Thorne Harbour Country

Transgender Victoria have created a survey for LGBTQIA+ Victorians who are 18+, to collect data on q***r experiences in the workplace with the aim to develop a toolkit to educate leaders on ways to reduce gendered violence against LGBTQIA+ people in the workplace.

Once the project is completed, you will have access to the toolkit as a free downloaded resource that you can find on the WorkSafe
website.

Together, let's create safer, more inclusive and celebratory spaces for us all!
..And go in the running to win a double pass to Unicorns - Mardi Party 2025?

Complete the survey here:
https://www.tgv.org.au/being-valued-survey

Thorne Harbour Country are excited to be joining the team bringing together an All-Gendered Fashion Parade and Pizza Party for Wear It Purple Day.

- Clothing Swap
- Makeup, hair styling, glitter and body paint
- Fashion runway
- Music
- Food
- Fun

This is an all-ages, safe, secure and inclusive space to experiment with your self-expression.

For more info and to register, visit:
https://www.yobendigo.com.au/whats-on/wear-it-purple-day-all-gender-fashion-parade-and-dance-party

On Thursday we held our monthly social group with a World Hepatitis Day Theme. We enjoyed playing Hepatitis Bingo and Trivia, some wonderful conversations and the opportunity to learn some tips to better manage Bills by speaking with the Thorne Harbour Health financial counsellor.

We look forward to seeing you at our next social group on 5th September. For more information and to register, visit: https://events.humanitix.com/thorne-harbour-country-or-monthly-inclusive-social-cuppa-or-5-sep-2024

If you are an LGBTQIA+ person who has lost someone to su***de, you can find support and connection with others at SASH. SASH has information, resources, and an online community forum for LGBTQIA+ people bereaved by su***de aged 18+ to connect with each other. Visit sash.org.au to find out more and join the community. We'll aim to have the SASH team visit us at our monthly coffee morning before the end of the year.

Sunday 28th July is World Hepatitis Day. A great reminder to take action and get tested.

Almost 300,000 people in Australia are living with hepatitis B or hepatitis C, putting them at increased risk of liver disease and liver cancer. They shouldn’t have to.
Hepatitis B has effective treatment and a vaccine.
Hepatitis C has a cure and is preventable.

For more information and resources, come along to the Thorne Harbour Country social group on Thursday 1st Aug.

https://events.humanitix.com/thorne-harbour-country-or-monthly-inclusive-social-cuppa-or-1-aug-2024

Struggling with your bills or looking for more options?
Come and chat with our financial counsellor on Thursday 1st Aug.

To book an appointment or for more information, contact:
[email protected]
or call 4400 9000

If you have high energy or water bills, you might be eligible for assistance. You could access reduced rates, concession prices, hardship programs, or grants to help with payments. Energy efficiency options can also help keep your home warm in winter and cool in summer without high costs.

Bring your bills and meet with our financial counsellor for a quick one-one session to learn about your rights and responsibilities and receive free, confidential advice.

To book an appointment or for more information, contact:
[email protected]
or call 4400 9000

Thursday 1st Aug
58 Mundy Street
Bendigo

*Stock image credit: Nicola Barts
Image description: Hand of a Person Holding a Bill with Past Due Stamp

Free screening of Equal the Contest

When a 42-year-old filmmaker joins a new local women’s footy club in Regional Victoria a simple desire to play becomes a complex journey of inclusion and belonging. An unexpected turn means the team has to fight to play. Their campaign challenges age old sporting traditions and joins the wider movement for gender equity.

Women's Health Loddon Mallee, City of Greater Bendigo, Sports Focus and Thorne Harbour Country warmly welcome you to join us for a free community screening of the Equal the Contest documentary in Bendigo.

For more information and to register, visit:
https://events.humanitix.com/equal-the-contest-documentary-screening-bendigo

MPox vaccinations are now available for Trans and Gender Diverse people at our 200 Hoddle St location.
For more information, visit: https://thorneharbour.org/sexual-health/mpox/

Two little pricks and you've got the best protection against mpox!

