We celebrate and connect LGBTIQA+ communities and LGBTIQA+ people of all ages feel safe and have security.
We are ensuring that Victoria’s communities are welcoming through supporting events and festivals and social inclusion in sport. We are also supporting LGBTIQA+ people to have safety and security in their everyday lives through supporting employment and driving changes to government policy and systems to be more inclusive.
We are working to ensure that LGBTIQA+ people are free from harassment, abuse and discrimination
- Rainbow Health Australia continued to deliver the LGBTIQA+ Family Violence Prevention Project which builds the capability of the LGBTIQIA+ prevention of family violence sector, through delivering training and support services. The project has developed resources including The Pride in Prevention and the Pride in Prevention Partnership Guide.
- We are reducing discrimination by implementing robust processes across the Victorian Public Sector (VPS) to support VPS employees who need to change their sex or gender listed in internal systems. The VPSC completed a co-design project to improve employment forms and diversity workforce data collection and provided case management support to individuals navigating VPS employment systems.
- Respect Victoria worked with Jesuit Social Services on The Man Box 2024 survey, a comprehensive study that focuses on the attitudes to manhood and the behaviours of Australian men aged 18 to 45. The 2024 survey will have a strengthened emphasis on investigating men’s endorsement of homophobia and transphobia.
- We released Our equal state: Victoria’s gender equality strategy and action plan 2023–27 that recognises that trans and gender diverse people have distinct experiences of gender inequality. The strategy affirms the Victorian Government’s commitment that gender equality is – and must always be – trans and gender diverse inclusive.
We are supporting LGBTIQA+ people to feel safe across Victoria and have security in their everyday lives
- We supported Pride in Employment at the Victorian Pride Centre to build the capacity of employment services and service providers to create and support pathways to employment for LGBTIQA+ jobseekers. This included delivering a one full-day seminar at the Victorian Pride Centre for 100 Jobs Victoria service provider representatives in September 2023.
- We increased employment and economic security for transgender, non-binary and gender-diverse Victorians through Project Purple at Fitted for Work by improving to access employment opportunities.
- The Department of Transport and Planning have researched the experiences of LGBTIQA+ people on public transport networks. This initiative address data gaps by building an understanding of the LGBTIQA+ community's needs and experiences on public transport to create safer and more inclusive transport networks.
- Victoria Police appeared on JOY 94.9 radio to discuss issues that affect LGBTIQA+ communities, new initiatives and general police news. Victoria Police shared 128 content pieces across various social media platforms, highlighting Victoria Police’s ongoing commitment to supporting LGBTIQA+ inclusion. This content received 2 million impressions and over 190,000 engagements.
We are supporting inclusion across Victoria and celebrating LGBTIQA+ communities
- We launched two new safe spaces for young LGBTIQA+ Victorians – QHub in Ballarat and Geelong. Co-designed with communities, the hubs are a central, safe, affirming and inclusive space for LGBTIQA+ youth aged up to 25, providing access to crucial mental health support, social connection opportunities and wellbeing activities.
- We supported the Pride Cup to deliver community engagement initiatives at the Melbourne Victory vs Adelaide United A-Leagues double header to support social inclusion and to increase awareness about diverse LGBTIQA+ communities.
- We funded events and festivals with a focus on celebrating the diversity of LGBTIQA+ communities. This includes people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, communities from low socio-economic status backgrounds, faith-based communities, trans and gender diverse communities, intersex people, older LGBTIQA+ people, bi+ communities and peri-urban, regional and rural communities. We have funded almost 200 LGBTIQA+ events across Victoria since 2018–19.
- We funded LGBTIQA+ arts and culture organisation Midsumma to deliver annual statewide celebrations Victoria's Pride and the annual Pride March held in February each year in St Kilda.
- We supported projects through the $3.4 million Together More Active Program 2023–27 to increase LGBTIQA+ inclusion and participation in sport and active recreation. This includes Proud 2 Play to deliver 2 projects with the Victorian Amateur Football Association, Rainbow Ready Clubs to provide community clubs with tools to embed LGBTIQA+ inclusion, Tennis Victoria to deliver the Accessibility, Community Equity program and Basketball Victoria to deliver the Free Throws program.
- Sport and Recreation Victoria established the Pilot Equity and Inclusion Community Consultation group to consult with community members with diverse lived experiences including LGBTIQA+ communities to improve participation in sport and active recreation for underrepresented groups.
Case study 5: QHub is creating safe spaces for LGBTIQA+ young people
Launched in 2023, QHub provides mental health and wellbeing services for LGBTIQA+ young people aged up to 25 and their families, allowing them to access safe, affirming and inclusive support when they need it, close to home. QHub also provides social connection opportunities and wellbeing activities.
QHub is delivered through a partnership between Drummond Street Services Queerspace, Wellways, and Cafs Ballarat, with two physical spaces in Geelong and Ballarat, along with outreach services for young people on the Surf Coast and online.
QHub is offering Riley, a 15-year-old young person, a safe peer space to explore their gender and support their mental health.
Riley was referred into QHub by Headspace and Orange Door for LGBTIQA+ Peer Work. Riley meets regularly with two Peer Workers at QHub. Both Riley and one of the Peer Workers identify as LGBTIQA+ and share cultural identity, which has supported the peer connection and intersectional focus in the peer sessions.
During sessions, Riley and their peer workers have undertaken activities such as badge making and drawing whilst unpacking and exploring each person’s understanding, experiences, and connection to gender, including experiences of both gender euphoria and dysphoria. Riley is being supported to access a binder through a Trans and Gender Diverse Clothes Swap. QHub has also engaged with Riley at their school including by attending community events.
Both Riley and their family are receiving inclusive and affirming support through QHub, as Riley’s primary parent is also linked with a Youth and Family Practitioner. QHub will continue to provide a safe space for Riley to explore their gender and for their parent to work collaboratively with the Youth and Family Practitioner. Together they will continue to check-in on Riley’s mental health support needs and re-refer into Headspace as needed.
Updated