National Summit on Lesbian, Bisexual and Queer Women’s Health Registrations NOW OPEN

ACON LBQ Womens Health ConferenceRegistrations are now open for the 2017 Lesbian, Bisexual and Queer (LBQ) Women’s Health Conference in Sydney in July, which will feature a line-up of speakers and influential voices addressing pertinent issues uniquely affecting a community whose needs are not always covered by mainstream approaches.

Co-presented by ACON and the Victorian AIDS Council, the conference is the only national summit on the health and wellbeing of LBQ women. It will explore best practice and available research in working with LBQ women around mental and sexual health, alcohol and other drug use, and broader women’s health issues. There will be a range of workshops and presentations from experts, academic leaders, health and human service providers, and community members.

Running from 13 – 14 July, over 350 attendees are set to descend upon the Teachers Federation Conference Centre in Sydney for the two-day conference to discuss not only broader health issues, but other various and equally important areas related to LBQ women’s health including Indigenous issues, culture, disability, age, faith, sexuality and experiences of LBQ women in Australia.

“We have locked in and honoured to have some inspiring keynote speakers for this, the third year of the conference,” said ACON Deputy CEO Karen Price. “The pivotal nature and purpose of this conference is only emphasised by the high calibre of speakers who are willing to share their expertise and passion for women’s health.”

Keynote speakers include:

  • Dr Julie Mooney-Somers: Senior Lecturer Qualitative Research in Health at the University of Sydney
  • Cr Tony Briffa: Co-Executive Director of Organisation Intersex Australia and Deputy Mayor of the City of Hobsons Bay
  • Bonnie Hart: Intersex rights advocate and President of the Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome Support Group Australia
  • Dr Vanessa Lee : Senior Lecturer Behavioural and Social Science at the University of Sydney, Director of Suicide Prevention Australia and Chair of Public Health Indigenous Leaders in Education Network

“This pre-eminent conference is a vital opportunity for those engaged and involved in improving the health of LBQ women from all around Australia, to contribute to discussions about the community, the challenges it faces, and more than that, influence real outcomes,” said Price.

“Along with a number of high-profile keynote speakers, we will also run over 40 concurrent sessions, allowing maximum exposure and interactivity for participants across a range of relevant topics and areas of interest. In other words, there’s something for everyone.”

“The conference is framed through a sexuality lens, but is inclusive of intersex status and all gender identities, and we welcome attendees who are interested in the intersectionality of issues affecting all LBQ women.”

The cultural backdrop of the conference will be framed by a two-day LBQ Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Art Exhibition in the venue foyer. A social event, held at the conclusion of the first day will feature performances, workshops and art from Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander LBQ women in an effort to highlight different ways of knowledge sharing and cultural exchange.

Running 13 – 14 July,the 2017 LBQ Women’s Health Conference will be held at the Teacher’s Federation Conference Centre, 37 Reservoir St, Surry Hills. For more information and to register, visit: www.lbq.org.au for details.

Image: courtesy of ACON