Raising kids is a tough job and takes a village of family, friends, and community services. With this in mind, it’s important to consistently reflect on how these services can celebrate and empower all families, including LGBTQIA+ families.
Child and Family Health Nursing services provide child health checks and parenting and wellbeing support to families with children aged under 5. In Tasmania, this is done by the Child Health and Parenting Service (CHaPS).
Child and Family Health Nursing began in the early 1900s, with only caring female parents (mothers) raising babies at the time1,2. “Mothercraft” was taught to female parents and there was huge stigma for anyone breaking gender norms (including single mothers)2. Whilst this model worked to reduce the infant death rate1, it was not a safe space for diverse families. This bias toward female-only care has been slow to shift. An example of this shift for CHaPS is the change from hosting “Mothers Groups” to “New Parent Groups” to support inclusive and welcome spaces for all families.
There is often an assumption from health services that the default parent is always female – for example, referring only to “women” and “mothers”3 which excludes non-binary persons or trans men who also birth babies. This shift in language is just one example of how maternity and child health care systems can include families that do not conform to traditional gender norms. All families have a right to health care that makes them feel seen and valued.
CHaPS has been working hard to make sure we can provide this care. We want to celebrate LGBTIQA+ parents and caregivers and provide nursing care that empowers all families.
We have worked hard to make our service safe by:
- Training all our staff LGBTQIA+ inclusive care.
- Making sure information we give to families is gender affirming.
- Removing all gender criteria for using any part of our service.
- Making sure families can give feedback easily and using this feedback to make our service better.
We have started our journey to celebrating LGBTIQA+ families and staff by:
- Starting our own LGBTIQA+ staff resource group.
- Making sure posters in our clinics show diversity with rainbow signs in all clinics.
- Partnering with community groups that support LGBTQIA+ parents.
- Being involved in LGBTQIA+ events and days.
CHaPS is proud to be facing up to the stigma we know has been part of our past. We are working to provide safe and empowering care to all LGBTQIA+ parents and caregivers, and we invite all Tasmanian parents and caregivers to share their ideas and feedback.
For CHaPS bookings: 1300 064 544
For more information:
https://www.health.tas.gov.au/health-topics/child-and-youth-health/child-health-and-parenting-service-chaps
To provide feedback to CHaPS:
https://www.health.tas.gov.au/contact-us/general-enquiries
References:
1: 100 years of maternal and child health nursing, 1917-2017
2: Bennett E et al. The nursing history of Ngala since 1890: and early parenting organisation n Western Australia. Australian Journal of Child and Family Health Nursing 2019; 16(1):24-32