Here's our updated vaccination times and details, both at our 200 Hoddle St location:

📅 Thursday
🚨 WALK IN ONLY
⏲ 5 - 9 PM

📅 Saturday
🚨 APPOINTMENTS at thorneharbour.org/mpox
⏲ 9 AM - 3 PM

RAINBOW COMMUNITY ANGELS ARE COMING TO BENDIGO!

Register for the next training day in Bendigo on Saturday 3rd Aug:
https://events.humanitix.com/training-14-rainbow-community-angels-in-bendigo

Rainbow Community Angels have trained over 150+ volunteers around Victoria in the past 13 months. Angels have attended over 25 events across Victoria to welcome, shield and protect the local LGBTIQA+ communities who are organising, performing and attending these events.

LGBTIQA people and allies are invited to register attendance at this free training to learn how to take part in peaceful actions to support community safety at inclusive events like Drag Storytime, currently being targeted as part of a broader rise in transphobia and homophobia in Australia and beyond.

For more information and to register:
https://events.humanitix.com/training-14-rainbow-community-angels-in-bendigo

Not interested in becoming a Rainbow Community Angel, but would like to support the project? Visit the Go Fund Me page to make a donation:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-rainbow-community-angels

Training #14 Rainbow Community Angels in BENDIGO | Humanitix Get tickets on Humanitix - Training #14 Rainbow Community Angels in BENDIGO hosted by rainbow community angels. Location TBA. Saturday 3rd August 2024. Find event information.

“Everyone should be able to get HIV treatment. We’re here to show you where to get yours for free.” Read more...

How to get free HIV treatment in Australia without Medicare HIV treatment is free for most people in Australia, even without Medicare. We show you where and how to get free HIV medications near you on a visa.

Come and join us in a weekend of fun, entertainment, information and of course, PRIDE, as we celebrate Maryborough Pride Festival. Thorne Harbour Country will be at the Mill House on Saturday along with other wonderful community groups and festival supporters. Come along and say hi 😀

🌈We are proud to support this year's new-look Outburst Pride Festival Maryborough to be held THIS weekend, Friday 21 and Saturday 22 June in Maryborough.

⭐️Outburst has more drag, more entertainment, more music, more homemade food, more mocktails and more rainbows, sparkle and delight than ever before!

🫶 Everyone is welcome to come and celebrate at the following events:

🏳️‍🌈 Friday 21 June, 2.30 to 3.30pm: Rainbow Family Storytime at the Maryborough Regional Library - Victoria
🏳️‍🌈Friday 21 June, 3.45 to 5pm: Solstice and Sparkle at Central Goldfields Art Gallery - Maryborough, Vic
🏳️‍🌈Friday 21 June, 6.30pm until late: Outburst at The Station Cafe Restaurant Bar Tickets $35 per person
🏳️‍🌈 Saturday 22 June, 11am to 4pm. Free community celebration at Mill House, 88-90 Burke Street, Maryborough.

👉 For more information visit www.outburst.au

🌈Outburst is a free, community event presented by our local LGBTIQA+ group – Pride Goldfields

Volunteer Receptionist Position at Thorne Harbour Country:
https://bit.ly/3IFc5qB

- Are you someone who loves people and is able to communicate effectively?
- Do you have at least 4 hours available each week?
- Would you like to be involved in a vibrant and welcoming LGBTIQ community hub?

There is an opportunity to join the team at Thorne Harbour Country in the advertised volunteer receptionist position. Expressions of interest are now open and position description can be found here:
https://bit.ly/3IFc5qB

This is a job share role, so you can work 1/2 day, full day or multiple days per week. Contact Zara to discuss further: [email protected]

Today (28th May) is LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Day: Helping to end violence and abuse within LGBTQ communities by increasing visibility and understanding, and giving hope and courage to victims and survivors.

Now you can build your skills and understanding of how to respond to Domestic & Family Violence in LGBTQ+ Communities with the launch of a FREE eLearning course by LGBTQ Domestic Violence Awareness Foundation.

