. |
| Inner City Legal Centre | Statewide legal advice service for LGBTQI communities, as well as a trans and gender diverse legal service. |
| Office of the Australian Information Commissioner | Independent national body investigating privacy infringements and complaints. |
LGBTQI+ specific | |
| ACON | NSW-based health promotion organisation specialising in HIV prevention, HIV support and LGBTQ health (including cancer). |
| AGMC | Advocates for the rights of multicultural and multifaith LGBTIQ communities. |
| Australian Professional Association for Trans Health | Information for professionals involved in providing care for trans people; includes a national directory of health providers. |
| Bi Alliance | Online support and advocacy group, and events for the bi+ community. |
| Black Rainbow | Social network for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who identify as LGBQTIA+, sistergirl or brotherboy. |
| The Bottom Line | Information on HPV and anal cancer for gay and other men who have sex with men. |
| Gender, Bodies and Relationships Passport | Tool to communicate information about your gender, body and relationships with health professionals and services. |
| Intersex Human Rights Australia | Provides support, education and policy information, by and for people with intersex variations or traits. |
| LGBTIQ+ Health Australia | National body for health organisations focused on LGBTIQ+ communities. Maintains list of organisations that provide health services for LGBTQI+ communities. |
| Minus18 | Provides mental health support, peer mentoring and social events for LGBTQIA+ young people from all over Australia. |
| National LGBT Cancer Network (US) | Information on cancer risk, screening and treatment for LGBTQI+ communities. |
| qheadspace | National mental health service for LGBTIQA+ people aged 12–25. |
| ReachOut | Online mental health support for young people to talk about gender and sexuality. |
| Shine a Light support group | Provides support for gay, bisexual and transmen diagnosed with any form of cancer, survivors of cancer, and their partners |
| TransHub | Information about gender affirmation, hormones, and health needs, including cancer screening. |
Referrals | |
| DocLIST | List of health professionals recommended by lesbian and bisexual women. |
Sex and intimacy | |
| Relationships Australia | Provides programs to help people build positive and respectful relationships. |
| Society of Australian Sexologists | Regulates and accredits psychosexual therapists and sexuality educators; has option to search for a sexologist. |
Telephone and online support | |
| Beyond Blue | Provides information and support for anxiety, depression and suicide prevention. |
| Lifeline 13 11 14 | 24-hour telephone, text and online crisis support and suicide prevention. |
| QLife | Provides peer support and referrals about sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships through an anonymous online and phone counselling service. Available 3 pm–midnight. |
Key resource
The information on this page is also available for download.
We thank the chief investigators from the Out with Cancer research project: Prof Jane Ussher, Prof Janette Perz, Prof Martha Hickey, Prof Suzanne Chambers, Prof Gary Dowsett, Prof Ian Davis, Prof Katherine Boydell, Prof Kerry Robinson and Dr Chloe Parton. Partner investigators were Dr Fiona McDonald and A/Prof Antoinette Anazodo. Research Associates were Dr Rosalie Power, Dr Kimberley Allison and Dr Alexandra J. Hawkey.
We thank the reviewers of our LGBTQI+ People and Cancer booklet: Prof Jane Ussher, Chair, Women’s Heath Psychology and Chief Investigator, Out with Cancer study, Western Sydney University, NSW; ACON; Dr Kimberley Allison, Out with Cancer study, Western Sydney University, NSW; Dr Katherine Allsopp, Supportive and Palliative Care Specialist, Westmead Hospital, NSW; A/Prof Antoinette Anazodo OAM, Paediatric and Adolescent Oncologist, Sydney Children’s Hospital, NSW; Megan Bathgate, Consumer; Gregory Bock, Clinical Nurse Consultant–Oncology Coordinator, Urology Cancer Nurse Coordination Service, WA Cancer & Palliative Care Network, WA; Morgan Carpenter, Executive Director, Intersex Human Rights Australia (formerly OII Australia); Prof Lorraine Chantrill, Medical Co-Director Cancer Services, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, NSW; A/Prof Ada Cheung, Endocrinologist, Head, Trans Health Research Group, Department of Medicine (Austin Health), The University of Melbourne, VIC; Bonney Corbin, Australian Women’s Health Network; Cristyn Davies, Research Fellow, Specialty of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney and Children’s Hospital Westmead Clinical School, NSW; Prof Ian Davis, Professor of Medicine, Monash University and Eastern Health, Medical Oncologist, Eastern Health, Chair, ANZUP Cancer Trials Group, VIC; Rebecca Dominguez, President, Bisexual Alliance Victoria; Liz Duck-Chong, Projects Coordinator, TransHub and Trans Health Equity, ACON, NSW; Lauren Giordano, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council NSW; Hall & Wilcox (law firm); Natalie Halse, BCNA Consumer Representative; Jem Hensley, Consumer; Prof Martha Hickey, Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Melbourne, and Director of the Gynaecology Research Centre, The Women’s Hospital, VIC; Kim Hobbs, Clinical Specialist Social Worker – Gynaecological Cancer, Westmead Hospital, NSW; Dr Laura Kirsten, Principal Clinical Psychologist, Nepean Cancer Care Centre, NSW; Amber Loomis, Policy and Research Coordinator, LGBTIQ+ Health Australia; Julie McCrossin and Melissa Gibson, Consumers; Dr Fiona McDonald, Research Manager, Canteen, NSW; Dr Gary Morrison, Shine a Light (LGBTQIA+ Cancer Support Group); Penelope Murphy, Cancer Council NSW Liaison, Prince of Wales Hospital, NSW; Dr Rosalie Power, Out with Cancer study, Western Sydney University, NSW; Jan Priaulx, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council NSW; Paul Scott-Williams, Consumer; Simone Sheridan, Sexual Health Nurse Consultant, Sexual Health Services, Austin Health, VIC; Cheryl Waller and Rhonda Beach, Consumers.
View the Cancer Council NSW editorial policy.
