Silver Rainbow provides coaching, training and tailored support to aged care organisations to adopt inclusive policies and practices.
Silver Rainbow aims to build the capacity of aged care services to provide an inclusive and welcoming environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) older people.
- Recent changes to the Aged Care Act and the introduction of strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards place a clear responsibility on organisations to ensure inclusive, person centred, and trauma informed care for LGBTI older people.
- Silver Rainbow training supports aged care services to meet these requirements by building workforce capacity, embedding inclusive policies and practices, and creating environments that are welcoming and respectful.
Silver Rainbow programs are designed to:
- Align with the Aged Care Act reforms and strengthened Quality Standards
- Support services to meet Department of Health, Disability and Ageing LGBTI Specialisation Verification requirements
- Embed inclusive, person centred, and trauma informed care principles into everyday practice
- Strengthen organisational systems and policies to reduce risks of discrimination and workplace conflict
- Demonstrate proactive commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion in aged care
Training services
Tailored for your role in aged care:
Silver Rainbow training project partners can deliver training to aged care services, assessment teams, allied health services, and other stakeholders. The following organisations are responsible for delivering the training in their respective states and territories. For further information on Silver Rainbow training available in your state or territory, please select the relevant project partner below.
Find providers in your state or territory.
Download the training brochure
Lead with Pride Coaching
This program is structured around MyAgedCare Specialisation Verification Framework (SVF). SVF is an initiative of the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Sessions will be tailored to the participants and their organisations.
Learn more about Specialisation Verification Framework (SVF).
Download the program flyer
Silver Rainbow aims to build the capacity of aged care services to adopt practices that create an inclusive and welcoming environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) older people.
As part of your access to the Silver Rainbow program, a series of free introduction and extension modules are available to support your learning.
eLearning is intended as introduction to key concepts and is designed to be followed up with an online or face-to-face session facilitated by a Silver Rainbow training provider. (link to training/coaching page)
Introduction to LGBTI Inclusion in Aged Care
This e-module focuses on building an understanding of key issues experienced by LGBTI older people in aged care settings including the foundations of LGBTI inclusion. The e-module takes approximately one hour to complete including:
- Concepts of gender, sexual orientation, bodily diversity and relationships
- Inclusive language for older people who are LGBTI
- History of LGBTI communities in Australia
- Impacts of discrimination on LGBTI older people
- Aged care sector requirements for diversity and inclusion
Extension modules
These five optional e-modules are designed to extend your learning specifically covering inclusion strategies for providing aged care services to lesbian/gay/bisexual/ transgender and intersex older people. Each module takes approximately one hour to complete.
- Lesbians & Aged Care
- Gay Men & Aged Care
- Bisexual People & Aged Care
- Trans & Gender Diverse People & Aged Care
- Intersex People & Aged Care
Micro eLearnings:
- Direct Carers and Clinical Staff (link to come)
- Managers and Team Leaders (Link to come)
- Executives and Governeming Body Members (link to come)
- Allies and Champions (link to come)
To access the Silver Rainbow eLearning modules, go to: https://elearning.lgbtihealth.org.au/
- Click on ‘log in’ and create a new account
- Select Silver Rainbow - Ageing & Aged Care Training
- Choose an e-module
- Self-enrol by clicking on ‘enrol me’ and then ‘enter’
For many LGBTI older people, being recognised and respected for who they are is central to their wellbeing. As they enter the aged care system, it is vital that services demonstrate genuine commitment to inclusion and cultural safety.
The Silver Rainbow program supports aged care providers to achieve LGBTI Specialisation Verification, ensuring that policies, practices, and environments reflect the needs and rights of LGBTI communities.
The following resources have been developed as part of the Specialisation Verification Kit. They provide practical guidance for aged care workers and organisations on how to meet verification requirements and deliver care that is safe, affirming, and inclusive for LGBTI older people.
The Specialisation Verification Framework is an initiative of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. To learn more, visit the website.
This national network aims to amplify the voices of LGBTI older people, in discussions about ageing and the aged care system in Australia. LHA aims to help LGBTI older people influence policies, programs and decision-making.
The Network is comprised of three parts:
- the Silver Pride Advocacy Network Advisory Committee.
- a Living Experience Advocacy Panel (LEAP)
- a newsletter aimed at LGBTI older people (and their allies)
For more information, to connect with the Network and to subscribe to the Newsletter, visit the LGBTIQ+ Health Australia website.
What is one key message you want aged care providers to know about LGBTI older people?
The following short video message features the voices of Silver Pride living experience advocates: Uncle Paul, Stephanie, Aleyshia and Christine.
The Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS)
The Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme is funded by the Australian Government to provide trained volunteers to visit older people to provide companionship. There are nine LGBTI+ specialist providers of ACVVS across Australia.
Visitors can be provided to anyone who:
- receives government-subsidised residential aged care or Support at Home package, including care recipients approved or on the National Priority System for residential or Support at Home
- is socially isolated.
LGBTI older people are particularly at risk of social isolation and are able to access this scheme. A lack of referrals from Aged Care Providers is a major barrier to the rollout of ACVVS among LGBTI+ older people.
For a list of LGBTI volunteer visiting service providers across Australia, please download this flyer -
Download poster
LGBTI older people are also eligible to use any of the generalist ACVVS services. Local providers can be found by contacting the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing -
National:
For many LGBTI older people, being recognised and respected for who they are is central to their wellbeing. As they enter the aged care system, it is vital that services demonstrate genuine commitment to inclusion and cultural safety.
The Silver Rainbow program supports aged care providers to achieve LGBTI Specialisation Verification, ensuring that policies, practices, and environments reflect the needs and rights of LGBTI communities.
The Specialisation Verification Framework is an initiative of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. To learn more visit myagedcare.gov.au/specialisation-verification-aged-care-services.
In 2026 the Silver Rainbow program will be launching a Specialisation Verification Kit, this will provide practical guidance for aged care workers and organisations on how to meet verification requirements and deliver care that is safe, affirming, and inclusive for LGBTI older people.
Elements of this kit that are particularly relevant to Workplace Champions will include:
- Champion Q&A infosheet
- LGBTI events infosheet
- Public commitment/events infosheet
- Feedback infosheet
The Silver Rainbow Knowledge Hub hosts some additional content that is helpful for Allies and Champions - here.
For many LGBT older people, their life experience as an LGBT person is important to them and a big part of who they are. It is often overlooked when they get diagnosed with dementia.
Read more
