One of the important ways that QuAC delivers services to LGBTI Queenslanders is through our Health Action Groups. The Health Action Groups initiate and facilitate peer education and health promotion to particular areas in the community. Volunteers may make decisions regarding outreach, resource design and distribution and other actions or objectives the group deems necessary to fulfil the goals of the group and QuAC.
If you want a say in direct service provision or feel you have a voice or ideas for your community, then join an Action Group or participate in one of our projects.
Zest Lesbian Wellbeing (formerly LHAG) was formed in 2008 to lead on the development of health initiatives for lesbians and other same sex attracted women.
The goals of the group are:
- To improve the health and wellbeing of lesbians and same sex attracted women in Queensland.
- To build on past and current initiatives and the existing strengths and resources of women.
- To develop new and innovative responses to lesbian health using evidence-based practice.
The term ‘Lesbian’, for the purpose of the work of the Zest Lesbian Wellbeing refers to all people who identify as lesbian, bisexual, queer and same sex attracted and trans women in Queensland.
This group includes, but is in no way limited to, lesbians, gay women, dykes, women who have sex with women (WSW), queer women, women-partnered women (WPW), trans women, lezzos, SSAW, lipstick lesbians, sporty dykes, of Sapphic inclination, butch lesbians, bull dykes, stone butches, femmes, lesbian transwomen, gender queer people, diesel dykes, baby dykes, stealth dykes, transdykes, bicurious women, non-heterosexual women, fluid, androdykes, bois, bulldaggers, vagitarians and anyone who is on this side of the fence, on our team or one of us.
So all of our activities and events are open to anyone who may identify with any of the above!
Volunteering with Zest Lesbian Wellbeing
Zest is always looking for women who are interested in volunteering.
Volunteer activities include:
- Outreach at womens events
- Planning and facilitating drug and alcohol free social events
- Planning and facilitating physical activities
- Planning festivals and community events
- Supervising stalls and distributing information at community events
To become a volunteer, please register as a QuAC volunteer at https://quac.org.au/volunteer indicating you wish to volunteer with Zest Lesbian Wellbeing.
Many Genders, One Voice is a sex and gender non-conforming Health Action Group.
This group is made up entirely of volunteers from different health service providers, Transgender support services and social groups, as well as trans community members and allies.
The goals of MGOV are:
- To improve the health and well-being of Trans and Sex and Gender Non-conforming people in QLD
- To build on past and current initiatives and the existing strengths and resources of Trans and Sex and Gender Non-conforming people
- To remain responsive to the self identified needs of the community
- To empower Trans and Sex and Gender Non-conforming people to be involved in and have control over their own health and well-being
- To raise awareness of Trans and Sex and Gender Non-conforming health issues
For more information:
https://www.manygendersonevoice.org/
https://www.facebook.com/manygendersonevoice/
Please see below for a list of MGOV initiatives and events:
Trans Fair Day
We held the first Trans Fair Day in 2016 with the aim of creating a community event supporting positive mental and physical health for local trans and gender diverse people of all ages. All local service organisations relevant to the trans community attend on the day and entertainment and fun events happen throughout the day too.
Trans Community Awards
This is a new event held to acknowledge those in the community who do so much for the trans and gender diverse community and are never recognised. 2016 saw the first of what we hope will be a regular annual event
Binder Project
We have binders for purchase for the local community working in partnership with Underworks (one of the major producers of binders in the US) to enable those who are of limited finances to purchase these at half the cost of what it would be to ship by themselves into Australia. See the www.manygendersonevoice.org website for an order form.
We also, with thanks to our local Councillor who provided us with a small grant, have a small stock of binders to give away to those unable to even afford the small charge we make to cover costs. See the Many Genders One Voice website for an application form.
Clothing Project
We provide a clothing bank for the community to allow purchases ($5 a bag) or swaps of clothing, regular events are held throughout the year in conjunction with a social meet-up and free BBQ. See Many Genders One Voice Facebook page for upcoming events at https://www.facebook.com/manygendersonevoice/
Transgender Day of Remembrance
We hold a service every year at a local park to remember those in our community as well as further afield who we have lost through violence of some form.
Since 1999 the Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDoR), a day to remember those trans people who have been victims of homicide, takes place every November. The TDoR raises public awareness of hate crimes against trans people, provides a space for public mourning and honours the lives of those trans people who might otherwise be forgotten. It began in the USA but the TDoR is now held in many parts of the world. In the past, events to commemorate the day were held in more than 180 cities in more than 20 countries in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania.
Actions groups with a focus on LGBTI ageing and aged care issues have operated at varying pace and focus in the lead up to major aged care reforms of 2012 and since.
The groups, which have operated in Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, have provided a space for aged care providers, older LGBTI people and allies or ‘aged care champions’ to work together.
Their focus has been both on advancing awareness, uptake and implementing of the principles of the Federal Government’s National LGBTI Ageing and Aged Care Strategy – and also importantly on encouraging the voices of older LGBTI people in shaping inclusive aged care that they can have confidence in accessing.
Currently the Sunshine Coast group – LGBTI Community Ageing Network meets regularly. New participants welcome. Find out more: http://lgbtican.com.au/ and https://www.facebook.com/LGBTICAN.SunshineCoast/
For Brisbane and Gold Coast enquiries contact: info@quac.org.au