Globally, we have been witnessing a series of distressing changes, accompanied by an anti-trans or anti-LGBTIQ+ rhetoric, with the United States having been a particular focal point. That rhetoric has been felt through Australia and recent announcements at both the state and federal levels have also raised questions about access to gender-affirming care for young people in Australia.

Nonetheless...

Trans people are extraordinary, strong, intelligent, persistent and resilient. We have to be. And we will not stand for the picking and choosing of rights.¹

– Grace Dolan-Sandrino

This latest MindOut webinar is a timely opportunity to discuss that strength and resilience, the power of gender euphoria and the importance of gender affirming care in the context of suicide prevention - in that it is life-saving care.

WHEN? Tuesday, 1st April at 1:00 - 2:00 pm (AEDT / Sydney time)

WHERE? Zoom

REGISTER? Please click here to Register via Zoom

This webinar will run adjacent to Trans Day of Visibility, 31st March, an annual international celebration of trans pride and awareness, recognising transgender, gender diverse and non-binary experiences and achievements.

We are grateful to our guest speakers (listed below) for taking time to share with us about their important work, and explore topics such as:

• Why/how gender affirming care is life saving
• How to better provide / mental health supports for trans or gender diverse people
• Strategies to address the current climate and staying safe
• Where and how to seek support.

We look forward to welcoming...

	Dr Vik Fraser (they/she) is the Executive Director of A Gender Agenda in the ACT. With a background in education and research, Vik is passionate about the rights of LGBTIQA+ people to safety, respect, visibility, agency, support and celebration. Vik has more than 10 years experience in research and teaching, and is committed to supporting organisations to promote safety and well-being cultures so that all members of the community are able to participate to their fullest potential.
	Necho Brocchi (she/her) is the Service Delivery Coordinator at Open Doors Youth Service in Queensland, running the state’s first program dedicated to supporting Trans Feminine youth. This vastly successful program works alongside a high number of young people to create sustainable positive outcomes in the lives of members of the Trans and Gender Diverse (TGD) community. Necho is an accomplished practitioner passionate about social change with an in-depth background in advocacy, policy and program delivery work. Necho sits on multiple boards and has presented at the 2023 Australian Professional Association for Trans Health conference, amongst others, highlighting her drive and passion for advocacy.
	Stacie Mĕi Laccohee-Duffield (she/her) is the Founder and Director of Queer and Diverse Pathways in Western Australia. After years of navigating the complexities of healthcare and support systems, Stacie Mĕi realised something was missing: a safe, inclusive space where queer, TGD, and neurodivergent people could access support that truly understood their unique experiences. So, Queer and Diverse Pathways was born – as a peer-led organisation rooted in the idea of “By Community, For Community.”  Stacie Mĕi believes in sexual health and wellbeing for all, has strong management and governance professional experience spanning 20 years in IT, Construction and communications, and now in Public Mental Health and community. Stacie Mĕi vows to help young people never live her journey!

Please click here to Register via Zoom

#SpeakingOut@Work: LGBTQ Young People’s Experiences of Sexual Harassment at Work

Join us for a webinar featuring Professor Kerry Robinson and Dr Cristyn Davis as they share findings from the #SpeakingOut@Work research. This session will unpack the unique experiences of LGBTQ young people facing sexual harassment in workplaces and training environments. Learn about the key challenges they encounter, the impacts of harassment, and practical recommendations to create safer, more inclusive workplaces. Register now to be part of this important conversation.

This presentation will provide a summary of the findings from the 2 year ANROWS funded research project on LGBTQ young people’s experiences of sexual harassment in the workplace and in workplace training. The discussion will cover prevalence, perpetrators, who experienced the sexual harassment, nature of experiences, responses to the behaviours, reporting, workplace mandatory training, and recommendations for addressing workplace sexual harassment.

Dr Cristyn Davies is a Senior Research Fellow in the Specialty of Child and Adolescent Health at the Faculty of Medicine and Health, the University of Sydney Clinical School, Children’s Hospital Westmead, NSW Australia, and an adjunct academic with the School of Social Sciences at Western Sydney University, Australia. She holds numerous leadership and governance positions: President of the Australian Association for Adolescent Health; co-chair of the Human Rights Council of Australia; co-convenor of the Public Health Association of Australia Child and Youth Health Special Interest Group; and co-convenor of the Research Committee of the Australian Professional Association for Trans Health. Dr Davies is an ambassador for Twenty10 Incorporating the Gay and Lesbian Counselling Service NSW. She has expertise in gender and sexuality, child and adolescent health, sexual and reproductive health, health education and comprehensive sexuality education, vaccination and vaccine delivery systems, knowledge translation and implementation science. Dr Davies has published widely in her areas of expertise. She is committed to using evidence-based research to close the gap between research and its translation into policy and practice.

Kerry H. Robinson is a distinguished professor in the School of Social Sciences at Western Sydney University. Kerry’s research focuses on gender and gender diversity in childhood, gender equality, LGBTQ+ equality and health and wellbeing, sexual health, sexual citizenship, sexuality education, sexual harassment, and other gender and sexuality-based violence and its prevention. Kerry is currently leading an Australian Research Council Discovery (ARCD) grant (2024-2027) exploring gender diversity and gender affirmation in childhood, with perspectives from children, parents, allies, educators, and healthcare professionals. A recently completed ARC Discovery, titled Gender Matters, examined gender equality and equity in secondary schools.

📅 Date: Thursday, 3 April 2025

⏰ Time: 1.00pm-1.45pm AEDT

📍 Location: Online (Zoom link provided upon registration)

Staff, volunteers and delegates of LHA Full, Regular and Affiliate member organisations can attend free as part of their membership benefits. Please RSVP below.

