Who We Are
We are a strong voice for LGBTQ domestic violence victims and survivors, working to end domestic, family and intimate partner violence and abuse within LGBTQ communities.Our Story
The LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Foundation is a charity comprised of a collective of passionate volunteers, desperate to shine a light on an epidemic that’s been plaguing LGBTQ+ communities for far too long.
Although limited, research has indicated that over 60% of LGBTQ+ people have experienced domestic, family and intimate partner violence. This needs to change! On top of that, there is a fundamental lack of awareness, representation and understanding that this abuse is so prevalent. Because of this, LGBTQ+ people feel unseen and often have limited resources to draw from to get help.
It is the ambition of LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Foundation to confront these issues and to advocate for necessary changes in both the visibility of LGBTQ+ people’s experiences and the quality of response they receive when reaching out for help. We aim to create change and bring greater awareness to the issues to ensure that all people no matter their sexuality or gender identity can feel seen and believed and receive safe and inclusive support.
To ensure that every victim’s voice was heard, in 2020 with the assistance of DVConnect, Ben Bjarnesen and Beck O’Connor established the inaugural LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Day to raise awareness of Domestic and Family Violence in LGBTQ+ communities in Queensland, Australia. The campaign quickly gained support both within Australia and overseas with many high-profile figures showing their support for the day including Former Governor-General of Australia, The Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO and the Prime Minister of Australia.
After the success of the 2020 campaign, Ben went on to establish the LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Foundation.
“Thank you for getting the word out there about domestic violence in gay relationships. I was in an abusive relationship many years ago but I didn’t realise it was that until I heard you speak and reflected on that relationship. Thank you for opening my eyes to this issue and no doubt you are doing the same for many others. It makes me shudder sometimes when I now think that I just suffered through the relationship not knowing what was happening at the time.”
Domestic Violence Survivor
Meet Our Board
Thanks must go to our board members for their incredible support and for volunteering their time to make LGBTQ+ communities safer for everyone.
Ben Bjarnesen BM
Founder and Managing Director
Ben Bjarnesen is a passionate educator, campaigner and speaker who believes that all people, no matter what their sexuality or gender identity, deserve the right to live free from domestic violence and abuse. In 2020, he founded the LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Day and has worked tirelessly to raise awareness and stamp out domestic violence in LGBTQ+ communities.
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Ben is a Board Directors for DVConnect Ltd, and volunteers as the Regional Coordinator of the Queensland Police Service LGBTIQ+ Liaison Officer Program. He became a fierce advocate for improved services for LGBTQ+ victims and survivors of domestic and family violence after he experienced abuse within a same-sex relationship and discovered a huge gap in services.
A 2016 Churchill Fellow, Ben travelled to the USA, Canada, UK and the Netherlands where he discovered best practice solutions for Police Departments to enhance the way they respond to domestic violence in LGBTQ+ communities and the critical need for LGBTQ+ inclusive support services. He has since been actively involved in advising government and non-government organisations internationally on a range of initiatives designed to improve service delivery to LGBTQ+ communities.
In 2023 he was appointed to the Queensland Government Domestic & Family Violence Prevention Council by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and in 2024 was appointed to the Domestic and Family Violence Death Review Advisory Board by Attorney General Yvette D’Ath.
Ben is an awarded educator and campaigner. In 2020 he had the honour of being inducted into the Queensland Government Domestic & Family Violence Prevention Honour Roll. He was also named a ‘Human Rights Hero’ by the Australian Human Rights Commission and one of Australia’s Outstanding 50 LGBTI+ Leaders by Deloitte, Google.
Most recently he was named as one of the four Queensland nominees for the 2024 Australian of the Year Awards.
Luke McIlroy-Ranga
Deputy Chair
A trusted strategist within Australasian and North American markets, Luke has advised on diversity and inclusion at all levels of government.
He has spearheaded several impact ventures, and led the reshaping of traditional policy and practice within the private sector, to aid in solving some of society’s toughest social and environmental issues.
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After a decade within financial services, Luke co-founded a global Indigenous procurement consultancy in 2015, and more recently has worked within some of Australia’s most remote communities to establish economic sustainability models. He currently serves in several board and advisory roles, and lecturers with the University of Sydney’s Business School.
Luke’s unique background within corporate leadership, entrepreneurial venture and community development affords him the ability to effectively navigate boardrooms, organisations and diverse population groups through alternative engagement methodologies and communication styles.