This training tool will better equip frontline workers to support LGBTQ+ victims and survivors of domestic and family violence and abuse. The tool includes online modules based on the real-life experiences of LGBTQ+ people, powerful video stories, practical exercises and a digital hub for continued development and engagement 👩‍💻

Head to the DVAFoundation.org website now to register.

Today marks the beginning of National Reconciliation Week
What is Reconciliation?
Reconciliation is about strengthening the relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples, for the benefit of all Australians. In a reconciled Australia, the length and quality of a person's life will not be determined by their racial background.

Thorne Harbour Health have recently submitted our second Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) to Reconciliation Australia. Titled Innovate, it follows our Reflect plan, which laid out the foundations for reconciliation within our organisation.

Innovate is all about forming closer relationships with First Nations organisations in our sector to help Thorne Harbour to improve the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ+ First Nations people when they access our services.

It's National Reconciliation Week and we’re committed to contributing to reconciliation in Australia, .

We've just submitted an 'Innovate' Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) to Reconciliation Australia.

This plan focusses on strengthening relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and for us it also means strengthening bonds with Indigenous run organisations in our sector.

In addition, the plan includes:

📌 Making sure we provide culturally safe services for Rainbow Mob
📌 Training our staff and service providers in cultural competency

We know this is just the beginning of reconciliation, and we look forward to working toward a better future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

So, you’ve been enjoying D’s but don’t know the difference between your P’s. That’s okay! Let’s brush up on what PrEP and PEP are and how you can use them to protect yourself from HIV. Read more...

What’s the difference between PEP and PrEP? PrEP vs PEP - what's the difference? Understand how PEP and PrEP pills protect against HIV and where you can get them in Australia.

Huge thanks to all our volunteers for your enthusiasm, generosity and professionalism. We appreciate you 💜

Lots of LOVE to all volunteers this National Volunteer Week. Congratulations to all the volunteers from , , , , ***rarchives and on another year of vital support for our communities. ***rmelbourne ***rhealth

On May 17 we celebrated IDAHOBIT with community, allies and organisations working to improve the lives of LGBTIQA+ people. Thank you to all involved and all who attended.

Staff and volunteers had a wonderful day at the Be Well Be Connected expo in Bendigo yesterday. Connecting people with information and services to support LGBTIQ+ people and people living with HIV and having some great conversations about stigma, language and attitudes.
Thank you City of Greater Bendigo for facilitating this valuable event.

Parents and carers of transgender, gender diverse and
non-binary young people of any age are invited to hear from our special guests, Dr. Robbie Eres, Clinical Psychologist and Eve Millington, Clinical Psychology Registrar from the Royal Children’s Hospital Gender Service.

Registration is essential: https://forms.office.com/r/1ebR5DJFjR

For more information contact WayOut: [email protected] / 5421 1666 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍⚧️

Our Community Development Worker, Zara, is enjoying chatting with folks at La Trobe University, Bendigo, today for an early IDAHOBIT event 🌈 🏳️‍⚧️

Flag raising and speeches for IDAHOBIT this Friday at 10am. Join us at the library gardens to celebrate and support our LGBTIQ community.

Speak Up - IDAHOBIT EVE

Thursday 16 May
4pm-5.30pm
Daylesford Town Hall

Join members of our community and special guests to stand together against discrimination of our LGBTIQA+ community!
Come enjoy a social gathering and panel discussion around lived experience from Ro Allen, Ange Barry, Dannii Karametos, Harley Dunolly-Lee, Max Primmer and Grace Lee as they talk about and make suggestions of how we can challenge anti-LGBTIQA+ discrimination.

Together we can improve lives!

See you there. Bring the family

It was really great to present on our Loddon Mallee Trans Youth project with the staff at the Victorian Department of Health & Human Services in Bendigo earlier this week. 👍🏽🌈

What have we been up to today? Well apart from Wear it Purple Day activities we have also been participating in an information stall for International Overdose Awareness Day with ACSO and Bendigo Community Health Service crew. Information on these services are available at our office. Please get in touch via email [email protected] or call 03 4400 9000 👍

Happy Wear It Purple Day Everyone!!!