The Rainbow Tick is an inclusion and accreditation framework developed by Rainbow Health Australia at La Trobe University for LGBTQ inclusive service delivery for health and human services organisations

Services can include the six standards as part of their cycle of service accreditation or can apply to do the Rainbow Tick as a stand-alone assessment subject to ongoing reassessment and quality improvement.

There are two parts to the Rainbow Tick:

1. Establishing an inclusion framework
2. The accreditation step.

Organisations can do just part 1 or parts 1 and 2.

Rainbow Health Australia (RHA) has defined this framework within 6 standards:

1. Organisational Capability
2. Workforce Development
3. Consumer Participation
4. A Welcoming and Accessible organisation
5. Disclosure and Documentation
6. Culturally Safe and Acceptable Services

There are many supporting resources made freely available by RHA to help you in implementing this framework HERE

An organisation can then choose to have its inclusion validated through the accreditation process. This is a rigorous audit against the Rainbow Tick standards that takes place in two parts:

1. Your own desktop audit and evidence gathering that is sent to the auditors, and
2. Onsite audit to verify evidence, interviews with staff and service users and site visits.

To pass accreditation, make sure you are ready before beginning the auditing process to avoid the cost and the need for another third-party audit.

Accreditation is provided through independent assessment, provided by Quality Innovation Performance and Australian Council on Healthcare Standards.

1. Review the Rainbow Tick framework and standards,
2. Complete a gap analysis of your current services – PIHW have a 2-minute gap audit tool here,
3. Participate in the annual free Health + Wellbeing Equality Index to gauge your readiness,
4. Work with LGBTQ-inclusion experts to fill your knowledge gaps and work with you on best practice for your framework, and
5. Consult with LGBTQ communities about their unique needs.

It depends…

There is no cost to download and use the Rainbow Health Australia RT tools, however, there is a cost if you want to attend HOW2 training on how to complete RT accreditations.

The cost for the accreditation part of the process is dependent upon the size and complexity of the audit including the number of services and number of staff in the organisation. The two accrediting agencies can advise of indicative costs.

Lots….

Rainbow Health Australia has established the HOW2 training to explain the accreditation and get you started in your LGBTQ inclusion.

Pride in Health + Wellbeing can then assist you in establishing, or embedding this framework across your organisation. It used a combination of mentoring, consumer voice and evidence-based best practice to uplift your practice. Find out about the different membership types here

We recommend you measure your inclusion before committing to accreditation. You can use our free annual benchmarking index – the HWEI, if you are not doing well in the index then you will not be ready for RT accreditation.

There are also other consultants who operate in this space.

3 years 

At the end of 3 years, you will need to be re-accredited or your accreditation will lapse.

The HWEI index acts as a health check on your Rainbow Tick readiness.

The HWEI covers many of the same areas of competence as the Rainbow Tick, so completing the HWEI is good preparation for a Rainbow Tick accreditation process, if this is your end goal.

The HWEI will also identify any areas of improvement for your organisation, allowing you to be thoroughly prepared before the audit. The HWEI also is a good way to gather your evidence in preparation for Rainbow Tick accreditation.

Learn more about the HWEI benchmarking index and surveys here