Key Funding Area

LGBTQIA+ People Living with Disability

We began our work in addressing the systemic disadvantage faced by LGBTQIA+ people living with disabilities in 2016.

Over the course of 10 grant rounds thus far, a range of small, medium and very large disability service providers and community organisations have been funded for ‘change within’, inclusive practices projects.

This provides a range of models other organisations may wish to follow to be more inclusive.

Partner Organisations

Our knowledge in this area is significant, but there are many groups that have real expertise and lived experience, and we want to work with them in partnership. Groups we have collaborated with include…

Advisory Committee

APRIL 2016–SEPTEMBER 2020

Chair Ian Gould (PFA), Ruth McNair (PFA), Ruby Mountford, Nathan Despott, Jake Lewis, Margherita Coppolino, Jax Jackie Brown, Christine Mulholland (DHHS), Kirrily Hayward (activist), George Taleporos, Jarrod Marrinon, Liam Leonard (La Trobe Uni); Terry Broadway, Michael Langtree & Vicki Morrison (all, Broadtree Foundation); Fiona Smith, Felix Neighbour and Bevin Berkin (DHHS), Keran Howe.

Funding granted to projects advocating for LGBTQIA+ People Living with Disability

My Identity. My Choice “A safe journey to explore LGBTIQA+ identity for people using disability services"

Yooralla
2022 | $20,000

Improved LGBTIQA+ expression within Yooralla via education and training to shape awareness and attitudes: * Min 4 workshops, 4 focus groups for adults with disability

Min 4 workshops and support for Yooralla Staff
Support safe exploration/supported decision making of persons who may be LGBTIQA+
Promote “Coming out is OK” refer to VALID Alliance. * Training materials available free online to disability services nationally.
Inclusion Melb “My Rainbow Life” & “The Rainbow Guide”

Building Bridges between Autism and LGBTQI Communities

Different Journeys
2021 | $10,000

The employment of members of the LGBTQI+/Autism community to attend our events as leaders, mentors, ambassadors and deliver LGBTQI+ topics into our ongoing event programming, community building, advocacy, and communication strategies.

LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Practices for Disability Services

Working It Out
2019 | $22,500

A bespoke professional learning package to deliver to the Tasmanian Disability sector, based on existing work already undertaken in this space by Inclusion Melbourne’s Design Lab. The emphasis is on developing LGBTQIA+ inclusive practices within disability support services.

Experiences of LGBTIQ People Living with Disabilities

Deakin University
2018 | $74,896

A social research project to understand the experiences of LGBTIQ and gender diverse people with a disability in Australia today; identify systemic health, social and relational factors that impact on full inclusion and sexual rights; and, develop evidence based recommendations on policy and practice change.

Evaluation of an e-learning resource supporting LGBTIQ people with dementia and changed behaviours

Uni NSW Dementia Centre for Research Collaboration
2018 | $20,000

An evaluation of a DCRC developed eLearning resource for those providing care to LGBTI peoples with dementia and changed behaviours to help improve the effectiveness of the resource to support change in practice. Collaboration with the National LGBTI Health Alliance – Silver Rainbow LGBTI Ageing and Aged Care to aid evaluation design, resource uptake and recruitment.

Interpreting the Spectrums: Understanding barriers to health care for the LGBTIQ+ autistic community

Aspergers Victoria Inc
2018 | $17,788

Aspergers Victoria in partnership with The Shed, TGV and Spectrum Intersections, to develop portable resource kits to explain common barriers for Autistic LGBTIQA+ People when accessing health services. A 12-month project to produce educational materials to help bridge communication and cultural barriers faced by Autistic LGBTIQA+ people within the medical system and build future employment pathways for advocates.

Velvet Expressions

Northcott Innovation Ltd
2018 | $10,000

A project by Northcott Innovation (NI) to tackle one of societies last remaining taboos – sexuality and disability, by giving a voice to LGBTQI people with disability in regard to their capacity to engage in sexuality activities of their choosing and the barriers (physical, environmental, social) preventing them from participating in those activities.

Sexuality, Equality, Disability Workshops

Melba Support Services (Victoria)
2017 | $24,240

12 full-day workshops about LGBTI specific needs and 21 one-on-one planning sessions, to build capacity of the Disability Sector to improve support and outcomes for people with a disability who identify as LGBTI.

Supporting the inclusion and wellbeing of LGBTIQ people with intellectual disability

Inclusion Melbourne Inc
2017 | $20,392

The development of practice-based training materials for use by disability support organisations, and the delivery to a LGBTIQ-orientated pilot of high-quality sexuality awareness for PWID (people with an intellectual disability).

The lived experience of LGBTI people living with disabilities

Rainbow Health Australia (Formerly GLHV), La Trobe University
2016 | $20,000

An international literature review and re-analysis of Australian data, to build the evidence on lives of LGBTIQ people living with a disability, to inform health service development, community building and culture change to improve the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ people living with a disability.