Opening Closets Training – March 16th

THIS FULL DAY TRAINING WILL:
• Increase your knowledge of the needs of people with diverse sexuality, sex and/or gender
• Provide models and frameworks for understanding sexuality and gender
• Promote your service as a gay-friendly environment for staff and clients
• Explain your obligations under the revised Equal Opportunity legislation
• Provide strategies for better supporting clients

FACILITATOR:
Sandra Norman has been working for Gay and Lesbian Community Services for over 10 years and has extensive experience training in the field of sexuality. She has also worked on projects in the fields of homelessness and domestic violence and is currently also employed by secca, where she runs training on sexuality and disability.

DETAILS:
Date: March 16th, 2012
Venue: City West Lotteries House, 9am to 4pm. Morning/afternoon tea provided. Kitchen facilities available.
Cost: Fees Payable: unfunded NGO $100; funded NGO $120; corporate/government $150

Click here to download the registration form Registrations close Friday March 9th 2012.

For more information, to book your place or to find out more about GLCS Training and Consultancy Services
including policy coaching and support or to discuss options for your organisation email Sandra at admin@glcs.org.au,
or call 9486 9855.

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Thank you for helping to make a difference in LGBTI suicide prevention

Thank you to all those who attended the community forum on the 31st of January 2012. It was inspiring to see so many of you there to support LGBTI suicide prevention, and we value your support and input. It was also a privilege to be able to hear from Barry Taylor, Senior Project Officer for the National LGBTI Health Alliance). Barry presented the results of the recent MindOUT survey, the first national survey of LGBTI mental health in Australia.

We have received a fantastic response rate for our online community survey given the short time frame available, with up to 182 respondents. A summary of the survey findings will be made available online via the GLCS website in March.

Now what?

Your feedback and ideas will now be used to inform the Community Action Plan that will be submitted for funding consideration by the Ministerial Council for Suicide Prevention at the end of this month.
Our ideas will need action and we need the support of dedicated community members like you to help make a meaningful impact on LGBTI suicide prevention. There are many ways to help, including:

  • Joining our mailing list to keep informed about the suicide prevention initiatives
  • Becoming a public face for LGBTI suicide prevention
  • Volunteering for community based initiatives
  • Becoming an educated advocate – break down barriers in our community by learning about LGBTI issues
  • Talking about it – suicide prevention, education and understanding starts with us.

For more information about anything to do with the LGBTI Suicide Prevention Community Action Plan, please email Tamara Bezu at community@glcs.org.au

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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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