LGBTQIA+ young people

LGBTQIA young people.jpg

Overview

Yarra Ranges Council is committed to creating an inclusive community, valuing the strength of our diversity, and addressing and preventing any discriminatory or exclusionary practices.

We stand for respect and acceptance of all Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Pansexual, Transgender, Genderqueer, Queer, Intersexed, Agender, Asexual (LGBTQIA+) members of our community.

We see you. We hear you. We value you.

You matter.

Yarra Ranges Council’s Commitment

  • Council’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee (D&I) has been working internally to create a culturally safe workplace that fosters diversity and inclusion. The D&I Committee’s work recognises that our communities are diverse by nature, so it follows that our workforce should be representative of our customers and communities.
  • Member of the Q-East Alliance: The Q-East Alliance is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual and questioning (LGBTQIA+) young people in the eastern region. The Alliance consists of community development and youth workers representing all 7 Local Government Areas across the eastern region of Melbourne including: Boorondara, Knox, Manningham, Maroondah, Monash and Yarra Ranges.
  • Pride Cup began with a Club in Yarra Glen wanting to support its players and has since been a fixture in the Yarra Ranges Community and has been supported by Council. Since hitting the national stage, communities across Australia have joined the movement, with Pride Cups being expanded into other sporting codes nationally. Find out more on the Pride Cup website.
  • Support and promotion for the International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT) on May 17 each year. IDAHOBIT celebrates May 17, 1990 when homosexuality was removed from the Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems and works to celebrate LGBTIQA+ people globally, raising awareness for work needed to combat discrimination. Find out more on the IDAHOBIT website. 
  • Participation in Wear it Purple Day in August each year – striving to foster supportive, safe, empowering and inclusive environments for rainbow young people by focusing on awareness, opportunities, environments and collaboration. Find out more on the WEAR IT PURPLE website

 

Representation Matters

We know that representation matters and Council is proud to have a diverse workforce dedicated to helping all young people feel safe, welcome, and proud to be who they are. Our youth-led program, Defrosted Events (FReeZA) recently filmed the Queer Conversations Series, where young queer people interviewed LGBTQIA+ Council staff, asking questions about life, careers, coming out, and other experiences as a queer person. View the episodes below.

Queer Conversations Series

Episode 1: Teddy and Gareth

 

Episode 2: Edward and Jessie

 

Episode 3: Kelsey and Kellie

 

Episode 4: Natalia and Hannah

 

Resources

Resources for Young People

Title

Description

Website and phone

Minus18

Minus 18 are champions for LGBTQIA+ youth. They have online resources, fun events, suggestions, supports and much more

Minus 18 website

Ygender

Ygender is a peer led social support and advocacy group for trans/gender diverse young people

 

Ygender website

The Rainbow Network

The Rainbow Network is a directory of LGBTQIA+ groups and services all over Victoria

Rainbow Network Website

The Pride Centre

The Pride Centre has Information on social connections, health and wellbeing, education and professional services.

The Pride Centre website

Qrise

Qrise is dedicated to eliminating mental health inequalities among LGBTQIA+ young Australians through mental health training, youth development programs and peer support.

 

Qrise website

The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne – Gender Service

A service to improve the physical and mental health outcomes of children and adolescents who are trans or gender diverse

RCH website

9345 5890

Drummond Street Services: Queerspace QHealth

queerspace is an LGBTQIA+ health and wellbeing support service established in 2009 by LGBTQIA+ communities for LGBTQIA+ communities. queerspace has a focus on relationships, families, parenting and young people and offers co-located services across the north-west metropolitan region of Victoria.

Queerspace website

03 9663 6733

 

Health services

 Title Description Website and phone

DocList

Doctors and mental health professionals recommended by lesbian and bisexual women in Australia

DocList website

QSpace at Headspace

If you identify as, are questioning or are interested in learning about trans and gender diversity and/or sexuality join the community to discuss all things LGBTQIA+

QSpace at Headspace web page

 

Monash Health Gender Clinic

The Gender Clinic is a state-wide service that provides individualised, consumer centred care for the trans, gender diverse and non-binary people, their families and partners. Their aim is to improve the health outcomes and wellbeing of all consumers. They accept all referrals for individuals who are aged 17 and above and reside in the state of Victoria.

