Older LGBTI people experience Elder Abuse in unique ways with devastating impacts on mental wellbeing. Yet these issues are often missing from Elder Abuse strategies. This session outlines The Bridge, an innovation to prevent LGBTI Elder Abuse by linking older LGBTI people to Elder Abuse services and supportive LGBTIQ communities.

Speakers: Lisette Claremont-Goulet (Co-Founder, TLLPC), Mallory Rolfe, Gail (Ellis) Glaremont-Goulet (Co-Founder TLLPC) 

To listen back to other sessions from the Better Together Conference, visit: https://joy.org.au/bettertogether/  

For more information on future Better Together Conferences, please visit: https://www.theequalityproject.org.au/ 

The post 2021: The Bridge: A National Strategy to Prevent LGBTI+ Elder Abuse appeared first on Better Together.

A panel reflecting on the experiences of Pride of the South in Adelaide’s southern suburbs. 
Through community leadership and grassroots democracy, nurturing positive relationships within all three levels of government, stories from the lives of our constituency resonating with and influencing broader social change at local, state and federal levels.

This panel represents an opportunity to reflect on the experiences of a particular LGBTIQA+ community group, volunteer run and largely unfunded, yet making positive impacts on the lives of the local community in which it exists.

Facilitator: Llewellyn Jones (Pride of the South).  

Speakers: Katrine Hildyard, Joanna Giannes and Shayne Glasgow (Pride of The South) 

To listen back to other sessions from the Better Together Conference, visit: https://joy.org.au/bettertogether/  

For more information on future Better Together Conferences, please visit: https://www.theequalityproject.org.au/ 

The post 2021: The (Inter)Personal is Political appeared first on Better Together.

Helping LGBTQ+ People with Disabilities access and navigate the NDIS

ACON’s QueerAbility team will be discussing the LGBTQ+ NDIS Queerability Toolkit ACON has created as well as the data and statistics that have informed this project. The QueerAbility team will then discuss current and future work ACON is undergoing in this space including the national wide QueerAbility NDIS workshops.

Speakers: Charbel Zada (Community Health Promotion Officer – LGBTQ+ People with Disability Project, ACON) 

To listen back to other sessions from the Better Together Conference, visit: https://joy.org.au/bettertogether/  

For more information on future Better Together Conferences, please visit: https://www.theequalityproject.org.au/ 

The post 2021: QueerAbility: ACON’s LGBTQ+ People with Disability Project appeared first on Better Together.

The Pinnacle Foundation provides scholarships to young, disadvantaged LGBTQI+ people – enhancing their education, and ending the isolation too many experience. In this session Pinnacle scholars and mentors tell how they’ve grown together through lockdowns and social distance.

Social change is, at its heart, a story of individual change – of how people’s lives becoming better. Attendees will hear young LGBTQI+ students talk of their year in two parts – who they were when they commenced their Pinnacle scholarships, and who they are now. The most striking change scholars say the Pinnacle brings to their lives is how they feel connected to a ’new’ family.

Facilitator: Simon Royal (Pinnacle Foundation).  

Speakers: Dr Jacinta Clark, Isabelle Kotasek, Nathan Cappelluti and Dr Mark Fuller 

To listen back to other sessions from the Better Together Conference, visit: https://joy.org.au/bettertogether/  

For more information on future Better Together Conferences, please visit: https://www.theequalityproject.org.au/ 

The post 2021: Growing Together In A Year Apart appeared first on Better Together.

What makes us Leatherfolk. 

The panel will explore what it is that makes them Leather; beyond the clubs, beyond the fetish aspect of the lifestyle and how we uplift each other and work together for the common good. We’ll be looking at historical and modern Leather representations, from gay men’s motorcycle clubs to current leather clubs and communities around Australia.

Facilitator: KL Joy.  

Speakers: Nick Henderson, Gerry Ebert, Zac CAnnell and Cherrie Rogers. 

To listen back to other sessions from the Better Together Conference, visit: https://joy.org.au/bettertogether/  

For more information on future Better Together Conferences, please visit: https://www.theequalityproject.org.au/ 

The post 2021: Our Leather Life – Beyond The Fetish appeared first on Better Together.

