We’re here to offer support, companionship and advice for older members of the LGBTQ community (50+).
Community Visitor Scheme
While loneliness and isolation can affect anyone’s mental health, the impact can be more severe for older people.
Our Community Visitor Scheme is all about reducing social isolation of older LGBTQ people by providing company and friendship of Volunteer Visitors.
Our trained volunteers make regular one-on-one visits to people in aged care homes or in the community where they chat over a cuppa, listen to music, watch a movie or participate in a hobby, game or other activity.
The Community Visitor Scheme is a free service that operates across the Sydney metropolitan area including the Blue mountains.
The service is available to recipients of Australian Government subsidised Home Care Packages who have been identified by their aged care provider as experiencing or at risk of experiencing social isolation, whether for social or cultural reasons or because of disability.
For more information or to undertake an intake assessment, please contact your nearest ACON office, enquire by email at hbcare@acon.org.au or complete the intake form here.
The LOVE Project
The LOVE Project (Living OLDER Visibly and Engaged) is an ACON initiative that’s all about creating better conversations and improved social engagement with older LGBTQ community members.
By understanding people’s preferences, we can facilitate greater social connectivity, improve social inclusion and evolve services to meet your needs.
The friendly health promotion team of the LOVE Project welcomes you to get on board to share experiences, interact with other members of the LGBTQ community and create a healthier, active and social lifestyle for yourselves and those around you.
For more information, contact: Russ Gluyas | 02 9206 2017 | rgluyas@acon.org.au
Follow the LOVE Project on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Fact Sheets
HIV & Ageing
People with HIV who commence treatment early and who maintain effective control of their HIV viral load have a life expectancy no different from the general population. This has been clearly demonstrated in large studies of people in high income countries with access to best practice HIV clinical care.
However, HIV infection could still damage the immune system. HIV potentially causes premature ageing of the immune system, which means there may be at risk of disease at an earlier age or at slightly increased rates compared to the general population.
Potential health issues may include cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic kidney disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, frailty, and neurocognitive deficits.
Find out more about HIV and ageing via the LOVE Project website
HIV Counselling
We provide FREE and confidential short term counselling (up to 12 sessions) for:
- People with HIV
- People at risk of HIV
- People affected by HIV (e.g. partners, family and friends)
- People testing for HIV
We prioritise:
- People newly diagnosed with HIV
- Financially disadvantaged people
- People experiencing health or relationship needs related to HIV
- People experiencing the effects of a recent trauma, domestic/family violence or homophobic/transphobic violence
Counsellors use a solutions focused model drawing on a range of approaches to best meet the needs of individuals and couples.
To access this service, you will need to undergo a brief assessment in person or over the phone.
For more information or to undertake an intake assessment, please contact your nearest ACON office or to enquire about making an appointment click here.
Coronavirus update: Due to social distancing requirements, all ACON counselling and support services will be conducted virtually or over the phone.
LGBTQ+ Counselling and Support
We provide confidential fee-based short-term counselling (up to 12 sessions) for LGBTQ+ people seeking support in relation to their mental health and wellbeing. Volunteer counsellors use a solution focused model and a range of therapeutic approaches to better equip people to deal with life’s challenges.
Fees for this service are negotiated according to individual circumstances, and priority is given to people on low incomes or with limited options.
LGBTQ+ counselling in Sydney is available Tues and Thurs evenings. For appointment options in regional NSW please contact the relevant office.
Unfortunately, this service is not suitable for:
- People who use violence
- People with unmanaged or unsupported mental illness or substance use
To access this service, you will need to undergo a brief assessment in person or over the phone.
For more information or to undertake a brief assessment please contact your nearest ACON office or submit an enquiry.
If you are experiencing prejudice related violence or harassment here are some options for counselling and support:
- ACON provides counselling as well as social work support to help people resolve complex or ongoing violence and harassment matters. Call 9206 2000 to make an appointment.
- QLife provides anonymous and free LGBTI peer support and referral for people wanting to talk about sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships. For more information click here.
- ICLC can provide legal support such as assistance with preparing an Apprehended Personal Violence Order. For more information click here.
- Lifeline provides 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services to all Australians experiencing a personal crisis. For more information click here.
Substance Support Counselling
We provide confidential FREE short-term counselling (up to 12 sessions) for sexuality and gender diverse people and people with HIV seeking support in relation to their use of alcohol and other drugs.
Our counsellors work from a harm reduction approach to assist clients reach their goals to manage use, reduce or quit.
This service is offered face to face in Sydney. It is also available via telehealth for individuals living in Sydney or across regional NSW.
To access this service, you will need to undergo a brief assessment in person or over the phone.
For more information or to undertake a brief assessment please contact our Sydney office or submit an enquiry.
Coronavirus update: Due to social distancing requirements, all ACON counselling and support services will be conducted virtually or over the phone.
Care Coordination
Our Care Coordinators are allied health professionals who can help clients with multiple and/or complex needs to:
- Access relevant healthcare and support services
- Increase their ability to manage their care and treatment
- Reduce social isolation
Needs may include:
- HIV
- Mental health
- Alcohol and/or drug use
- Housing
- Family/domestic violence
- Finances
- Legal
Care coordinators work with clients over 3 months to develop a care plan and provide support to help clients achieve their goals and meet their needs
This service is FREE and confidential.
