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While the project is still in its early stages, the pair 鈥� who are also friends and flatmates - hope to launch it in July with a University of mini传媒-based trial. They are keen to highlight their plans during听听which begins today.

Young, who is also studying towards a Bachelor of Nursing through Ara, says many gay, non-binary, bisexual and transgender people encounter discrimination in the health sector.

鈥淚鈥檝e always been passionate about health and I鈥檝e used the health system a lot since I was small. As I鈥檝e got older, I鈥檝e realised the needs of rainbow people aren鈥檛 being met. I know a lot of people who鈥檝e had bad experiences and are now too scared to access care. Or they don鈥檛 want to spend more money on appointments with GPs who aren鈥檛 equipped to help them.

鈥淲e really want to make sure they feel comfortable going to the doctor early so they don鈥檛 end up having adverse health outcomes later on.鈥�

When the database is up and running, users will be able to access information about vetted healthcare providers for free. They can also provide anonymous feedback on their experiences with the healthcare provider after an appointment. This information will be moderated and then used to improve care for people who identify within the LGBTQIA+ community.

鈥淥ur approach is to concentrate on positives rather than highlighting negatives,鈥� Jones says. 鈥淲e want to feature recommendations about doctors who have done a great job and shown empathy or been willing to upskill and find out things 鈥� even if that鈥檚 just how to use the right pronouns - so they can provide the best care.

鈥淎 lot of doctors have been working for years and non-binary and the LGBTQIA+ community wasn鈥檛 really a thing when they were going through their training. Unless they have that empathy and understanding they won鈥檛 seek out that knowledge and update their skills,鈥� she says.

Jones鈥� and Young鈥檚 ultimate goal with Prism would be to also offer short education courses for GPs and other healthcare professionals so they can improve their treatment of rainbow clients and receive a kind of accreditation.

The pair took part in this year鈥檚 University of mini传媒 Centre for Entrepreneurship鈥檚 Summer Startup Programme which offers advice, guidance and workshops to help students fast-track their business ventures. Young says Prism wouldn鈥檛 be where it is now without the programme.

Jones says it has 鈥済rown exponentially鈥� as a result of the input from mentors and experts.

鈥淲e now have a board of advisers and a potential private investor who wants to help us develop a minimum viable product.

鈥淲e鈥檙e really looking forward to what we can achieve through developing Prism this year. We want to help as many people as possible and we can see there鈥檚 an urgent unmet need.鈥