LGBTQ+ families: sharing information with the NDIS

Information about your LGBTQ+ family: why it’s important for NDIS providers

If your child is an NDIS participant, information about your child helps NDIS providers to support your child’s health, development and wellbeing. This means NDIS providers need to know about your child’s NDIS goals, interests, needs and everyday life.

Also, your child will do best when your whole family can help them work towards their goals. So this means it’s good for your child’s NDIS providers and support workers to know and understand your LGBTQ+ family’s expectations, values and everyday life. This can help NDIS providers and support workers to find activities, strategies and resources that work for you. It’s what’s known as a family-centred approach.

But remember that you’re not required to disclose information about gender and sexuality to NDIS providers and workers. It’s your choice to share this information.

All families working with the NDIS have the right to respect and can expect services to be respectful of family make-up, circumstances, arrangements and background. You can read more about LGBTQ+ inclusive NDIS experiences.

What and how much information to share about your LGBTQ+ family

It’s up to you to choose what and how much information to share about your LGBTQ+ family.

When you’re deciding what to share with your child’s NDIS providers and support workers, you can start by thinking about what they need to know to support your child. You might tell them:

who’s important in your child’s life – for example, the people in your child’s family of origin and your chosen family, siblings, co-parents and other people in your child’s support network
how you want NDIS providers and workers to acknowledge and communicate with you, your child and your child’s family and support network – for example, the pronouns and names that your child uses for the special people in their life.

You might also think about what different NDIS providers and support workers need to know. For example, if your child is trans or gender diverse, what you share with a worker who provides personal care might be different from what you share with someone who takes your child to art class.

It’s important to agree within your family about what to share and how to share it. If your child is younger, you can start by having open conversations about what information you’re sharing and why. As your child gets older, it’s a good idea to include them in deciding what information to share.

If agreeing about these things is difficult for your family, you might be able to get support from friends, other LGBTQ+ families, professionals like counsellors and psychologists, and helplines.

If you need support to talk about your family with your child’s NDIS providers and workers, you can take someone with you – for example, a family member, friend or advocate.

Building partnerships with professionals can take time and open, mutual communication. If you get new support workers, you’ll probably have to tell your story again. This can be an opportunity to highlight what’s important to your child and family and to benefit from the fresh perspectives a new worker can bring.

Helping your child communicate about their LGBTQ+ family

Your child might need help communicating about their LGBTQ+ family with NDIS providers and support workers. Here are ideas:

Help your child understand that they can be themselves with NDIS providers and that they and their family will be respected and valued. For example, if a therapist is surprised when your child says they have 2 mums, you could say, ‘It’s OK. They just don’t know our family yet’.
If your child uses communication aids or sign language, make sure that NDIS providers and workers understand the signs that your child uses to talk about their family.
Look out for and respond to cues about your child’s feelings. For example, if your child looks uncomfortable talking about something, you could check on their feelings privately and work out how to help.

Your child should feel welcome, respected and safe with their NDIS providers. Your NDIS providers and support workers should speak to you and your child in kind and gentle ways and keep information about your child and family private.

Deciding not to share information about your LGBTQ+ family

You don’t have to tell your child’s NDIS providers and support workers everything. For example, you might choose not to disclose information about your LGBTQ+ family for the following reasons:

You don’t feel safe sharing information about your gender or sexuality with your child’s NDIS providers or organisations.
You’re waiting until you feel comfortable with your child’s NDIS providers and workers before you share information about your family.

Another option is sharing information or explaining things to your child’s NDIS providers, but limiting the information that providers record about your family. For example, if your partner doesn’t want to be ‘out’, you could ask your provider to record the name of one parent only.

If your child’s NDIS provider or worker asks a question that feels personal or intrusive or that goes beyond what you’d planned to share, it’s OK to ask how the information they want will help your child meet their NDIS goals. Then you can decide whether and how to answer.

Some people use the term ‘inviting in’ to highlight that information about gender and sexuality can be something we choose to reveal only to those people or professionals we feel safe with and supported by.

If your experience with an NDIS provider isn’t safe or inclusive

If you’re unhappy with the way an NDIS provider or support worker is treating you, your child or your family, you can make a complaint.

You might be able to work with the NDIS provider to resolve the complaint, or you can ask the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission to help you sort out the complaint. The NDIS Commission can also take action against a provider if necessary.

If you choose not to complain or you can’t resolve the situation, it’s also OK to change providers.

Looking after yourselves as an LGBTQ+ family in the NDIS

All families navigate challenges as their children grow and develop. Parents in LGBTQ+ families might have to navigate challenges like discrimination, a lack of understanding of their needs, or the feeling of always explaining their circumstances to professionals and providers and facing questions and judgments from people. This can be exhausting.

Looking after yourself physically, mentally and emotionally can help you meet these challenges. It can also help you give your child what they need to grow and thrive.

Looking after yourself includes strengthening your support networks and asking for help. Find ways to connect with people you trust, either in person or online. Talk to them about how you’re feeling. Support can come from your family and friends, other LGBTQ+ parents, LGBTQ+ organisations and professionals like counsellors and psychologists.