What We Do
We are committed to helping end domestic violence in LGBTQ communities through our awareness campaigns, education programs and reducing barriers to reporting abuse and accessing support.Awareness
The LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Day, held annually on 28 May, raises global awareness about the prevalence and challenges of domestic, family and intimate partner violence and abuse in LGBTQ+ communities.
It is the only day like it in the world, helping to increase visibility, start conversations, and break down barriers in a bid to end violence and abuse within LGBTQ+ communities.
#SeenAndBelieved
“I want you to know that your speech today impacted me deeply. As someone who has just recently left an abusive same-sex relationship, your words were extremely powerful. They gave me the strength to recognise that what I experienced was abuse and that I shouldn’t underplay that. It also helped me in a way to heal. So thank you for sharing what I can only imagine is a deeply personal and painful story with others to help bring awareness, hope and healing.”
Domestic Violence Survivor
Education
Education is crucial if we are to succeed in ending domestic and family violence. There is a need for LGBTQ+ specific domestic and family violence education to reduce the barriers to reporting, and to address low rates of reporting and support seeking from victim-survivors.
It is essential that organisations and individuals better understand the unique needs of LGBTQ+ people and tactics of abuse used in LGBTQ+ relationships, to reduce the barriers that prevent victim-survivors from identifying and reporting abuse in their relationships and seeking support.
We are working to develop educational resources for frontline workers, domestic and family violence support services, workplaces, and the broader community to help support them to better understand how they can ensure LGBTQ+ people are safely supported if they experience domestic or family violence.
“Thank you for talking about the violence that’s happening in the LGBTQ+ community. I know we don’t talk about it but as someone who has experienced it and kept thinking I couldn’t really report it because I hadn’t heard about abuse in same-sex relationships, I know this video will empower people to speak up. Good on you.”
Domestic Violence Survivor
Support
Reducing the barriers to reporting violence and accessing support services, plus creating safe and inclusive experiences for LGBTQ+ domestic and family violence victims and survivors is an integral part of the work we do.
Whilst most support services continue to assist people based on their gender and sexuality, LGBTQ+ people will remain at a greater risk of failing to engage with support services and police. This will leave them at a higher risk of abuse and violence without early identification and intervention.
To ensure that all victims gain safe and equal access to support, the Foundation works with state and federal governments, support services, frontline workers and corporate organisations to increase awareness and improve safe and inclusive support.
