Regional Services Map

Our ACON Regional Services map will help you find local sexual health clinics (orange pin), LGBTIQ+ community groups (rainbow pin), Aboriginal community health services (Aboriginal flag pin) and the services offered at each of our ACON offices.

Any questions or updates can be sent to regionaloutreach@acon.org.au

NSW Regional Rainbow Forum | 27-28 August 2026

NSW REGIONAL RAINBOW FORUM
27-28 August 2026
Wagga NSW

The NSW Regional Rainbow Forum will bring together community leaders, advocates, service providers, and stakeholders from across regional New South Wales to highlight current research, priority issues and best practice case studies. Professional facilitators will guide opportunities to create more connected communities and more inclusive environments for LGBTQ+ people.

MEET & GREET LAUNCH
5:30pm – 7:30pm, Thursday 27 August
Tilly’s on Baylis – Wagga

FORUM
8:30am – 4:30pm, Friday 28 August
Tilly’s on Baylis – Wagga

Featuring:
• Cr Dallas Tout– Mayor, Wagga Wagga City Council
• Michael Woodhouse– CEO, ACON
• Cr Will Miller– Hay Council & Rainbow on the Plains
• Vickie Burkenshaw– Wiradjuri Drag Pageant & Pride in the Paddock
• Professor Cliff Lewis– Charles Sturt University
• Denise McGrath– Leeton Rainbow Collective and ‘78er
• Brendan Barlow/Shelita Buffett– Rainbow on the Outback, Broken Hill

The Regional Rainbow Forum coincides with the Wiradjuri Drag Pageant and Queens High Tea events continuing over the weekend. ACON warmly encourages Forum attendees to stay for the weekend and enjoy the festivities!

REGISTER TO ATTEND – CLICK HERE

Counselling

Our Counselling provides a safe space to explore mental health, relationships, identity, sexuality, and life challenges, with a strong understanding of the unique experiences of LGBTQ+ communities. Support is trauma-informed, focused on empowering individuals to navigate change, build resilience, and strengthen wellbeing.

• Up to 12 x 50-minute sessions
• Counselling can be accessed anywhere in NSW via phone/telehealth or at one of ACON’s office in Sydney, Newcastle and Lismore

Care Coordination

Our care coordination service is practical, down-to-earth support focused on what matters most in your life. We help you find your way through services and get the support that’s right for you.

We can help you to:

• Find and access services like housing, Centrelink, legal support, NDIS, financial services and/or healthcare
• Feel more connected by linking you with the right supports and community
• Get support if you’re experiencing sexual, domestic or family violence
• Connect with HIV and sexual health services
• Look after your mental health and general wellbeing

Our care coordination model is:

• 3-6 months
• Goal focused

We’ll work alongside you to set goals, explore your options, and take the next steps.

Peer Work

Peer work is a form of support provided with people drawing on their own lived experience Peer workers walk alongside you, offering understanding, hope and connection through shared experience.

• Support is usually provided for up to three months
• Peer Work can be accessed via telehealth anywhere in NSW, or face to face at our offices in Sydney, Newcastle or Lismore

ACON peer workers offer support through: 

• Drawing on their lived experience of suicide, service use, substance use and/or trans and gender diverse identities
• Delivering relational role modelling, emotional support, advocacy, harm reduction approaches, and support with system navigation
• Connection to community and relevant services, building meaning, solidarity, trust and hope through genuine relationships

Needle and Syringe Program Regional NSW

Through our Needle & Syringe Program (NSP), we provide FREE sterile injecting equipment and health promotion services to people who inject drugs. This helps reduce the transmission of blood borne viruses such HIV and Hep C and other related injecting related risks.

Our NSPs provide the following:

• FREE sterile injecting equipment
• Disposal of used equipment
• Access to advice, support and relevant health information (e.g. HIV, Hep C, Safer practices)
• Referral to internal and external services
• Access to condoms
• Take Home Naloxone Program
• Testing Clinic
• NSP Outreach service

Our NSPs are located at our offices in Newcastle and Lismore.

Needle and Syringe Program Outreach Service

Are you a person who injects drugs? Would you like easier access to sterile injecting equipment and related services? For eligible clients, our peer-led Needle Syringe Program (NSP) outreach service provides:

• Home delivery of sterile injecting equipment
• Collection of used biohazards ‘sharps’ containers
• Information on accessing home self-testing kits for Hepatitis C and HIV
• Information and referrals to support services

This service is available for people who live in Maitland, Cessnock, Raymond Terrace, Newcastle, and Lake Macquarie local government areas who also meet our eligibility criteria

To find out if you are eligible for this service, contact us using your preferred option: • Scan the QR code with your smartphone’s camera and complete the online registration form

• SMS or phone our peer NSP outreach worker on 0400 890 150
• Email us at HunterNSP@acon.org.au
• Visit us at ACON Hunter, 129 Maitland Road, Islington
• Call our office on 02 4962 7700

Sexual Health Clinic Regional NSW

We provide a FREE community-based HIV and STI screening service for gay, bi and queer men (cis and trans), their sexual partners, sex workers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people who inject drugs, and people at risk of HIV in Newcastle.

