Word on the Sheets

In 2023, we launched Word on the Sheets, an online hub for accessible, inclusive, and relevant sexual and reproductive health information created by and for LGBTQ+ women and their partners. We created this website to respond to the specific, often un- or under-addressed, sexual and reproductive health needs of our communities.

Word on the Sheets includes information on queer sexuality, pleasure, sex toys, and consent, as well as STI fact sheets and prevention strategies, an STI testing guide, and a form to order free safe sex supplies!

Visit our website to find out more: Sexual health info by and for LGBTQ+ women | Word on the Sheets

You can also follow Word on the Sheets on Instagram and Facebook to keep up to date with everything WOTS.

Workshops and Events

Healthy LGBTQ+ Relationships Workshops

In partnership with the Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence team, we developed a series of Healthy Relationships workshops, which ran for the first time in 2023 in Surry Hills, Parramatta, and Newcastle!

These workshops will be running again in 2025, to register your interest visit: Healthy LGBTQ+ Relationships Workshops – Say It Out Loud

Community Outreach

The LGBTQ+ Women’s Health Programs team attends community events to provide LGBTQ+ women with resources about sexual health, community connection, and how to get linked into other health services!

If you want to stay up to date about community events attended by the LGBTQ+ Women’s Health Program’s team, you can follow us on Instagram or Facebook. If you would like us to attend an event you are hosting for LGBTQ+ women, get in contact with us via email: women@acon.org.au.

Monthly Packing Group

Join us every 3^rd Thursday of the month to have a biscuit, cup of tea and chat as we pack free sexual health kits for the LGBTQ+ community! This is a safe space for LGBTQ+ women and non-binary people to come together and connect with members of our community.

We usually pack a range of sexual health kits (or play packs) containing lube, condoms and gloves, which you can also order at no cost from the ACON website. Depending on the season, we also help packing other resources and goodie bags for outreach and events happening all across ACON!

If you’re interested in joining the group click here!

SWASH – The Sydney Women and Sexual Health Survey

The Sydney Women and Sexual Health (SWASH) survey was first carried out in 1996. It was initiated by workers from two ACON projects, Women Partners of Gay and Bisexual Men and the Gay and Lesbian Injecting Drug Use Project, who were faced with a lack of empirical evidence on which to base their intervention work. Research on the health and wellbeing of lesbian, bisexual and queer women (cis and trans) is still scarce.

SWASH is now a comprehensive survey of sexual and gender identity; community connection; smoking, alcohol and drug use; sexual health; psychological wellbeing; experiences of anti-gay, sexual and domestic violence; parenthood intentions; preventive health behaviour including screening; healthcare access and satisfaction.

The survey is run every two years by a collaboration of ACON and researchers at the University of Sydney.

For more information and research on the health of women (cis and trans) in Australia, visit The Australian Women’s Health Alliance’s (formerly known as the Australian Women’s Health Network) Women’s Health Hub online library and ACON’s TransHub.

The latest 2020 SWASH report in available here.

Previous SWASH reports:

• • SWASH 2022
  • SWASH 2018 – Women in contact with the Sydney LGBTQ communities 
  • SWASH 2018 – Women in contact with the Northern Rivers and Mid-North Coast LGBTQ communities
  • SWASH 2016
  • SWASH News Flash: Key findings from the 2016 SWASH Report
  • SWASH 2014
  • SWASH News Flash: Key findings from the 2014 SWASH Report
  • SWASH 2012
  • SWASH 2010
  • SWASH Report Card 2010
  • SWASH 2004
  • SWASH 2000
  • SWASH 1996/1998

Women’s Sexual Health

Women in LGBTQ communities (cis and trans) are diverse and our sexual health needs depend on the kind of sex we’re having.

The best way to manage your sexual health is to learn about your options for playing safe and get regular sexual health checks.

For more information about your STI testing options and what is involved you can our STI Testing Guide on our new sexual health website for LGBTQ+ women Word on the Sheets.

There is still some misinformation in our communities that women who have sex with women are not at risk of STIs. Infection rates among women who have sex with women are actually estimated to be the same as heterosexual women, but current research shows that have never had an STI test, despite the vast majority being sexually active.

The Play Safe website has a top five tips for safe sex between women, and if you need safe sex supplies and are a member of the LGBTQ+ community we can post them to you anywhere in NSW (free!). Find out more and order here.

Seeing a GP

There are many local doctors, counsellors and health services that provide great, holistic services to the LGBTQ community:

The Australian Lesbian Medical Association (ALMA) compiles an up to date list of doctors and mental health professionals who are recommended by lesbian and bisexual women. This is a national project. There are currently around 90 doctors and mental health professionals on the list, including GPs and specialists, metropolitan and rural doctors.

ANZPATH (Australian and New Zealand Professional Association for Transgender Health) has a list of service providers in NSW.