Are you a non-member, or an individual member? Please register here ($20).

#SpeakingOut@Work: LGBTQ Young People’s Experiences of Sexual Harassment at Work

Join us for a webinar featuring Professor Kerry Robinson and Dr Cristyn Davis as they share findings from the #SpeakingOut@Work research. This session will unpack the unique experiences of LGBTQ young people facing sexual harassment in workplaces and training environments. Learn about the key challenges they encounter, the impacts of harassment, and practical recommendations to create safer, more inclusive workplaces. Register now to be part of this important conversation.

This presentation will provide a summary of the findings from the 2 year ANROWS funded research project on LGBTQ young people’s experiences of sexual harassment in the workplace and in workplace training. The discussion will cover prevalence, perpetrators, who experienced the sexual harassment, nature of experiences, responses to the behaviours, reporting, workplace mandatory training, and recommendations for addressing workplace sexual harassment.

Dr Cristyn Davies is a Senior Research Fellow in the Specialty of Child and Adolescent Health at the Faculty of Medicine and Health, the University of Sydney Clinical School, Children’s Hospital Westmead, NSW Australia, and an adjunct academic with the School of Social Sciences at Western Sydney University, Australia. She holds numerous leadership and governance positions: President of the Australian Association for Adolescent Health; co-chair of the Human Rights Council of Australia; co-convenor of the Public Health Association of Australia Child and Youth Health Special Interest Group; and co-convenor of the Research Committee of the Australian Professional Association for Trans Health. Dr Davies is an ambassador for Twenty10 Incorporating the Gay and Lesbian Counselling Service NSW. She has expertise in gender and sexuality, child and adolescent health, sexual and reproductive health, health education and comprehensive sexuality education, vaccination and vaccine delivery systems, knowledge translation and implementation science. Dr Davies has published widely in her areas of expertise. She is committed to using evidence-based research to close the gap between research and its translation into policy and practice.

Kerry H. Robinson is a distinguished professor in the School of Social Sciences at Western Sydney University. Kerry’s research focuses on gender and gender diversity in childhood, gender equality, LGBTQ+ equality and health and wellbeing, sexual health, sexual citizenship, sexuality education, sexual harassment, and other gender and sexuality-based violence and its prevention. Kerry is currently leading an Australian Research Council Discovery (ARCD) grant (2024-2027) exploring gender diversity and gender affirmation in childhood, with perspectives from children, parents, allies, educators, and healthcare professionals. A recently completed ARC Discovery, titled Gender Matters, examined gender equality and equity in secondary schools.

📅 Date: Thursday, 3 April 2025

⏰ Time: 1.00pm-1.45pm AEDT

📍 Location: Online (Zoom link provided upon registration)

Staff, volunteers and delegates of LHA Full, Regular and Affiliate member organisations can attend free as part of their membership benefits. Please RSVP here. 

Coming out and going back into the closet for people with dementia. Do LGBTI people disclose or hide themselves in aged care settings.

Please join us for this informative webinar series. The third and final webinar in this series is designed for providers in the aged care sector. Subject matter experts will give insights into the experiences of LGBTI older people,  they will provide practical tools and information to better support LGBTI clients. This session aims increase knowledge and skills to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for LGBTI individuals living with dementia.

Featuring

Mary-Clare Maloney is Team Leader with Dementia Support Australia’s DREAM Project. Mary-Clare has been employed at Dementia Support Australia in senior clinical and manager roles for over seven years. These positions have included Dementia Consultant, Consultant Advisor and Team Leader. Mary-Clare has over 35 years of experience as a Clinical Occupational Therapist and as an Educator in aged care. Mary-Clare’s particular interest is in supporting healthcare professionals in developing and implementing effective relationship-centered interventions for their client

Louisa Smith is a Senior Lecturer at Deakin University, teaching and researching in disability and inclusion. Louisa's research uses participatory methods to include people with disability, such as dementia, in all that she does. Louisa's research focusses on LGBT+ people living with dementia. 

Facilitated by

Linda Harrison Linda is Director Training and Capacity Building, LGBTIQ+ Health Australia. 

The Light Up the Night Gala is Australia’s premier and purposeful LGBTQ+ fundraising event, hosted by the LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Foundation. 

The elegant evening is a chance for hundreds of allies, business leaders, political representatives, community groups and philanthropists to take a visible stand and support an important cause.

Celebrating its fourth year in 2025, the Light Up the Night Gala is equal parts style and substance – an eagerly anticipated and well-attended black-tie event that unites people in a shared cause.

The spectacular event is hosted in the architecturally stunning Brisbane City Hall under the rainbow dome of its beautifully preserved Main Auditorium.

Guests enjoy networking opportunities, a sumptuous three-course dinner with premium beverages, guest speakers, powerful stories, special headline entertainers, live music, live auction and raffles.

Find out more and buy tickets

ABOUT LGBTQ DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS FOUNDATION

We are a strong voice for LGBTQ+ domestic violence victims and survivors, working to end domestic, family and intimate partner violence and abuse within LGBTQ+ communities.

We are a registered charity, founded in 2020, and are committed to shining a light on an epidemic that’s plagued LGBTQ+ communities for far too long.

Propelled by passionate volunteers and governed by a Board of Directors, we strive to overcome a fundamental lack of awareness, representation and understanding about the prevalence of this abuse.

We work tirelessly to provide education, information and resources to support services, workplaces, bystanders and survivors. We know that visibility is the key. By cultivating a culture of awareness, we can create real and meaningful change. 

Our mission is to ensure everyone – no matter their sexuality or gender identity – feels seen and believed and receives safe and inclusive support.

Learn more: dvafoundation.org

Find out more and buy tickets

This is an 18+ Event.