This service is an outreach of the Pacific Clinic (Hunter New England Local Health District’s Sexual Health Clinic).

This clinic is a DROP-IN Clinic and cannot take appointments, operating on:

• Tuesday’s           3:30 pm – 6pm
• Thursday’s        11:30 am – 6pm

We highly recommend calling before attending this clinic so we can advise you with current wait times 02 4962 7700

Regional Outreach

ACON provides outreach to regional areas of NSW to extend the reach of our services, campaigns and health messages.  We seek to provide a regular connection and build relationships with regional LGBTQ+ communities and people with HIV. Our outreach teams visit regularly to:

• Promote HIV and sexual health testing, treatment and care
• Provide safe sex information and resources
• Promote a positive experience of sexual health
• Deliver information and education about HIV, sexual health, the LGBTQ+ experience and LGBTQ+ health
• Support referrals to appropriate services within ACON and locally
• Advocate for an informed, healthy, resilient and inclusive LGBTQ+ community

If you are in the Northern Rivers or Mid North Coast Regions

Please contact: northernrivers@acon.org.au

If you are in the Hunter, New England, Central West NSW or Central Coast regions

Please contact:  hunter@acon.org.au

If you are in Southern NSW, Far West NSW, the Hawkesbury, Nepean or Blue Mountains regions

Please contact: regionaloutreach@acon.org.au

LGBTQ+ Pride Festivals Across NSW

Many cities and towns across New South Wales have LGBTQ+ Pride festivals showcasing their unique local LGBTQ+ arts, culture and communities. Look out for ACON’s team at the events, and find out more about our work in Regional NSW here.

Mark your calendars! NSW’s Pride Festivals are listed below, in order of the months of the year they traditionally take place. This page can be updated as new information comes in. For additions and inquiries, contact regionaloutreach@acon.org.au.

Tropical Fruits – Lismore – New Years
Held every year since 1988, this elaborate New Years Eve festival runs over four days around Lismore in northern New South Wales, providing creative, welcoming and fun opportunities to celebrate in the beautiful Rainbow Region. Info at TropicalFruits.org.au.

Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras – Feb/Mar
Sydney’s huge and world-famous Mardi Gras features a huge array of events so suit every taste and style. Look out for ACON’s stall at Fair Day and our float in the Mardi Gras Parade! More info at MardiGras.org.au.

Rainbow City Festival – Orange – March
The Rainbow Festival transforms the city of Orange into a colourful celebration promoting diversity and inclusivity. Visit the Orange City Council website for all the details.

Bathurst Pride – April
The Bathurst community come together for Pride ‘n Stride at the Bathurst Library for a day full of stalls, music, food and more. Please follow HeadSpace Bathurst for more information.

Pride in the Park – Moruya, South Coast – June
Celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride in the Eurobodalla Shire with a free family day at Moruya Riverside Park. Live music, self-expression, learning and resources, community, fun activities, yoga, art and more. See all Queerobodalla events here.

Rainbow on the River – Laurieton – June
Rainbow on the River aims to raise the visibility of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex communities on the Mid North Coast of NSW. More details here.

Winter Blooming Festival – Armidale – August
The Winter Blooming Festival is a vibrant, inclusive arts and cultural event held in Armidale, New South Wales, celebrating First Nations, multicultural, and LGBTQIA+ communities and their allies. Program details coming here.

Tamworth Pride – Tamworth – September
Annual festival that takes place in Bicentennial Park to celebrate and promote inclusivity, equality and diversity between the LGBTQ+ community and its allies. Info on Facebook here.

Rainbow in the Outback – Broken Hill – September
A bold celebration of LGBTQIA+ pride and visibility in Broken Hill, shining a light on community, resilience, and joy in regional New South Wales. Find all the details on RainbowInTheOutback.com.

Leeton Rainbow Pride – Leeton – September/October
A safe space for queer members and allies in Leeton to connect, converse and have fun – providing information, social groups and activities in Leeton. Find out more on the Leeton Ranbow Pride Facebook page.

Coastal Twist Arts & Culture Festival – Central Coast – October
Central Coast NSW’s annual arts-based weekend festival. Burst into spring with a bumper weekend of Queer happenings from cabaret night and dance party to Fair Day & the “Puparazzi” Pooch Parade. Coastal Twist is the ultimate Queer Spring into Spring weekend getaway. Find out more at CoastalTwist.org.au.

