Palliative Care Toolkit

At Barwon Health we recognise that members of the LGBTIQA+ community and their biological and chosen families have unique needs. Our team is here to support you. We have also provided the below resources for organisations who specialise in working with the LGBTIQ+ community.

Companionship Support

Barwon Health Volunteer Program

Volunteers who identify as members of the LGBTIQA+ community are available to provide companionship and respite support. Additionally, carefully selected volunteers who identify as allies are also available to support.

Contact Jen Walsh, the LGBTIQA+ Inclusive Practice Project Officer on 4215 5700.

Out & About

“Out & About is a free program of Switchboard Victoria especially for older lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or intersex (LGBTI) people. We aim to reduce social isolation and loneliness through creating peer friendships and community connections. Our service can be used by LGBTI seniors anywhere in Victoria.

Out & About facilitates friendship between LGBTI seniors and peer volunteer visitors. Our experienced staff match participants and volunteers based on shared interests and hobbies, and support both people to stay engaged and connected over time. We facilitate regular fortnightly catch ups for mutually enjoyable activities or hobbies, such as chatting over the phone, having coffee or tea at home or in a cafe, going for walks, seeing films, attending LGBTI community events and much more. Our service is friendly, caring and supportive. Please note Out & About is strictly not a dating or sexual service.

We welcome all eligible people to use our service, but especially encourage referrals from those who find it hard to leave the house, who live with disability and / or chronic health conditions including HIV or dementia, from people who access aged care services including residential aged care (nursing homes), live rurally or regionally, are trans or gender diverse, women, intersex, bisexual, Indigenous, multicultural or veterans.”

Website:http://www.switchboard.org.au/out-about/

Thorne Harbour Health

As our LGBTI communities continue to face physical distancing and similar restrictions in response to COVID-19, we're now offering a range of services to LGBTI communities throughout Victoria including peer support and assistance with food and/or housing issues.

Who's eligible: Any LGBTI people who are isolated or impacted by COVID-19 anywhere in Victoria.

What's on Offer:

• Someone to talk to
• Peer support (regular contact with a peer volunteer from the LGBTI community)
• Nutrition and Food Support
• Help with housing insecurity

Website: www.thorneharbour.org/covid19/covid19servicesupdate

Local Community Supports

Queerspace

Queerspace - for community, by community. Counselling. Case management. Advocacy. Research. Training. Professional development. Consultancy.

Wellways

Wellways is a not-for-profit mental health and disability support organisation with services spanning mental health, disability and community care, including specific support for LGBTIQ+ people. www.wellways.org.au

Koorie Pride

Koorie Pride Victoria helps build visibility, strength and connection for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander LGBTIQAS&B+ people across all of Victoria. https://www.kooriepridevic.org.au/

Silver Rainbow

The LGBTI Health 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.

We recognise that people’s genders, bodies, relationships and sexualities affect their health and wellbeing in every domain of their life.

Website: www.lgbtihealth.org.au/silver_rainbow

Alice’s Garage

Alice’s Garage is a social enterprise empowering LGBTI Elders. We strengthen the voices of LGBTI Elders, draw on their knowledge and skills to address the challenges they face and build communities where LGBTIphobia and ageism are addressed. Our purpose is to address the inequalities LGBTI Elders face related to ageism and the legacies of our LGBTIphobic histories. Our vision is to build a sense of Place, belonging and community connection for LGBTI Elders – and to inspire others to do the same. Alice’s Garage is part of the Celebrate Ageing Program, a social enterprise challenging ageism and building respect for older people.

Website: www.alicesgarage.net

Social Connection

Geelong Rainbow

Geelong Rainbow is dedicated to facilitating and empowering the G21 Region LGBTIQA+ community through the provision of support services, allied connections and social events.

Website: www.geelongrainbow.org.au

Piano Bar Geelong

Piano Bar has a long history of being an inclusive space for the rainbow community in Geelong. 

All the Queens Men

A free online dance platform to connect the rainbow and allied community during these turbulent times. All welcome, all over the world! (all ages and abilities welcome)

Website: www.allthequeensmen.net/projects/digital-dance-club