Key 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 groups advocating for LGBTQIA+ People Living with Disability
Different Journeys
2021 | $10,000
Building Bridges between Autism and LGBTQI Communities
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.
Working It Out
2019 | $22,500
LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Practices for Disability Services
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.
Yooralla
2022 | $20,000
My Identity . My Choice “A safe journey to explore LGBTIQA+ identity for people using disability services
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”
Deakin University
2018 | $74,896
Experiences of LGBTIQ People Living with Disabilities
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.
UNI NSW DEMENTIA CENTRE FOR RESEARCH COLLABORATION
2018 | $20,000
Evaluation of an e-learning resource supporting LGBTIQ people with dementia and changed behaviours
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.
Aspergers Victoria Inc
2018 | $17,788
Interpreting the Spectrums: Understanding barriers to health care for the LGBTIQ+ autistic community
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.
Northcott Innovation Ltd
2018 | $10,000
Velvet Expressions
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.
Melba Support Services (Victoria)
2017 | $24,240
Sexuality, Equality, Disability
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.
Inclusion Melbourne Inc
2017 | $20,392
Supporting the inclusion and wellbeing of LGBTIQ people with intellectual disability
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).
Rainbow Health Australia (Formerly GLHV), LA TROBE UNIVERSITY
2016 | $20,000
The lived experience of LGBTI people living with disabilities
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.
Academic publications
What LGBTIQA+ people with disability are saying - 2021 Pride Foundation event
MARCH 2021
More Than Ticking A Box: LGBTIQA+ People With Disability Talking About Their Lives
MARCH 2021
O’Shea, A., Latham, J., Beaver, S., Lewis, J., Mountford, R., Rose, M, Trezona, A., Frawley, P. (2020). More than Ticking a Box: LGBTIQA+ People With Disability Talking About Their Lives. Geelong: Deakin University
LGBTIQ disability self-advocacy: A report on the results of a survey of LGBTIQ people living with disability in Victoria
NOVEMBER 2020
Lewis, J. & McNair, R. 2020. LGBTIQ disability self-advocacy: A report on the results of a survey of LGBTIQ people living with disability in Victoria
Experiences of LGBTIQA+ People with Disability in Healthcare and Community Services: Towards Embracing Multiple Identities
NOVEMBER 2020
O’Shea, A.; Latham, J.R.; McNair, R.; Despott, N.; Rose, M.; Mountford, R.; Frawley, P. Experiences of LGBTIQA+ People with Disability in Healthcare and Community Services: Towards Embracing Multiple Identities. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2020, 17, 8080. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17218080
Self Advocacy in Healthcare: A toolkit for LGBTIQA+ autistic people, their family, carers, friends, support workers, and advocates
AUGUST 2020
McNair R, Andrews C, Wark A. Developing a model of care to support trans and gender diverse people experiencing homelessness – final report, 2018, University of Melbourne, at URL www.lgbtihomeless.org.au
“Where’s the human dignity in that?”: LGBTQIA+ people with intellectual disability exploring sexual lives and respectful relationships
APRIL 2020
(2020) “Where’s the human dignity in that?”: LGBTQIA + people with intellectual disability exploring sexual lives and respectful relationships, Journal of Gay & Lesbian Social Services, 32:3, 354-376, DOI: 10.1080/10538720.2020.1752875
The everyday experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people living with disability
JULY 2018
McNair R, Andrews C, Wark A. Developing a model of care to support trans and gender diverse people experiencing homelessness – final report, 2018, University of Melbourne, at URL www.lgbtihomeless.org.au
Latest news
The latest updates on our work addressing LGBTQIA+ people living with disabilities.