Newcastle Pride Festival NSW – October
Newcastle’s annual Pride Festival showcases to locals and visitors that Newcastle is a city of diversity, culture and beauty. Find out more at NewcastlePride.com.au.

Lake Macquarie Pride – October
Lake Macquarie Pride is an initiative of Newcastle Pride Inc, aiming to showcase to locals and visitors that Lake Macquarie is a city of diversity, culture and beauty. Discover more via its Facebook group.

Parramatta Pride Picnic – October
Created by ACON, this is a massive day of community and pride in western Sydney, packed with community stalls, a rainbow kids activation area, dog shows, food trucks, Q&A panels, drag queens, dancers, buskers, choirs, a fully licenced area for purchasing craft beers and wine, a charity sausage sizzle, music, performances, exhibitions and a chill zone. Keep on eye on @parrapridepicnic on Instagram for announcements!

Rainbow on the Plains Festival – Hay – November
The Rainbow on the Plains is a festival of fun, support, inclusion and celebration of LGBTQIA+ community, people from culturally diverse communities and anyone who loves to celebrate inclusion. See festival details here.

Far South Coast Rainbow Wave Festival – Pambula – November
A youth led LGBTQ+ pride event on Yuin Country in the Bega Valley. Visit their Facebook page for more details.

Tropical Fruits – Lismore – New Years
Held every year since 1988, this elaborate New Years Eve festival runs over four days around Lismore in northern New South Wales, providing creative, welcoming and fun opportunities to celebrate in the beautiful Rainbow Region. Info at TropicalFruits.org.au.

Local Regional Community Info Guides

These guides are designed to be shared online and printed. To add or edit a listing please contact ACON Regional Outreach on 02 9206 2113 or regionaloutreach@acon.org.au

Hunter Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Community Resources

These guides can be shared online and printed. For more information contact ACON Hunter on 02 4962 7700 or hunter@acon.org.au.

• Arabic

• Chinese (Simplified)

• Chinese (Traditional)

• Dari

• English

• Macedonian

• Pashto

Regional PrEP guides

ACON is compiling localised Community PrEP Guides to help community members living in regional NSW navigate the local healthcare system. We are contacting GPs in regional NSW who are/would be interested in prescribing PrEP and who would like to be included in these guides.

What is PrEP?

As of 2018, a combination treatment of antiretroviral medications tenofovir & emtricitabine was placed on the PBS as a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), available to HIV-negative community members at higher risk of acquiring HIV. Any GP is able to prescribe PrEP as per the clinical guidelines set by the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM)

Why do we need localised Community PrEP Guides?

As not all GPs prescribe PrEP, the purpose of compiling the Community PrEP Guide is to provide community members with a list of clinics where they can access PrEP in their local area. We aim to reduce the barriers faced by community members when accessing this medication by assisting them in navigating the health system whilst making informed decisions regarding their health.

Community PrEP Guides currently available:

• South East NSW
• Wagga Wagga
• Blue Mountains

ACON Northern Rivers

Widjabul Wia-bal Country
Suite 4P Conway Court,
17 Conway Street,
Lismore 2480
(next to Lismore Post Office and near Lismore Memorial Baths)

Office Hours:
9am-5pm, Monday-Friday

Tel: 02 6622 1555
Freecall: 1800 063 060
Email: northernrivers@acon.org.au

To ensure the health and wellbeing of our clients, staff and volunteers, the following COVID-Safe guidelines are in place for all visitors to ACON offices and sites:

• Do not visit if you are currently diagnosed with COVID-19
• Do not visit if you are unwell or have a dry cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, high temperature or fever, body aches or pains
• Practise good hygiene – hand sanitiser is provided at all ACON offices and sites

ACON Hunter

ACON Hunter

129 Maitland Road
Islington 2296

Office Hours:

• 9am-5pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday
• 9am-6pm Tuesday, Thursday

Tel: 02 4962 7700
Freecall: 1800 063 060
Email: hunter@acon.org.au

Important Notice for ACON Visitors

To ensure the health and wellbeing of our clients, staff and volunteers, the following COVID-Safe guidelines are in place for all visitors to ACON offices and sites:

• Do not visit if you are currently diagnosed with COVID-19
• Do not visit if you are unwell or have a dry cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, high temperature or fever, body aches or pains
• Practise good hygiene – hand sanitiser is provided at all ACON offices and sites

ACON Regional Outreach

Southern and Far West Regions
Tel: 02 9206 2114 | 1800 063 060
Email: regionaloutreach@acon.org.au