This media release was originally released by Linda Burney MP, Shadow Minister for Families and Social Services, and Senator Jenny McAllister, Shadow Assistant Minister for Communities and the Prevention of Family Violence

An Albanese Labor Government will provide dedicated funding to LGBTIQ+ community organisations to employ specialist domestic violence workers, ensuring LGBTIQ+ people receive appropriate family and domestic violence support.

LGBTIQ+ people face diverse complexities of gender and violence which are best addressed through community based and peer-led organisations already working with LGBTIQ+ people.

That is why an Albanese Labor government will fund 15 workers in LGBTIQ+ community organisations to help people experiencing domestic and family violence. This means 1,200 people who would have been turned away will now get help at one of the most vulnerable times in their life.

Every day and night in Australia people fleeing violence are turned away from accommodation and services because of insufficient funding for sector workers.

The shortfall in support is particularly acute for LGBTIQ+ people. For nine years, they have been neglected at every stage of the process - not just in the provision of support services, but also in policy development, frameworks, data collection and evaluation.

An Albanese Labor will fund an additional 500 workers over three years so community organisations can better support people fleeing family violence. These workers will be allocated to areas of need around the country.

Leaving a violent family or relationship is the hardest and most dangerous thing that many people will ever do. It is even harder when there are further barriers to access services or needs that are not well understood.

No one in crisis should not be left to fend for themselves.

Comment attributable to Nicky Bath, Chief Executive Officer of LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (she/her)

"Private Lives is the third iteration of the largest national survey on the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ+ people. That survey tells us that more than two-fifths of participants reported ever being in an intimate relationship where they felt they were abused in some way. Almost half of the participants reported having been sexually assaulted."

"The announcement today is so welcomed, LGBTIQ+ community-controlled organisations are best placed to meet the needs of our communities, and they need to be invested in."

"These roles will assist our organisations to build their capacity to deliver and respond to family intimate partner violence. This model of investment needs to be duplicated across all of the areas of health and wellbeing disparities, that are faced by our communities."

"LGBTIQ+ Health Australia's full member organisations are here, ready, and needing to respond now. They need this investment, so this announcement is very welcome - as it is as a real step in the right direction."

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Tony Hodges (Burney) 0435 594 552
Leila Stennett (McAllister) 0436 632 388

Nicky Bath, CEO of LGBTIQ+ Health Australia 
Mobile: 0432 328 706 | Email: [email protected]  | CC Email: [email protected]