These service provision tools will assist health and related service providers offer quality care to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) clients and break down some of the barriers that prevent LGBT clients accessing services.

When accessing services and addressing health concerns LGBT people often:

• Delay using health and health-related services
• Are less likely to access preventative screening for physical health conditions
• Do not disclose their sexual identity and sexual behaviours to health providers
• Expect and/or have previously experienced negative reactions from health providers on the basis of their sexuality and/or gender identity
• Assume health providers do not have any knowledge of LGBT issues

However small changes to service environments, health providers work practices and service policies can make a big difference to creating inclusive and welcoming services for LGBT clients.

Sexual Diversity Health Services Audit provides a guideline for services to use to monitor if there service environments, work practices, staff training and policy, resource distribution are inclusive of LGBT clients. The Audit provides a rating system for services and tips to improve service provision LGBT clients. This Audit has been produced by the Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria.

Guidelines for Health Care Providers to Enhance Lesbian Health Care provide key points to assist health care providers working with lesbian women including knowledge and understanding, communication skills, attitudes and practice environments. These guidelines have been produced by Dr Ruth McNair, Melbourne University.

Guidelines for Care of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Patients is an extensive booklet that provides information creating welcoming service environments and work practices with LGBT clients. Specific information is also provided for working with bisexual and lesbian women and bisexual and gay men. These guidelines have been produced by the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association.

Transitioning Our Shelters: A guide to making homeless shelters safe for transgender people provides mechanisms for homeless shelters on both a policy and practical level to create inclusive services for trans people.  These guidelines have been produced by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, USA, 2003.

Is Your "T" Written in Disappearing Ink: A Checklist for Transgender Inclusion provides a guideline for aged care services to monitor whether the needs of trans clients are being recognised as well as clients with same sex partners.  This resource provides an easy to use checklist to audit aged care services.  Produced by FORGE and the Transgender Ageing Network, USA, 2001.