ABOUT

In a world where healthcare should be a sanctuary for all, too many LGBTTQIA+ individuals face daunting barriers to accessing inclusive and respectful medical services. Our project, Wellcome!, seeks to revolutionise the healthcare experience by empowering both queer individuals and medical receptionists to create environments of acceptance and understanding within GP clinics.

Wellcome! is a pioneering initiative undertaken by our non-profit organisation to address the
systemic challenges faced by queer communities in New Zealand's healthcare system. Through our face-to-face workshops that bring people together outside the clinic environment, we facilitate meaningful dialogues between queer volunteers and medical receptionists, fostering empathy, awareness, and actionable change.

Queer individuals often encounter hostility, discrimination, and ignorance when seeking medical care, resulting in profound disparities in health outcomes. From misgendering and deadnaming to subtle microaggressions, these experiences contribute to a pervasive sense of alienation and distrust within healthcare settings. Meanwhile, well-intentioned medical receptionists, overwhelmed by the demands of their roles, may lack the knowledge and resources to provide truly inclusive care.

Our workshops serve as catalysts for transformation, bridging the gap between queer patients
and frontline healthcare staff. By creating safe spaces for open dialogue and mutual learning
through scenario discussions, feedback sessions and a group review of our checklist detailing
cultural competency needed within clinics, we empower receptionists to recognise their pivotal
role in fostering inclusivity and to implement tangible strategies for improvement. From adopting gender-affirming language to revising intake forms, these small yet impactful changes have the power to revolutionise the healthcare experience for queer individuals.

Through Wellcome!, we envision a better future with better services, where every GP clinic in New Zealand is not only LGBTTQIA+ friendly but actively embraces diversity and celebrates inclusivity. By equipping receptionists with the knowledge and skills around language, privacy, visibility and accountability, ensuring they navigate complex identities with sensitivity and respect, we not only enhance the healthcare experience for queer individuals but also foster a culture of empathy and understanding that benefits all patients.

At its core, Wellcome! is more than just a project — it's a lifeline for marginalised communities, a
beacon of hope in a healthcare landscape marred by inequity and discrimination. By amplifying
the voices of those who have long been silenced and empowering allies to effect meaningful
change, we're transforming GP clinics and laying the groundwork for a more compassionate and inclusive society.

MADEIT CREDITS

  • Abby LaurensonDesigner
  • Don ChooiSupervisor
  • Jason PanapaDesigner
  • Jocelyn JanonSupervisor
  • Jorja MartinDesigner
  • Kit ErwinDesigner
  • * Media Design SchoolBachelor of Media Design program
  • * Tammie LeongSupervisor
Contributor:

Media Design School has been a Contributor since 25th November 2015.

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Wellcome!

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