Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence project: Our Commitment
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LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (LHA) is dedicated to addressing the unique challenges faced by LGBTIQ+ communities in relation to domestic, family and sexual violence (DFSV).
Like the general population, LGBTIQ+ individuals may experience sexual assault, violence in intimate relationships, and violence within their families of origin, carers, and extended family. A lack of comprehensive data, coupled with a focus on cisgender men’s violence against their cisgender female partners, often excludes LGBTIQ+ people from policy, practice, and service frameworks.
LHA advocates for unified, inclusive action to ensure that policies and initiatives address the needs of LGBTIQ+ communities, fostering a safer and more inclusive society for all Australians.
Our priorities include:
- Calling for targeted actions in the federal government’s national plans to end violence.
- Advocating for the inclusion of LGBTIQ+ measures in national programs and strategies to prevent and respond to violence.
- Supporting the implementation of the ABS 2020 Standard to improve DFSV data collection.
- Supporting our members in their work to address domestic, family and sexual violence.
LHA remains committed to ensuring all LGBTIQ+ Australians have access to safe, inclusive, and effective support systems.
LHA is currently funded to continue DFSV work until June 2026.
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Subscribe for email updates on the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence project.
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National Plans
The National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children (2022–2032) (the National Plan) explicitly acknowledges that LGBTIQA+ populations are impacted by gendered violence and highlights that LGBTIQA+ people experience violence in their intimate partner relationships at levels comparable to those in cisgender heterosexual relationships, and that they also face significant violence within their families of origin, particularly as children and young people.
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Inclusion in the National Plan is critical in recognising, responding to and ending violence within LGBTIQA+ communities. The foundations have been laid for governments, programs, and services nationally, to collaborate with LGBTIQA+ communities. Clear, targeted actions, a plan for implementation and the necessary resources for implementation are urgently needed.
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National roundtable and report
In October 2024, with the support of a $15,000 grant from the Department of Social Services, LHA hosted a national roundtable for specialists in LGBTQ+SB domestic, family and sexual violence.
This roundtable was convened to address the longstanding lack of opportunities for collaboration among LGBTQ+SB professionals and the absence of coordinated strategies within the LGBTQ+SB DFSV sector. The lack of core funding and strategic action for LGBTQ+SB DFSV services and programs has led to persistent gaps in service provision, data collection, and prevention initiatives, hindering efforts to address and reduce violence in our communities.
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It calls for coordinated action across all levels of government to address gender-based violence and implement these recommendations through collaborative efforts.
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Sexual violence prevention projects
As part of the Fourth Action Plan of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children 2010–2022, LHA was engaged by the Department of Social Services (DSS) in 2021 to undertake a co-design process with member organisations and community representatives across Australia to provide recommendations on sexual violence and harassment prevention activities that meet the specific needs of LGBTIQA+ people and communities.
The consultation process identified nine potential pilot programs. In June 2022, DSS funded three of these pilots for development and delivery:
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- Peer support for LGBTIQA+ people with disabilities experiencing isolation, led by Meridian in the ACT.
- Protecting personal autonomy for intersex individuals, led by InterAction (formerly Intersex Human Rights Australia).
- Safety, acceptance, and identity initiatives for LGBTIQA+, Two Spirit, Sistergirl, and Brotherboy Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, led by LHA in NSW and 2Spirits in QLD, in partnership with a range of Aboriginal organisations and individuals.
All three pilots concluded in June 2025.
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Financial abuse in LGBTIQ+ communities
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There is limited information on financial abuse in LGBTIQ+ relationships in Australia. To address this gap, from 2024 – 2025, LHA partnered with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia’s Customer Advocacy and Vulnerability team to raise awareness and provide support for those impacted.
Together, we created resources to help individuals and professionals understand financial abuse and access help:
Resources for professionals
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Resources for the community
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Financial Abuse Video Series: A three-part video explaining:
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The impact of financial abuse.
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Support options:
If you need information or support for domestic, family and/or sexual violence, please contact one of these services:
1800RESPECT
Phone: 1800 737 732
www.1800respect.org.au
Information and support for anyone in Australia experiencing DFV or sexual assault 24 hours/day, 7 days/ week.
The website has an LGBTIQ specific information section.
QLIFE:
Phone: 1800 184 527
www.qlife.org.au
Free telephone and web-based counselling, referrals and support for LGBTI people and their families
For more information: If you would like more information on LGBTQ+ relationships, please go to www.sayitoutloud.org.au
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