Originally from Aotearoa (New Zealand), Luke’s whānau background is of Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Toa and European descent.
Macushla Londeman
Company Secretary
Macushla is a human resources professional who enjoys leading diverse teams and focussing on creating psychologically safe and inclusive workplaces.
Having spent the last 14 years working for various international organisations in Europe and Asia, she is very happy to have returned home to Australia to take up a role with the federal government.
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Macushla has always enjoyed volunteering that has a genuine impact, from not-for-profit start-ups to sporting clubs. As a proud LGBTQIA+ ally and member of her employer’s Pride Network, Macushla is keen to contribute to the Foundation’s mission.
Sue Webeck
Director
Sue Webeck is the CEO of the Domestic Violence Crisis Service in the ACT, she is a LGBTIQA+ community advocate. She has been working in the community sector and aligned violence response and primary prevention spaces for over 20 years.
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Sue has worked in LGBTIQA+ service delivery organisations and has an intersecting practice and advocacy focus around prevention and response to domestic and sexual violence in LGBTIQA+ communities. Sue works to ensure an intersectional understanding is centred in policy reform, legislative reform and service deliver so that all members of our community have equitable access to living a life free from violence. Sue participates in ACT Government advisory councils, national advocacy networks as well as volunteering on community boards hoping to support a robust service sector which can respond to the needs of our diverse community.
Sue is a deeply committed Canberran working in the pursuit of making our community safer and more respectful for all.
Jarrod Lomas
Director
Jarrod has forged a successful career in politics, marketing, and communications, holding a Bachelor of Commerce, and has served at the highest levels of Federal Government.
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Most recently he was Chief of Staff to the former Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians, and is regularly employed as a senior political campaign strategist across the country.
With a diverse career background, including professional work for non-government organisations, Jarrod utilises his skills and experience in grassroots organising, communications and stakeholder engagement to support and promote Sydney-based and national organisations advancing the interests of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Jarrod’s passionate about increasing visibility for the LGBTQIA+ community, creating the environment for important conversations to take place around issues facing our community and empowering people to be their authentic selves in their workplace, schools and community.
Jacque Lachmund
Director
Jacque is a survivor of domestic and family violence, a champion for change and brings a lived workplace experience to the table.
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Jacque has gained in-depth knowledge and experience in workplace prevention and is passionate about supporting workplaces and communities to be part of the change.
Jacque brings to the table extensive experience developing and delivering workplace DFV programs to both the public sector and private organisations. Jacque is dedicated to educating and supporting businesses to make workplaces safer environments, where conversations about DFV can take place, without creating further stigma, shame, and fear.
Jacque’s is a Co-Director of Workplace Respect, was appointed to the QLD Government’s Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Council in March 2023.
Brayden White
Director
Brayden is an experienced finance and corporate management professional with a background across both the Non-Profit and For-Profit environments.
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Brayden is extremely passionate about supporting for-purpose organisations, and their Directors, in developing strategies that foster commercial viability, financial longevity and strategy, holistically and ethically.
However, Brayden is even more passionate about supporting the uplift of the LGBTQ community, the communities rightful place as equals in community development, and it’s firm relationship to social progression.
Since being an early professional in Financial and Corporate services, Brayden has developed and driven successful financial strategies for organisations across a wide range of industries in managing their Government funded contracts and financial models.
State Coordinators
Katsu Shike
Queensland
Lena Mountford
New South Wales
Dan Magnussen
Australian Capital Territory
Jo Read
Victoria
Serena Pantano
South Australia
Heather Preston
Western Australia
Jermaine Ostrofski
Northern Territory
Heidi Duffey
Tasmania
Patrons
The Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO
The Honourable Dame Quentin Bryce AD CVO was born in Brisbane in 1942 and spent her early years in Ilfracombe, a small town in Central Western Queensland. In 1965, she graduated with the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from The University of Queensland and, in the same year, was admitted to the Queensland Bar. She has since enjoyed a rich and distinguished career as an academic, lawyer, community and human rights advocate, senior public officer, university college principal, and vice-regal representative in Queensland, and now Australia.
Dame Quentin became a Patron for the LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Foundation in 2020.
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Quentin Bryce’s contribution to advancing human rights and equality, the rights of women and children, and the welfare of the family was recognised in her appointment as an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1988 and a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2003. Also in 2003, she was invested as a Dame of Grace of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem. On 25 March 2014, Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced that Ms Bryce had become a Dame in the Order of Australia.