Monash  Health Gender Clinic website

03 9594 6666

Family Planning Victoria

Reproductive and sexual health clinical services

Family Planning Victoria website

9257 0100 or free call 1800 013 952

 

QLife

QLife provides anonymous and free LGBTQIA+ peer support and referral for people in Australia wanting to talk about sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships.

QLife website 

1800 184 527

 

 

Information and other resources

Title

Description

Website and phone

Switchboard

Community based organisation providing peer based, volunteer run support service for LGBTQIA+ people, their friends, families and allies

Switchboard website

1800 184 527

The Victorian Pride Centre

The Victorian Pride Centre will be home to a range of LGBTQIA+ focused organisations, along with businesses who support the LGBTQIA+ community.

Victorian Pride Centre website

Rainbow Families

A volunteer community organisation based in Victoria that supports and promotes equality for ‘rainbow’ families

Rainbow Families website

Transgender Victoria

Works with and for the trans and gender diverse (TGD) community and allies to create positive change

Transgender Victoria website

9020 4642

National LGBTI Health Alliance

National peak health organisation for organisations and individuals that provide health related programs, services and research focused on LGBTQIA+

National LGBTI Health Alliance website

Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council (AGMC)

A peak body for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, queer individuals and community groups of multicultural and multifaith backgrounds

AGMC website

ConnectUs

Connecting people aged 10-25 to services in the Yarra Ranges, Knox, and Maroondah.

 

Find information on health and wellbeing support, community groups and agencies, recreation options, education, programs, and much more.

Connect Us website

 

Statistics

 

The Victorian Population Health Survey1 found that approximately 11% of the Australian population over the age of 18 identify as LGBTQIA+1.

In the recent Writing Themselves In 4 report4, young people indicated that, for many of them, “they are not merely developing resilience strategies to ‘cope’ with being lesbian, gay,

bisexual, pansexual, queer, asexual, trans or gender diverse, but are also finding creative and diverse ways of celebrating their identities.”4

A great many participants emphasised that “they want to make a positive impact on the world around them and that doing so helps them feel good about themselves.”4

However, as a society, we still have a long way to go in ensuring all LGBTQIA+ people are safe and welcomed. In the Minus 18 Queer Out Here Report 20202, 78% of students and teachers in regional and rural areas reported witnessing regular negative comments about LGBTQIA+ individuals2. The Victorian Population Health Survey1 further identified this issue reporting that more than double the amount of LGBTQIA+ adults had experienced discrimination or unfair treatment compared to heterosexual, non LGBTQIA+ adults1.

Further implications from these figures are identified in the Health Survey1 and the Snapshot of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Statistics for LGBTI People 20203, specifically that LGBTQIA+ individuals are two to three times as likely to experience mental health issues like depression and anxiety compared to their heterosexual cisgender peers.

However, where appropriate supports and protective policies are in place, LGBTQIA+ young people feel 30% safer and almost half as likely to face discrimination5 (T. Jones).

Students in the Minus18 Out Here Report2, whose schools took regular action in support of LGBTQIA+ people shared the positive impact that it made on their wellbeing, and offered it as a solution to a lack of other supports in their region - “Being able to be myself at school is the best. It can be hard sometimes, but my teachers have been there for me when I needed, it makes life easier”.2

 

Resources and References

  1. Victorian Agency for Health Information 2020, The health and wellbeing of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer population in Victoria: Findings from the Victorian Population Health Survey 2017, State of Victoria, Melbourne.
  2. Minus18 Foundation (2020), Queer Out Here Report: LGBTQIA+ Inclusion in Regional and Rural Schools.
  3. National LGBTI Health Alliance (2020), Snapshot of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Statistics for LGBTI People
  4. Hill AO, Lyons A, Jones J, McGowan I, Carman M, Parsons M, Power J, Bourne A (2020), Writing Themselves In 4: The health and wellbeing of LGBTQA+ young people in Australia. Victoria summary report, ARCSHS monograph series number 127. Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University: Melbourne.
  5. Jones, T. (2012). Discrimination and bullying on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity in Western Australian education. Perth: Government of Western Australia.