Priority is given to people with HIV, and people at risk or affected by HIV
Our Care Coordinators work in Sydney at our office in Surry Hills as well as the Taylor Square Private Clinic and Holdsworth House Medical Practice in Darlinghurst.
To access this service, you will need to undergo a brief assessment in person or over the phone.
For more information or to undertake a brief intake assessment, please contact our Sydney office 02 9206 2000 to enquire about making an appointment click here.
Regional NSW
Our care coordinators also work in the Hunter and Northern Rivers regions of NSW.
To access this service, you will need to undergo a brief assessment in person or over the phone.
For more information or to undertake a brief assessment please contact our Hunter or Northern Rivers offices or submit an enquiry.
Legal Advice
Community Legal Centres (CLC) provide free legal advice, referrals and some representation to people who live and work in their area.
Community Legal Centres NSW: (02) 9212 7333
Inner City Legal Centre (ICLC) provides a state-wide specialist free legal advice service for anyone who identifies as LGBTIQ throughout NSW.
(02) 9332 1966
Historical Violence Project
NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Gay and Transgender Hates Crimes Between 1970 and 2010
Background
In a dark period of New South Wales’ history between 1975 and 2000, it is estimated that 84 gay men and 4 transgender women were killed by acts of anti-gay and anti-transgender violence. In some cases, these deaths were attributed to improbable “accidents” and unlikely “suicides”. More than 20 cases remain unsolved leaving families and loved ones without answers, closure or justice.
Hundreds more survived these violent attacks. Many of these incidents were brutal, including stabbings, strangulation, bludgeoning, shooting, sexual assaults and frenzied attacks. As well as anti-LGBT bias, many of these crimes were fuelled by HIV stigma.
Since 2015, ACON has been working with a range of community partners on a range of responses to address the grief and trauma brought on by these events, that is still being felt by many in our communities. In the search for justice and healing, ACON reviewed a list of 88 gay and transgender hate killings, and key findings from this review was released in the report In Pursuit of Truth and Justice Report, published in May 2018.
The NSW Parliament acted on these findings by initiating a formal Inquiry in September 2018 to better understand the extent and impact of violence, whether LGBT people in New South Wales were effectively protected and justice delivered, and whether the current response to hate crimes is adequate. The first round of submissions were collected between September and October 2018 and three hearings were held in November.
The NSW Legislative Council’s Standing Committee on Social Issues released its Interim Report in February 2019. Read the Interim Report from the first phase of the Inquiry here.
Inquiry Reopened: October 2019
In October 2019, the NSW Legislative Council’s Standing Committee on Social Issues re-opened the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into LGBT violent hate crimes, in an effort to hear from more submissions from people in our communities.
Final Report: May 2021
The second and final report includes a range of findings and recommendations that aims to foster healing and deliver justice for loved ones of victims and survivors of these historical crimes.
In its findings, the report stated the NSW Police Force failed in its responsibility to properly investigate historical hate crimes. It also found that victims carry enduring physical, mental and emotional trauma as a result of their experiences, and that acknowledging past wrongs by those who failed to protect and deliver justice is a necessary step towards healing.
As well as the establishment of a judicial inquiry into unsolved cases of suspected gay and transgender hate crime deaths, the report also recommended:
• The NSW Government provides a comprehensive update on the implementation of the recommendations in NSW Police Strike Force Parrabell
• The NSW Government ensures that adequate victim support services are made available to those impacted historical gay and transgender hate crimes
• The NSW Government provide further funding to ensure the completion of the Bondi Memorial in Marks Park in Bondi, in honour of the victims and survivors of LGBTIQ hate crime
• The NSW Police Force ensure that its computerised operational policing system adequately captures LGBTIQ hate crimes
Read the NSW Parliamentary Inquiry into Gay and Trans Hate Crimes Final Report here.
Government response: November 2021
In November 2021, the NSW Government announced that it will establish an inquiry into unsolved gay and transgender hate crimes.
The establishment of a judicial inquiry or other form of expert review is among the five recommendations of the final report in the Legislative Council’s Standing Committee on Social Issues ‘Inquiry into Gay and Transgender Hate Crimes Between 1970 and 2010’. That inquiry began in 2018 and the report was tabled in May this year.
The NSW Government also announced that it supports all other findings and recommendations outlined in the Legislative Council’s Standing Committee on Social Issues’ report, including the ruling that the NSW Police Force failed in its responsibility to properly investigate historical hate crimes. It also found that victims carry enduring physical, mental and emotional trauma as a result of their experiences, and that acknowledging past wrongs by those who failed to protect and deliver justice is a necessary step towards healing.
As well as the establishment of a judicial inquiry into unsolved cases of suspected gay and transgender hate crime deaths, the report also recommended:
• The NSW Government provides a comprehensive update on the implementation of the recommendations in NSW Police Strike Force Parrabell
• The NSW Government ensures that adequate victim support services are made available to those impacted historical gay and transgender hate crimes
• The NSW Government provide further funding toward the Bondi Memorial in Marks Park in Bondi, in honour of the victims and survivors of LGBTIQ hate crime
• The NSW Police Force ensure that its computerised operational policing system adequately captures LGBTIQ hate crimes
Read about ACON’s response to the NSW Government’s announcement of a judicial inquiry into gay and transgender hate crimes here.