Women’s Health NSW is a collective of non-government, community-based women’s health and specialist centres. All centres are feminist services that provide choices for women to determine their individual health needs. The site provides a list of women’s health centres that you can access by calling for an appointment.

If you’re looking for gender-affirming care across most of Australia (excluding Western Australia), you can also look up ACON’s Gender-Affirming GP list to find trans-friendly and gender-affirming doctors for sexual and reproductive health services.

Silver Sessions

Silver Sessions is a partnership between ACON’s Women’s Health Programs and the City of Sydney, holding social events for LGBTQ+ women aged 55+. If you are interested in staying up to date with Silver Sessions, sign up here!

Check OUT: LGBTQ+ Sexual Health Clinic

We are sorry to announce that due to COVID-19, Check OUT: LGBTQ+ Clinic will be closed until further notice.

Please do not be concerned, this closure is only temporary, and we look forward to reopening again soon.

We will contact all our clients as soon as we reopen.

If your appointment with Check OUT was urgent, or you have any concerns, please contact our clinical partner, Family Planning NSW.

Family Planning NSW Talkline (staffed by expert sexual health nurses):

1300 658 886 

Monday to Friday, 8:30am-5pm;

or email talkline@fpnsw.org.au

You can also contact the NSW Sexual Health InfoLink, which is run by NSW Health and is staffed by sexual health nurses. You can call them with any questions or concerns about sexual health and/or cervical screening and they can direct you to services for testing in your area:

1800 451 624

Monday to Friday, 9.00am-5.30pm

If you are concerned about COVID-19 or have questions, please visit the NSW Health website or contact Healthdirect on 1800 022 222.

Please take care of yourselves and each other and don’t hesitate to contact us at checkout@acon.org.au

Thank you all,

Check OUT Staff

Cancer

We’re here to help women take steps to prevent their risk of cancer and find support after diagnosis and treatment.

To find out more please visit the ‘Cancer’ section on our website or visit ACON’s Can We website.

Free Play Packs

NEED SAFE SEX SUPPLIES?

If you’re a member of the LGBTQ+ community and you need safe sex supplies, we can post them to you anywhere in NSW (free!).

Simply complete the form below and we will get your play pack(s) delivered in no time!

If you need bulk supplies for a party, you can also request them from the below form.

If you have any concerns or questions, please feel free to contact: kink@acon.org.au

Order your play pack here.

Community & Social Groups

The ACON Here for Women Facebook page, and ACON Women Instagram share news about events, workshops and events.

Groups for LGBTQ+ women

• The Flying Bats Football Club
• Dykes on Bikes Sydney
• Sydney Women’s Baseball League
• Bush Lemons Hiking Group
• Amazon Women’s Tennis
• Older Dykes aka Ten Forty Matrix

LGBTQ+ community groups

• ClimbingQTs
• Rainbow Families
• Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir
• Queers Down South
• North Shore Queers
• Fusion Pride
• Queer Social Club
• Sydney Bi+ Social Club

LGBTQ+ Sports Clubs

For a comprehensive list of sports clubs, visit: LGBTQ Sports Club Directory – Pride in SportPride in Sport

Multicultural LGBTQ+ community groups

For a directory of LGBTQIA+ cultural community groups and multicultural services, visit Rainbow Cultures.

The Australian Lesbian Medical Associations (ALMA) DocLIST website features an extensive list of information and resources to help lesbian, bi and queer women connect with their community and get information on health, legal and human rights issues.

On the list you will find over 600 national and state-based organisations, groups and services and resources. Examples include community events, health services, counselling and support services, social groups, sporting groups, artistic organisations, and young people’s groups.

Labrys Project

Promoting the health and wellbeing of lesbian, bisexual, queer and same sex attracted women living in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven.

The labrys is a double-headed axe, which became a symbol of strength and self-sufficiency for the lesbian and feminist movements in the 1970’s. The labrys continues to represent the pride and strength of our communities today.

In 2014 and 2015, ACON and the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District partnered to establish the Labrys Project.

The project conducted a community based survey, a series of focus groups, delivered mental health first aid training and developed a resource to explore issues affecting the lives of lesbian, bisexual, queer (LBQ) and same sex attracted women living in the Illawarra and Shoalhaven.

LBQ and same sex attracted women can face a range of factors that impact their health and wellbeing in unique ways.

Check out the research report here and access the ‘As Women We Can’ resource here

Community Resources for Women

The Australian Lesbian Medical Associations (ALMA) DocLIST website features an extensive list of information and resources to help lesbian, bi and queer women connect with their community and get information on health, legal and human rights issues.

On the list you will find over 600 national and state-based organisations, groups and services and resources. Examples include community events, health services, counselling and support services, social groups, sporting groups, artistic organisations, and young people’s groups.