An LGBTQIA+ inclusive organisation

Social support groups

Maroondah City Council host social support groups to support our LGBTIQA+ community:

• MY Pride is for young people aged 10 to 13 years. Maroondah Youth Services provide this program fortnightly as a safe space for young people who identify as LGBTIQA+ or who are exploring their identity.

• SAGE is for young people aged 14 to 18 years. Maroondah Youth Services provide this program fortnightly as a safe space for young people who identify as LGBTIQA+ or who are exploring their identity.

• Mature Rainbows is a LGBTI+ peer social support group aimed at Maroondah Residents (50 years+) who identify along with their Ally & Friends Community. The group provides a support network for LGBTI+ residents aged 50+ to connect in a safe and inclusive space, reduce social isolation and loneliness, build friendships, share stories/information and provide education where needed.  

IDAHOBIT Day

Celebrated on 17 May each year, IDAHOBIT Day (International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Interphobia & Transphobia) celebrates LGBTIQA+ people around the world and acknowledges the work that still needs to be done to ensure true inclusion and acceptance within the community.

In May 2015, Council made a commitment to acknowledge the LGBTIAQ+ community by raising the rainbow flag for a week each year in recognition of IDAHOBIT Day.

Signing the No to Homophobia campaign

At a Council Meeting on Monday 16 February 2015, Council signed the No to Homophobia campaign, a State wide, online campaign that sends a message to all Australians that homophobic, transphobic and biphobic harassment is never acceptable.

By signing the campaign, Council as an organisation has taken the pledge to stand up against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia.

• 1800RESPECT
  Confidential information, counselling and support service.
  Phone: 1800 737 732

• InterLink
  InterLink brings people together to talk about living with innate variations in sex characteristics with the support of trained counsellors and intersex peer workers
  Phone: 07 3017 1724

• Lifeline
  National charity providing all Australians experiencing emotional distress with access to 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.
  Phone: 13 11 14

• MindOut!
  The first national project of its kind, is funded by the Commonwealth Government to work with LGBTI organisations and mainstream mental health organisations to improve mental health and suicide prevention outcomes for LGBTI people and populations.

• Minus18
  Australia's largest support network for gay, bisexual, lesbian and trans teenagers from all over Australia

• Monash Health Gender Clinic
  The Monash Health Gender Clinic is the specialist public health service for the Trans, Gender Diverse and Non-Binary community in Victoria. All referrals must now be forwarded by Secure eReferral by HealthLink.

• National LGBTI Health Alliance
  National peak health organisation in Australia for organisations and individuals that provide health-related programs, services and research focused on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people (LGBTI) and other sexuality, gender, and bodily diverse people and communities.

• Parents of Gender Diverse Children
  Parents of Gender Diverse Children gives a voice to parents and those parenting transgender and gender diverse children.
  Phone: 03 9663 6733

• qheadspace
  If you identify as, are questioning or are interested in learning about trans and gender diversity and/or sexuality join the qheadspace community to discuss all things LGBTQIA+

• Queerspace
  For community, by community. Counselling. Case management. Advocacy. Research. Training. Professional development. Consultancy.
  Phone: 03 9663 6733

• QLife
  QLife provides anonymous and free LGBTIQ+ peer support and referral for people in Australia wanting to talk about sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships.
  Phone: 1800 184 527

• Rainbow Door
  A free, specialist LGBTIQA+ helpline. Experienced peers provide information, referral, and support to enable LGBTIQA+ people, their friends, and their families to navigate the system and access the supports they need within a safe environment.
  Phone: 1800 729 367
  Text: 0480 017 246
  Email: support@rainbowdoor.org.au

• Rainbow Health Victoria
  Supports LGBTIQA+ health and wellbeing through research and knowledge translation, training, policy advice and service accreditation.

• Safe Steps
  Victoria’s 24/7 family violence response centre.
  Phone: 1800 015 188

• Silver Rainbow LGBTI Ageing & Aged Care
  National coordination and support activities promoting the wellbeing of LGBTI elders and the ongoing delivery of the LGBTI awareness training to the aged care sector.

• Thorne Harbour Health
  A LGBTIQ+ community-controlled organisation governed by its members that works for people living with HIV as well as our sex, sexuality & gender diverse communities.
  Phone: 03 9865 6700

• Val’s LGBTI Ageing & Aged Care
  Val’s LGBTI Ageing and Aged Care works with aged care, health and human services providers and a range of community stakeholders to improve the health, wellbeing and visibility of older LGBTI people.

• Wingmen
  Wingmen supports gay men to feel confident about helping each other in tough times and is committed to reducing the impacts of depression, anxiety and suicide in the LGBTI communities.

• With Respect
  Provides resources, tips and advice for LGBTIQ+ people on having and maintaining healthy relationships. We also provide support for LGBTIQ+ people of all ages and their families experiencing difficulty in their relationships, including family violence.
  Phone: 1800 542 847

• Equality Australia
  Equality Australia use legal, policy and communications expertise - backed by the people power of our community - to achieve equality for LGBTIQ+ people

• Equal Sports
  A campaign by Maroondah Youth Services advocating for safe and inclusive sporting clubs.

• Glossary of terms
  Glossary of common terms and inclusive language.

• Intersex Human Rights Australia
  A national charity by and for people with innate variations of sex characteristics that promotes health, human rights and bodily autonomy.

• Minus 18
  Australia's charity improving the lives of LGBTQIA+ young people

• Rainbow Network
  Empowering services to provide inclusive support for LBGTIQA+ Victorians

• Victorian Pride Centre
  The Victorian Pride Centre is the first purpose-built centre for Australia's LGBTIQ+ communities. The Centre serves as a hub for LGBTIQ+ groups and organisations to share ideas and resources and to further their work in supporting equality, diversity and inclusion across the state.

• What are pronouns?
  This 5 minute video explains what a pronoun is, how to respectfully ask someone’s pronoun and how to use them inclusively.