Seeking support: A list of LGBTQ support services in Australia
Despite our best efforts, life’s not all fun and games. When things get tough, there’s no shame in asking for help.
We want to make sure you’re taken care of — that’s why we’ve compiled this list of LGBTQ-friendly services where you can find the support you need.
Explore support services for mental health, alcohol and drug use, family violence, gender diversity, and peer navigation. To make things easy, we’ve organised resources by category and location.
Urgent Help
National
Lifeline: A national hotline providing 24/7 crisis support. Please call 13 11 14.
Emergency: 000.
Beyond Blue: A free mental health line and online brief counselling service is open 24/7 for everyone in Australia.
13 YARN: a 24/7 crisis support line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Please call 13 92 76.
LGBTQ Mental Health Services
National
QLife: A peer support service for LGBTIQ+ people and their loved ones wanting to talk about a range of issues including sexuality, gender, bodies, feelings, or relationships. Call 1800 184 527 or use webchat for support every day between 3:00 pm and midnight. Outside of these hours please call Lifeline or 000 for urgent help.
New South Wales
Pride Counselling: A counselling service offered by ACON in NSW.
Community Care: ACON’s free and confidential support service for LGBTQ people living in particular circumstances.
HERE: ACON’s digital suicide prevention hub, sharing resources for LGBTQ people and their loved ones.
Victoria
Thorne Harbour Health Counselling: A counselling service operated by Thorne Harbour Health.
Thorne Harbour Health Therapeutic Groups: Weekly groups facilitated by professional counsellors or psychotherapists and focused on themes such as anxiety or AOD use.
Queerspace: A health and wellbeing support service established by LGBTQ communities for LGBTQ communities.
Better Pride: A service by Better Place Australia offering counselling and mental health support for LGBTQ folks.
Bent Couch Counselling: In-person LGBTQ counselling in Melbourne or fortnightly queer and gay men’s online discussion group.
Queensland
QCGP+ Mental Health Services: A mental health team primarily providing counselling and mental health support to LGBTQ Sistergirls and Brotherboys over the age of 18.
Western Australia
WAAC Counselling Services: An LGBTIQA+ counselling service operated by the former Western Australian AIDS Council.
South Australia
Thorne Harbour Health Mental Health Service: Single-session counselling services followed by referral to peer support groups.
Australian Capital Territory
Meridian Wellbeing Services: A counselling service for LGBTQ folks by Meridian ACT that does not require a GP referral.
Tasmania
Working It Out: LGBTQ-specific support for individuals. A separate service also exists for families.
Northern Territory
NTAHC: A Northern Territory-based counselling service.
LGBTQ Peer Navigation and Support Services
National
GAMMA: A peer-run support group for men married to or partnered with women but coming to terms with same-sex attraction. Call 0429 379 482 or visit their website.
Dale: An online resource and community for men who are experiencing anxiety or depression while exploring their same sex attraction.
New South Wales
ACON Peer Groups and Workshops: ACON’s services for young gay men, Asian gay men, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Older LGBTI people, LGBTI people who use drugs, people living with HIV, trans & gender-diverse people, and intersex people.
BlaQ: a community organisation for Aboriginal Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer + Sistergirl and Brotherboy (LGBTQ+SB) Peoples and Communities in NSW
STARTTS: A not-for-profit organisation providing peer support groups for LGBTQ refugees and asylum seekers.
Victoria
Switchboard Victoria: A community-based, not-for-profit organisation that provides a peer support services for LGBTQ communities, allies, friends, support workers and families. Rainbow door is their free hotline for LGBTIQA+ Victorians. Call and text at 1800 729 367, or email support@rainbowdoor.org.au 10am-5pm daily. Translation services (including Auslan) available.
Thorne Harbour Health Peer Workshops: Workshops on topics such as self-esteem, representation, coming out, relationships, community, homophobia, biphobia & transphobia, HIV stigma, and general sexual health.
Queerspace: An LGBTQ health and wellbeing support service established by LGBTQ communities for LGBTQ communities with a focus on relationships, families, parenting and young people.
Transgender Victoria: An organisation providing peer navigation services and support groups for trans and gender-diverse folks.
The Shed: A Melbourne-based, peer support group for transmasculine people.
Queensland
Diverse Voices: A non-profit organisation offering peer-to-peer telephone and internet counselling.
Western Australia
Living Proud: An organisation providing support to LGBTQ people and communities in WA.
South Australia
SHINE SA: A list of support services and resources for sexually diverse people in South Australia.
SAMESH: Workshops for guys into guys aged 18-30. Peer support for guys recently diagnosed with HIV, and peer educators for informal chats about chemsex and meth use.
Thorne Harbour Health Mental Health Service: Single session counselling services followed by referral to peer support groups.
Gender Connect Country: SHINE SA’s service providing peer support for gender-diverse people in country SA.
Australian Capital Territory
Meridian: Peer-led groups and a support network for people living with HIV.
Diversity Hub: An LGBTQ safe space in Kambah, operated by Diversity ACT.
A Gender Agenda: A service providing peer support to TGD folks in Canberra and surrounding regions.
Northern Territory
Black Rainbow: an organisation dedicated to the positive health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQIA+SB people.
Trans and Gender Diverse (TGD) Support Services
New South Wales
The Gender Centre Inc: An organisation offering various services for trans and gender-diverse folks, including counselling and outreach support.
TransHub: ACON’s online informational centre for supporting TGD people with social, legal, and medical affirmation.
True Colours: Specialist Trans and Gender Diverse Health Service: provides holistic gender-affirming care to young people
Victoria
Transgender Victoria: An organisation providing peer navigation services and support groups for trans and gender-diverse folks.
The Shed: A Melbourne-based, peer support group for transmasculine people.
South Australia
Gender Connect Country: SHINE SA’s service providing peer support for gender-diverse people in country SA.
Australian Capital Territory
A Gender Agenda: A service providing peer support to TGD folks in Canberra and surrounding regions.
LGBTQ Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Support Services
New South Wales
Community Care: ACON’s free and confidential support service for LGBTQ people living in particular circumstances.
Victoria
Thorne Harbour Health Therapeutic Groups: Weekly groups facilitated by professional counsellors or psychotherapists and focused on themes such as anxiety or AOD use.
LGBTQ Family Violence Support Services
National
Say It Out Loud is ACON’s online, national resource for LGBTQ people experiencing domestic violence. The website includes a directory of state-based partners that can provide specialised help.
New South Wales
ACON: A community organisation helping LGBTQ+ people who have experienced domestic and family violence by providing a range of resources and support services.
Victoria
WithRespect: A specialist LGBTQ family violence service funded by the Victorian government and provided by Queerspace.
Queensland
DVConnect: An organisation supporting Queenslanders facing domestic abuse, with specialised crisis counsellors to assist the LGBTQ community.
LGBTQ Disability Support Services
Victoria
Pride Disability Services: Tailored and specialised disability support services for LGBTQ people in Melbourne.
Western Australia
SECCA: A not-for-profit organisation offering support and counselling to people with disabilities as they navigate relationships, sexuality, and sexual health.
Please note that this list is not exhaustive. Further resources are available on each organisation’s website.
If you represent an LGBTQ service provider and would like to be added to this list, contact us here.
Source: Emen8
Original Source here: LGBTQ support services in Australia: mental health, sexuality and gender | Emen8
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