LGBTIQ+ Health Australia

When the Australian Government initially announced that new questions on gender and sexuality would be excluded from the 2026 Census, LGBTIQ+ communities faced the prospect of remaining underrepresented in one of Australia’s most important national datasets.

For LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (LHA), the national peak body for LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing, the decision raised significant concerns about the availability of data needed to inform health policy, services and investment.

Fifty Acres worked closely with LHA to deliver a coordinated government engagement and media strategy, ensuring the health and policy implications of the decision were clearly communicated to decision-makers and the wider public.

Through targeted political engagement, strategic messaging and national media outreach, we supported LHA in elevating the issue and strengthening its advocacy for more inclusive data collection.

Following sustained advocacy from LHA and the broader community, the Australian Government reversed its position.

The 2026 Census is set to collect sexual orientation data for the first time and include an updated gender question, marking a significant step towards better recognition of LGBTIQ+ Australians in national data.