Reaching across the rainbow with wearable devices: bringing non-residential withdrawal services to the LGBTIQA+ community

Just under half of LGBTIQA+ community members prefer to receive AOD treatment from a service that exclusively services their community or from a mainstream service that is known to be LGBTIQA+ inclusive. Thorne Harbour Health is the only LGBTIQA+ community-controlled health organisation to deliver a non-residential withdrawal (NRW) program in Victoria, and while our NRW model of care responds to community need by integrating care between tertiary, primary, and community health providers, its delivery is constrained by location and travel distances. Has the time come for wearable devices to reach across the rainbow? This presentation explores how an existing NRW model of care might be enhanced by wearable devices that track vital signs and respond in real time so that access to withdrawal services is increased for members of the LGBTIQA+ community, regardless of their location.

Leone Knight | AOD Nurse Consultant Thorne Harbour Health

Leone Knight is an AOD Nurse Consultant at Thorne Harbour Health who is completing a Master of Advanced Nursing Practice at Melbourne University. They are a servant leader with a foundation of courage and compassion. With experience as CEO in health, education, media, and the arts, they pioneered Sydney’s first funded NSEP during the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Hayley King | AOD Team Leader Outreach & Assessment, Thorne Harbour Health

Hayley King is a Team Leader within Thorne Harbour Health’s AOD Services. They have worked as a front-line worker in AOD for 15 years and have worked across community residential withdrawal, education and training, harm reduction, and LGBTIQA+ health.

Credited Persons

The Access and Equity stream is sponsored by