What do you think would make a difference?

Community Action Plan

 

The LGBTIQ population currently have one of the highest rates of suicidality in Australia and research indicates that we are up to 14 times more likely to attempt suicide than the general population.

The Western Australian Government has committed funding over 4 years to implement the One Life Suicide Prevention Strategy from 2009 – 2013. Gay and Lesbian Community Services WA have recently received a three-month contract to consult the LGBTIQ community for the One Life suicide prevention strategy. Community consultation is now underway and we want to know your ideas for initiatives and activities that could benefit the LGBTIQ community and help us prevent suicide.

How can I have my say?

Fill in the 10 minute online survey at www.glcs.org.au/community to let us know what you would like to see happen in the community to help prevent LGBTIQ suicide.

Attend our Community Consultation Forum

We will be holding a community consultation in collaboration with the National LGBTI Health Alliance’s MindOUT Project – the first national LGBTI mental health and suicide prevention project in Australia.

Recent research findings and future directions of the MindOUT project will be presented by Barry Taylor from the National LGBTI Health Alliance. Then we will be asking you to share your ideas and help shape the suicide prevention Community Action Plan for LGBTI people in WA.

The community forum will be on the 31st of January from 6pm – 9pm at City West Lotteries House training room. Light refreshments will be provided from 5:30pm.

If you have any questions, would like further information, or to register you interest in attending the forum please contact the GLCS Community Consultant Tamara Bézu at community@glcs.org.au .

For immediate support for yourself or someone you know click here for further information.

 

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2012 to build on achievements of 2011 for the National LGBTI Health Alliance

Media Release, 09 January 2012 from the National LGBTI Health Alliance

“2011 was a significant year for the National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) Health Alliance”, said Paul Martin, Chair of the Alliance Board.  “Considerable progress was made in priority areas that had been worked on for some time.  In the short space of a year, the Alliance has grown from three part-time positions to 5 full-time and one part-time position, and has become involved in many new areas of health promotion for LGBTI Australians”, Martin said.  Read the rest of this entry »

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LGBTI Suicide Prevention Community Action Plan – Take the survey

The Western Australian Government has committed $13 million over 4 years to implement the One Life Suicide Prevention Strategy from 2009 – 2013. Gay and Lesbian Community Services (GLCS) have recently received a 3-month contract to consult LGBTI Western Australians and their allies in order to identify strategies and initiatives that could benefit the community and help prevent suicide in LGBTI people.

We need your support to help make a difference in preventing suicide in LGBTI Western Australians by taking a quick survey and giving us your ideas about what can be done for our community. Click here to take the survey.

For more information about the consultation go to our Community Action Plan page.

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Suicide Prevention Strategy Gets Funding

Gay and Lesbian Community Services WA has received a three-month contract to consult the LGBT community for the One Life suicide prevention strategy.

GLCS has signed the contract and will be working to create a comprehensive community action plan which will then go before the Ministerial Council for Suicide Prevention for approval.

Consultations will start in January and community members are invited to have their say on initiatives and activities that would benefit the community. GLCS Chairperson Nadine Toussaint said she was looking forward to working with the community on this initiative.

‘This is a much needed and fantastic opportunity for raising awareness and building the capacity of our community around suicide prevention and mental health,’ Toussaint said.

‘We are hopeful that there will be some very positive outcomes and long term benefits for the community as a result of this project.’

GLCS has been working in collaboration with the WA AIDS Council’s Freedom Centre to secure this funding since February 2011.

Article courtesy of OUT In Perth

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Social Inclusion in Action – new DHS LGBTI Working Group

06 December 2011 Media Release from LGBTI Health Alliance

The new LGBTI Working Group for the Department of Human Services met for the first time today, with Intersex, Transgender, Bisexual, Lesbian and Gay representatives from around the country. The Minister, the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP, told the group she wants them to identify how service delivery to LGBTI Australians can be improved by identifying the key issues they face and how best to address them. Read the rest of this entry »

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Victoria’s First Intersex Mayor a Breakthrough for all Intersex Australians

06 December 2011 Media Release from LGBTI Health Alliance

The National LGBTI Health Alliance congratulates Tony Briffa on his election as Mayor of Hobsons Bay in Victoria. Briffa has been notable for his commitment to honouring diversity during his career as a councillor, working not just for LGBTI people, but also in the areas of disability, multiculturalism and youth. Read the rest of this entry »

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$1.1 million announced for National LGBTI Mental Health

Suicide rates among people in Australia’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) communities will be tackled with a $1.1 million Gillard Government grant.

The Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler, today announced the Gillard Government will provide $1.1 million over two and a half years to the National LGBTI Health Alliance for MindOUT, a new national mental health and suicide prevention project.

“The LGBTI community reports higher levels of depression, anxiety and other mental health problems with evidence suggesting they are 3.5 to 14 times more likely to attempt suicide than the general community,” Mr Butler said.

“The MindOUT proiect will help address these needs by building the capacity of the LGBTI community members and mainstream health services to respond more effectively. Read the rest of this entry »

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CONNECT Study

$4000 travel voucher from the Flight centre up for grabs – participate in the CONNECT study and you will have a chance to go into the draw to win!

If you are male, over 18, have had sex with another man in the last 12 months and live in Perth, Melbourne or Sydney – what are you waiting for? Contact Rita Freijah r.freijah@curtin.edu.au, visit www.connectstudy.net or  download the CONNECT Study flyer for more information on how to register.

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Self Disclosure of Sexual Orientation in the Australian Workplace

You are invited to participate in a research project being conducted by Benjamin O’Reilly as part of his degree requirements as a Psychology Honours student at the University of New England. Participants are required to be over 18 years of age. The purpose of the study is to determine whether an explicit workplace policy addressing sexual diversity has any positive impacts in creating a tolerant and accepting work environment for sexually diverse employees. It is also the aim of the study to establish whether positive workplace environments enhance job satisfaction and physical and emotional well-being for sexually diverse employees. Read the rest of this entry »

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