The Andrews Labor Government is supporting 38 community organisations and individuals improve the health, wellbeing and resilience of the LGBTI community.
Minister for Equality Martin Foley today announced the first round of community grants worth $900,000 will go to building the capacity of community organisations and developing the leadership and management skills of current and future LGBTI leaders.
“We have some incredibly effective LGBTI organisations – these grants will expand their capacity to support more people throughout the state,” said Minister Foley. “It’s about creating a level playing field for all Victorians – and we know that access to health services is a barrier LGBTI Victorians face.”
“The support we are providing will provide opportunities for the community to come together and provide a reminder that equality is not negotiable.”
Health and wellbeing is the focus of this grants round with Rainbow Families Victoria receiving $130,000 to grow their organisation and volunteer base which provides support to LGBTI parents, co-parents, carers and their children in Victoria.
Switchboard Victoria will receive $109,000 to expand their free telephone and web counselling referral and information service for LGBTI Victorians. Chillout Daylesford, Midsumma Festival and the Melbourne Queer Film Festival will receive support to grow their capacity as Victoria’s leading LGBTI cultural events. A list of organisational recipients is provided below.
The grants are also supporting 11 current and future LGBTI leaders attend Company Directors or Emerging Managers courses, radio training and conferences to develop their leadership skills to support others in the community.
For more information, visit: www.vic.gov.au/equality for details.
Rainbow Families Victoria – located in City of Melbourne – $130,000 (2 year grant)
Rainbow Families Victoria supports LGBTI parents, co-parents, carers and their children in Victoria. They will be using grant funds for strategic planning, volunteer development, development of systems and community engagement platforms, as well as staff resources.
Switchboard (Victoria) Inc – located in City of Melbourne – $109,000 (2 year grant)
Switchboard provides a free telephone and web counselling, referral and information service for Victorian LGBTI communities. They will be using grant funds for the development of an income strategy, program and partnership plan, communications and marketing plan and staff resources.
ChillOut Daylesford Inc – located in Shire of Hepburn – $80,000 (2 year grant)
ChillOut Daylesford organises Australia’s largest rural Queer Country Pride festival for LGBTI Victorians. They will use grant funds for strategic planning, research, and staff resources.
Melbourne Queer Film Festival – located in City of Melbourne – $60,000 (1 year grant)
Melbourne Queer Film Festival organises one of the world’s largest queer film festivals. Grant funds will be used to create a sponsorship and philanthropy strategy, and provide additional staff resources.
Midsumma Festival – located in City of Melbourne – $59,441.94 (1 year grant)
Midsumma Festival organises Melbourne’s largest queer arts and cultural festival which has been running for 30 years. The organisation will be using grant funds for strategic marketing plans, audience development and re-branding activities.
Gay and Lesbian Foundation of Australia – located in City of Yarra – $54,000 (2 year grant)
The Gay and Lesbian Foundation of Australia (GALFA) is a charitable foundation whose purpose is to provide funds for charitable activities and organisations that support LGBTI communities. They will be using grant funds for development of marketing and fundraising strategies, and staff resources.
Transgender Victoria – located in City of Melbourne – $53,654 (2 year grant)
Transgender Victoria (TGV) aims to achieve justice and equity for trans and gender diverse people, their partners, families and friends. Grant funds will be used to fund a part time office manager to carry out organisational development activities to address growing capacity needs.
Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives Inc – located in City of Stonnington – $50,000 (1 year grant)
The Australian Lesbian and Gay Archives is the biggest repository of historical materials about lesbian and gay experience in Australia. They will be using grant funds to employ an office manager to address organisational development needs, and seek business consulting.
Wimmera Pride Project – located in Rural City of Horsham – $50,000 (2 year grant)
The Wimmera Pride Project is a grassroots movement led by local residents to enrich the lives of LGBT+ people and their allies within the community. They will be using grant funds to develop a strategic plan, create policies and procedures, develop a website and cover staff resources.
Gateway Health – located in City of Wodonga – $43,189 (1 year grant)
Gateway Health is a community health provider of primary health and welfare services in Wodonga and Wangaratta. They have collaborated with local LGBTI groups to design a leadership training program for LGBTI groups and emerging leaders in North East Victoria, and will coordinate the delivery of the training.
Bent TV – located in City of Melbourne – $30,100 (2 year grant)
In association with Community Television Station ‘Channel 31’, Bent TV has been producing television for Melbourne’s diverse rainbow community for 24 years. As community stations cease broadcasting, Bent TV will be partnering with JOY94.9, and will use grant funds for web design, online optimisation and training to transition to online distribution.
Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome Support Group Australia Inc – located in City of Melbourne – $30,000 (2 year grant)
The Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome (AIS) Support Group Australia Inc is a peer support, information and advocacy group for people affected by AIS and/or related intersex variations and variations of sex characteristics, and their families. They will use grant funds to engage in review of policies, development of strategic organisational business plans, member training, and infrastructure updates.
Organisation Intersex International (OII) Australia – located in City of Hobsons Bay – $30,000 (2 year grant)
OII Australia is an independent support, education and policy development organisation, by and for people with intersex variations or traits. They will be using grant funds to develop strategic and business plans, and purchase of software and IT hardware.
Anti-Violence Project of Victoria Inc – located in City of Ballarat – $17,820 (2 year grant)
Victoria’s Anti Violence Project is the peak Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) organisation leading discussion on violence and its impacts within and against the community. They will use grant funds to enhance their existing online violence reporting service through the development of a phone app that will allow live updating information.
Melbourne Gay & Lesbian Chorus Inc – located in City of Melbourne – $10,000 (1 year grant)
The Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Chorus was Australia’s first LGBTI community choir. They offer a supportive environment to singers of all backgrounds. They will be using the grants funds for a digital records system, staff resources and managing the transfer of all paper music records to digital records.
Victorian Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby – located in City of Melbourne – $9,963 (1 year grant)
The Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby works for and with the LGBTIQ community to end discrimination and to achieve equality and social justice. They will be using grant funds to update their website and update current legislative information available.
Minus18 Foundation Inc – located in City of Yarra – $9,019 (1 year grant)
Minus18 is Australia’s largest youth led organisation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans youth. They will be using grant funds to purchase cameras and associated equipment for internal training development and resource production.
Metropolitan Community Church Melbourne – located in City of Whitehorse – $8,500 (1 year grant)
The Metropolitan Community Church Melbourne offers a caring Christian faith community that celebrates and welcomes LGBTI members. They will be using grant funds for a website redesign, business plan, and marketing.
Brave Network Melbourne – located in City of Boroondara – $6,700 (1 year grant)
Brave Network Melbourne is a network of Christians wanting to promote and explore LGBTI inclusion, theology and faith in a safe and informed environment. They will be using grant funds to procure basic presentation equipment and upgrade their website.
Melbourne Wranglers Wrestling Club Inc located in City of Yarra – $6,060 (1 year grant)
The Melbourne Wranglers Wrestling club is a diverse gender and sexuality community sporting club that provides a positive environment to all persons within the LGBTIQ community. They will use grant funds to cover the cost of the Pride In Sport membership.
Living Positive Victoria – located in City of Melbourne – $5,000 (1 year grant)
Living Positive Victoria is a community based organisation representing all people living with HIV in Victoria, and is committed to the advancement of human rights and wellbeing of all people living with HIV. They will be using grant funds for governance training for their new board of management.
Parents of Gender Diverse Children (PGDC) – located in City of Melbourne – $5,000 (2 year grant)
Parents of Gender Diverse Children is made up of a group of parents who have come together to advocate for and support gender diverse children and their families. They will be using grant funds to engage an accountant, and financial training for PGDC organisers.
Human Rights Law Centre: LGBTI Rights Unit – located in City of Melbourne – $3,798 (2 year grant)
The Human Rights Law Centre protects and promotes human rights in Australia and in Australian activities overseas, with the LGBTI Rights Unit focusing on equality legislation at state and federal levels. They will be using grant funds to purchase laptops to make their services more mobile.
Queer Health Collective – located in City of Monash – $2,000 (1 year grant)
Queer Health Collective based out of Monash University runs educational seminars to teach health students about the needs of LGBTQI patients and how to deal with these issues in a sensitive manner. They will be using grant funds for marketing materials.
LGBTI Latin Americans & Hispanics Project – located in City of Melbourne – $1,500 (2 year grant)
The LGBTIQ Latin American and Hispanic Project aims to provide social support, advocacy and representation of Latin/Hispanic people in Victoria. They will be using the grant funds to upgrade their website, as well as basic office equipment.
Australian Queer Students Network – located in City of Melbourne – $1,358.06 (2 year grant)
Australian Queer Students Network are a national body which connects queer students and queer student issues. They will be using the grant funds to upgrade their website and online communications capabilities.
Melbourne Rainbow Band Inc – located in City of Stonnington – $1,015 (1 year grant)
The Melbourne Rainbow Band is a Gay and Lesbian community concert band that exists to provide an opportunity for musicians to develop their musical abilities in an environment free of prejudice and discrimination. They will use grant funds to send one of their members to the Conductor Development Program by the Australian Band and Orchestra Directors Association to ensure sustainable future leadership.