Authored by: Dr Cal Andrews and Dr Ruth McNair AM. Suggested citation: Andrews, C. and R. McNair. 2020. LGBTIQ+ Inclusive Practice Guide for Homelessness and Housing Sectors in Australia. Melbourne: University of Melbourne.

© Andrews, C & McNair, R University of Melbourne; and National LGBTI Health Alliance, 2020.

Design and layout: Simone Frances Geary, simonefrancesgeary.com

Online design and project administration: Timothy Kariotis

We respectfully acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which this work has taken place, and we pay respects to the Elders past, present, and emerging.

Forward

The National LGBTI Health Alliance (the Alliance) is the 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. The Alliance recognises that people’s genders, bodies, relationships, and sexualities affect their health and wellbeing in every domain of their life, and has a vision for our communities to live healthy lives, free from stigma and discrimination.

Contributing to the development of the LGBTIQ+ Inclusive Practice Guide for Homelessness and Housing Sectors in Australia has been important for the Alliance. We know that our communities experience significantly higher rates of homelessness as well as other health and wellbeing disparities, and it is vital that the homelessness and housing sectors across Australia are equipped to provide culturally safe services. The following guide is a rich resource that will enable the sectors to upskill and be more confident in working with our communities. They will assist in working towards our ultimate goal - that wherever our communities access services, there are no wrong doors and that every service is culturally safe. We congratulate the reference groups, the authors, and everyone involved in the development of this guide.

Nicky Bath, Executive Director National LGBTI Health Alliance

Acknowledgement

This guide was developed through consultation with two reference groups spanning all states and territories, including experts within the LGBTIQ+ community, and experts from the housing and homelessness sectors. The depth and reach of this guide attests to the great wealth of knowledge, expertise, and commitment among the 48 people who contributed. The authors sincerely appreciate the significant contribution and support of every person involved. Those who wished to be acknowledged are listed below.

• Michael Byrne, NT Shelter

• Sue Carlile, Family Access Network

• Pattie Chugg, Shelter TAS

• Daniel Comensoli, National LGBTI Health Alliance

• Teddy Cook, ACON

• Belinda Cox, Brisbane Domestic Violence Service – Micah Projects

• Susan Ditter

• Philippa Dixon, Tasmania Council of Social Service (TasCOSS)

• Susan Farrar, Twenty10

• Trish Hackney-Westmore, Council to Homeless Persons

• Andrew Hall, Perth Inner City Youth Service (PICYS)

• Wendy Hayhurst, Community Housing Industry Association

• Thanuja Hiripitiyage, ac.care

• Homelessness NSW

• Katie Ho, Justice Connect

• Rebecca Howe

• Victorya Jenkinson, YWCA Canberra

• Pam Kennedy, Rainbow Health Victoria

• Jordi Kerr, Family Access Network

• Dan Laws, Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA)

• LGBTQIA+ Community of Practice

• Crystal Love

• Peter Low, Intersex Human Rights Australia (IHRA)

• Michelle Mackenzie, Shelter WA

• Esther Joy Montgomery, BULLABUNNA Rainbow Alliance Australia

• Matthew Morris, Uniting Communities

• Chris Pickard, Open Doors Youth Service Inc.

• Bobuq Sayed

• Kai Schweizer, Youth Affairs Council of Western Australia

• Cody Smith, A Gender Agenda

• Jenny Smith, Council to Homeless Persons

• Starlady, Zoe Belle Gender Collective

• Budi Sudarto, Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council (AGMC Inc.)

• Michelle Thompson, Family Access Network

• Zed Tintor, National LGBTI Health Alliance

• Claudia Validum, Thorne Harbour Health

• Peter Waples-Crowe, Thorne Harbour Health

• Alice Worrall, Junction

• Dani Wright Toussaint, Perth Inner City Youth Service (PICYS).

In addition to the generous input from those on our reference groups, the framework has been informed by the Rainbow Tick Standards for LGBTI-inclusive practice established by GLHV@ARCSHS in Victoria, and other best practice models and reports from Australia and overseas. We would like to acknowledge, furthermore, that this guide has benefitted from the input of many workshop participants at the 2017 Victorian Homelessness Conference, the 2017 YACVic Conference, and the national Health in Difference Conference in 2018.

We express gratitude to our funders, the National LGBTI Health Alliance, and Pride Foundation Australia. Many thanks to Tim Kariotis for his administrative support and other assistance.

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