This session aims to raise awareness of DFV in LGBTQ communities including the unique methods of power and control that may be used in these relationships. Participants will hear the story of DFV survivor Ben Bjarnesen and learn more about what friends, allies, workplaces and communities can do to identify, respond and support people who may be experiencing DFV. 

Speakers: Ben Bjarnesen (Founder, Managing Director, LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Foundation)

To listen back to other sessions from the Better Together Conference, visit: https://joy.org.au/bettertogether/  

For more information on future Better Together Conferences, please visit: https://www.theequalityproject.org.au/ 

The post 2021: Domestic and Family Violence in LGBTQ+ Communities. appeared first on Better Together.

The South Australian Rainbow Advocacy Alliance Community Advisory Group has been working hard to provide a strong voice to Government on the needs of LGBTIQA+ people. Hear about our work so far, and what we have learned about engaging diverse communities.

Listeners will: 

• Learn effective community engagement skills and methods 
• Get an update on the work of the Community Advisory Group, next steps and how to get involved 

Speakers: Kelly Vincent (SARAA) 

To listen back to other sessions from the Better Together Conference, visit: https://joy.org.au/bettertogether/  

For more information on future Better Together Conferences, please visit: https://www.theequalityproject.org.au/ 

The post 2021: Building an LGBTQIA+ Community Watchdog appeared first on Better Together.

What does it mean to be Bi+ (bisexual, pansexual or multi-gender attracted) when you’re over forty? 
 
Midlife, like adolescence, is a stage where many people reassess their sexuality. While some people proudly embrace a Bi+ identity in their youth, it’s common to come out as Bi+ after previously identifying as gay, lesbian or straight. In this session, a panel of older Bi+ people will draw on their experiences to discuss identity, coming out, ageing, relationships and parenting. 

Facilitator: Marina Larsson (Melb Bisexual Network).  

Speakers: Misia Julia (Successful SOlutions), Andrew Milnes, Neen Chapman, Anthony Lekkas. 

To listen back to other sessions from the Better Together Conference, visit: https://joy.org.au/bettertogether/  

For more information on future Better Together Conferences, please visit: https://www.theequalityproject.org.au/ 

The post 2021: BISEX Where to now? Navigating Bisexuality and Midlife appeared first on Better Together.

This workshop will explore how we can use conversations and resources to build strong and supportive cultures in our workplaces. It explores using the workplace to build solidarity towards LGBTIQ+ people at work and beyond. 

Listeners will come away with practical skills to feel confident initiating conversations with their colleagues and management toward safe and strong LGBTIQ+ cultures at work. We will explore what solidarity looks like, and how we can take control as workers to challenge workplace cultures that are unsafe and unsupportive for LGBTIQ+ people. 

Speakers: Catherine Story (Union Organiser with the PSA of SA) 

To listen back to other sessions from the Better Together Conference, visit: https://joy.org.au/bettertogether/  

For more information on future Better Together Conferences, please visit: https://www.theequalityproject.org.au/ 

The post 2021: Building LGBTQIA+ Solidarity in our Workplace appeared first on Better Together.

This session will look at how our service has looked to help community members find connection in the face of isolation, how we adapted to the sudden changes brought about by COVID-19, as well as the solutions we have implemented in facing these challenges. 

Participants will gain a better understanding of the impact that COVID-19 brought upon trans & gender diverse community members in South Australia, and how services such as the Gender Wellbeing Service and Gender Connect Country SA have adapted to meet those needs. Participants would walk away with more ideas regarding the support of isolated trans and gender diverse community members. 

Speakers: Kaidan Dibbins (Peer Worker, Shine SA), Brynn McAveney (Senior Peer Support Worker with Gender Connect Country SA) 

To listen back to other sessions from the Better Together Conference, visit: https://joy.org.au/bettertogether/  

For more information on future Better Together Conferences, please visit: https://www.theequalityproject.org.au/ 

The post 2021: Navigating Peer Support in an Isolated Community appeared first on Better Together.