Whether you need some resources to read in your own time, a one-on-one phone call or coffee catch-up, to be a part of a community meet up, or something else… our LGBTIQA+ Support Network are there to help you in any way possible, including support or advice with:

• questioning your own sexuality or gender
• transitioning at work
• having difficulties within your workplace with regards to your own sexuality or gender identity
• starting a parenting journey via IVF either alone or with a same sex partner
• facing discrimination or barriers to inclusion in your workplace
• supporting a friend, family member or child in relation to any difficulties they may be facing with regard to their sexuality or gender identity.

Who Are We?

The LGBTIQA+ Support Network is a community of passionate Tasmanians who embrace diversity in all its forms, and work together to ensure that the culture across DPFEM and Ambulance Tasmania is safe, supportive and inclusive for all. Our community includes members who identify as LGBTIQA+ and allies.

We believe that our already inclusive organisations can always improve, and it takes a proactive approach to shape the inclusive culture that our organisations promote. We want everyone to feel safe to be themselves at work, feel respected, contribute to organisational goals and be valued for their contributions.

Sometimes, particularly for LGBTIQA+ people, it is hard to feel physically and psychologically safe at work, or even at home. This is why we are committed to providing support to anyone who needs it, and while we're at it, create a collaborative community across all of our organisations! Our community is always expanding – and consists of members from:

• Tasmania Police Service
• Tasmania Fire Service
• Forensic Science Service Tasmania
• State Emergency Services
• Tasmania Ambulance Service

The LGBTIQA+ Support Network provides support to anyone who needs it, including on a casual and social level. Everyone in our community is welcome, and encouraged to arrange get-togethers whenever possible, so that we can all extend our own personal network and make meaningful connections across DPFEM/Ambulance Tasmania. New members are always welcome, and we'd love you to be a part of it! If you’d like to chat to someone first about the Network and what it's like to be a member, feel free to reach out to a current member from your own organisation, or take the first step in making a new friend and contact someone from another service!

Our objectives are to:

• offer one-on-one peer support for DPFEM/Tas Ambulance members
• be visible allies within your workplace/s
• maintain contemporary training and knowledge of what is important to you
• provide reference material, general information and education
• promote inclusive language throughout DPFEM/Ambulance Tasmania
• identify ongoing barriers to inclusion for LGBTIQA+ members within DPFEM/Ambulance Tasmania and overcome them.

Why Do We Need A Support Network?

Approximately 2.7% of Tasmanians over the age of 18 identify as not being heterosexual - which is just below the national average of 3% (Australian Population Studies 2018, based on ABS data, 2016).

We do not have statistics on the percentage of the youth population who identify as LBGTIQA+ in Tasmania or Australia, or specific statistics in relation to gender diverse or transgender Australians, but what we do know is that:

• LGBTIQA+ people are your colleagues, friends, family and neighbours
• it was only in 1997 that homosexuality was decriminalised in Tasmania - and only five years ago that marriage equality was legalised in Australia
• stigma from before these not-so-distant legal reforms occurred still negatively impacts people’s lives, and discrimination, homophobia and transphobia are still experienced by LGBTIQA+ Australians today - and internalised homophobia can play a part in the decline of mental wellbeing due to this history of stigma
• compared to the general population, LGBTIQA+ people are more likely to attempt suicide in their lifetime - transgender people are nearly eleven times more likely to attempt suicide in their lifetime compared to the general population in Australia (National LBGTI Health Alliance, 2020)
• sometimes members of the LGBTIQA+ community need additional support to feel physically and psychologically safe at work
• members of DPFEM/Ambulance Tasmania are also LGBTIQA+ people and we want to support each other both inside and outside of work.

How Can I Get Support?

If you need support, please contact the LGBTIQA+ Support Network by emailing: lgbtiqa.support.network@dpfem.tas.gov.au

You can also contact one of our Network Support members directly if you feel comfortable doing this and they can provide you with advice.

If your need urgent support, please contact Wellbeing Support Services on 24-hour emergency support number 03 6173 2873

How Can I Join?

If you are a like-minded individual with similar values and a desire to help and support others... we would love to hear from you! Come and join our Network and be part of our community! The more different voices and perspectives that we have in this Network, the better! (As it means we can offer more diverse support to others - hooray!).

Simply email lgbtiqa.support.network@dpfem.tas.gov.au to express your interest, and one of our Network members will get back to you within 7 working days

Upcoming Events

Meetings

The LGBTIQA+ Support Network aims to meet every six months where members will discuss any issues that they have identified in their work areas or any barriers to inclusion for LGBTIQA+ members in our departments. Network members will utilise these meetings to work together and come up with solutions to continually improve our already inclusive organisations. We will also use these meetings to reflect on the Support Network and identify any areas that we can improve.

Family Days

We hold semi-regular family days where everyone is welcome to meet up at a local park and bring their families along. This helps to create a real sense of community and have casual and inclusive get-togethers where everyone, including allies, is welcome. If you want to plan a social event of your own, whether it is a last minute catch up at the local park, a fundraiser for a specific cause, or something else, you are more than welcome to initiate a meet up. You can contact the whole Support Network by emailing lgbtiqa.support.network@dpfem.tas.gov.au and inviting them along.

Important Dates

Some of the key dates for official events in the Network calendar include:

• Tas Pride (February)
• International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOT) (May)
• Wear it Purple Day (August)
• National Coming Out Day (October)
• Trans Awareness Week (November)

What does LGBTIQA+ stand for?

For more resources and external support services click here