Ms Bryce was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by Macquarie University (New South Wales) in 1998, an Honorary Doctorate of Letters by Charles Sturt University (New South Wales) in 2002, and an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by The University of Queensland in 2006.
She was conferred with the degrees of Honorary Doctor of the University by Griffith University (Queensland) in 2003, Queensland University of Technology in 2004 and an Honorary Doctorate from James Cook University in 2008.
In 2010 Ms Bryce received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws, Sydney University, and an Honorary Doctorate of Letters, University of Western Sydney in 2012. In 2013 she was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate of Laws, Melbourne University.
In her civic role as Governor of Queensland, Ms Bryce continued her work with women, families and young people while extending her influence across the State’s broad and diverse spectrum, including the rural, regional, aged, indigenous, migrant, and disability sectors.
As a mother and grandmother, Ms Bryce is a role model and mentor to women at every stage of their lives. She values and encourages women’s capacity to form strong and enduring bonds of friendship, intellectual and emotional enrichment, and mutual support in their roles within the family, workplace and community.
On 5 September 2008 Quentin Bryce was sworn in as Australia’s twenty-fifth Governor-General. As the first woman to take up the office, she remains a pioneer in contemporary Australian society, and yet one who brings more than forty years of experience in reform, community building and leadership to the role.
Commissioner
Beck O’Connor
Before becoming Victims’ Commissioner, Beck was Chief Executive Officer for DVConnect, Queensland’s state-wide domestic and family violence crisis response service, sexual assault helpline, MensLine and forensic support service. In 2022, Beck also led the implementation of VictimConnect, a 24/7 state-wide support service for victims of violent crime.
In recognition of Beck’s expertise and lived experience as a victim of crime, she was appointed Co-Chair of Qld’s Independent Ministerial Advisory Council. Beck is also a founding member of the National Lived Experience Advisory Council for the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission.
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Through Beck’s work with both the Council and the Commission, she has ensured that victim-survivors’ perspectives are integral to both the Queensland and Commonwealth Government’s strategy to combat violence.
Beck’s dedication to enhancing visibility and support for LGBTQ+ victim-survivors, led her to co-found the international LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Day, and where she also served as Deputy Managing-Director.
As Queensland’s first Victims’ Commissioner, Beck supports the recovery, justice, and dignity of all people impacted by crime, through strong partnerships with community groups, government agencies, and cultural leaders.
Commissioner
Ro Allen
With 25 years’ experience in community services, governance and social justice, Ro Allen has a deep commitment to equality and a broad experience in strategic advocacy. As Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner, Ro works to uphold Victorians’ rights, promote accountability and to build a fairer, safer and more inclusive community.
Prior to joining the Commission, Ro held a wide range of leadership roles including serving as the inaugural Victorian Commissioner for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Gender Diverse, Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ+) Communities. In this role, Ro worked tirelessly to promote the safety and wellbeing of LGBTIQ+ Victorians, advocate for their rights, and provide strategic advice to the Victorian Government.
Commissioner
Todd Fernando
Dr Todd Fernando is a seasoned policy strategist, researcher, consultant, and sought-after public speaker. With expertise spanning academia, government, and community development, he brings a dynamic and strategic approach to complex societal challenges.
As NSW Treaty Commissioner, Dr Fernando is leading state-wide consultations with Aboriginal communities to design a treaty and agreement-making framework. A Senior Research Fellow specialising in kinship and masculinities, he applies a deeply analytical and intersectional lens to his work, driving innovative and transformative solutions. His leadership in primary health, violence prevention, LGBTIQ+ rights, and First Nations advocacy demonstrates a proven ability to deliver impactful outcomes and build equitable systems that serve diverse communities.
Ambassadors
Our ambassadors play an important role in promoting the LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Day and the Foundation’s work through their networks and communities.
Urzila Carlson
Multi Award-Winning Comedian, Best-Selling Author
Dustin Lance Black
Academy Award® Winning Filmmaker, Writer, and Social Activist
Deena Lynch
Multi-Faceted Creative Storyteller
Steve Pennells
Award-Winning Journalist
Ali Brigginshaw
Captain, Australian Jillaroos
Ben Cohen MBE
Rugby World Cup Winner and Activist
James Barr
Award-Winning Comedian and Podcaster
Vollie LaVont
Drag Icon
Ryan Johnson
Actor
Corporate Partners
Our fabulous corporate partners make an incredible difference to our ability to raise awareness and provide education and support to help end domestic and family violence in LGBTQ+ communities.
