This article on ABC Everyday provides a comprehensive list of national and state-based support services relevant to LGBTQIA+ people, their families, and friends in Australia. These services offer crucial assistance, especially considering the additional mental stress faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals due to stigma, discrimination, and abuse. Click here to visit this resourceful article.
National Support Services
Qlife — Australia-wide anonymous and free LGBTI peer support for people wanting to talk about sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships. Call 1800 184 527 or webchat at qlife.org.au (3pm-12am AEST).
Minus 18 — Resources help and guidance for Australia’s LGBTIQ youth.
LGBTIQA+ Health Australia — The national peak health organisation in Australia for organisations and individuals that provide health-related programs, services and research focused on LGBTIQA+ people and communities.
Black Rainbow — Australia’s leading Indigenous suicide prevention and mental health support source for LGBTQ+ people.
PFLAG Australia — A national organisation that supports parents and families of LGBTQIA+ children of all ages.
Trans Pride Australia — Social and support group for trans and gender diverse people and their loved ones.
Transcend Australia — National peer support network and community for parents and carers supporting their trans, gender diverse and non-binary child in Australia.
Intersex Peer Support — An intersex peer support, information and advocacy group for people born with variations in sex characteristics.
Intersex Human Rights Australia — Support and education by and for people with intersex variation traits.
Australian Asexuals — A place to connect with the Australian asexual community and find out more about asexuality.
Headspace — Australia-wide online, phone and in-person support and counselling to young people, their families and friends. Call 1800 650 890 (9am-1am).
ReachOut — ReachOut.com helps under 25s with everyday questions through to tough times.
Beyond Blue — Beyond Blue works with the community to improve mental health and prevent suicide, so that all people in Australia can achieve their best possible mental health.1300 22 4636
Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council — A national body that advocates for the rights of multicultural and multifaith LGBTIQ individuals and communities.
BlaQ – Committed to empowering the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQ+ community across Australia through innovation, inclusion, understanding and advocacy.
The Pinnacle Foundation — Provides educational scholarships, mentoring and opportunities for young LGBTIQA+ Australians to realise their full potential and overcome challenges arising from their identity.
Out For Australia — A volunteer-run organisation that provides role models, mentors, events and support to aspiring LGBTIQA+ professionals.
Pride In Law — A national LGBTIQA+ Law Association aimed at connecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer and questioning (LGBTIQA+) members of the legal community and their allies.
Victorian Support Services
Bi Alliance Victoria — promotes the acceptance of bi+ people
Melbourne Bisexual Network – mental health and advocacy professionals
Monash Gender Clinic – specialist public health service for the trans, gender diverse and non-binary community
Parents of Gender Diverse Children – provides peer support to parents and those parenting trans and gender diverse children
Pride Disability Services – tailored and specialised disability support services
Queer Refugee and Asylum Seeker Peers – social support group for LGBTIQA+ refugees and people seeking asylum
Queerspace – focuses on relationships, families, parenting and young people
Rainbow Door – a free specialist helpline for LGBTIQA+ Victorians, their friends and family
Spectrum Intersections – for people 18+ who identify as neuro-diverse and are on the LGBTIQA+ spectrums
Switchboard – anonymous and free telephone counselling, information and referrals
The Shed – a Melbourne based support group for trans masculine people
Thorne Harbour Health – for people living with HIV, and sex, sexuality and gender diverse communities
Transgender Victoria – for trans and gender diverse advocacy, training and resource development in Victoria
Zoe Belle Gender Collective – online service supporting the health and wellbeing of Victoria’s sexuality and gender diverse community