GPs Encouraged to Improve Inclusive Care for Rainbow Families

GPs Encouraged to Improve Inclusive Care for Rainbow Families

26 May 2026

While rainbow families care for their children in the same way as other families, some report negative experiences in healthcare settings. These can include not being recognised as a parent, facing intrusive questions, or needing to explain their family structure or identity to clinicians.

GP teams are encouraged to make their practices more welcoming by using inclusive forms, appropriate language, and clear visual signs that support LGBTQIA+ inclusion.

Clinicians are advised to avoid assumptions and instead use open-ended questions such as asking who is in the child’s family. They are also encouraged to recognise different family structures, including non-birthing parents, biological and non-biological carers, foster carers, and kinship carers.

Healthcare workers are reminded to listen carefully, respect how families describe gender identity and pronouns, and only ask about family formation when it is clinically relevant.

The guidance also highlights the importance of validating concerns and connecting families with supportive and affirming services when needed.

A range of resources is available to support inclusive practice, including materials from organisations such as Rainbow Health Australia, TransHub clinician resources, and inclusive communication guides for GP teams.

GPs Encouraged to Improve Inclusive Care for Rainbow Families

Source: Practice Pulse (South Western Sydney Primary Health Network), 

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