It can be difficult to see a friend being treated in ways that are harmful by their family, partner or people they care about. You might want to do something to help them straight away or feel stuck about what you can do to help.
Sometimes it can be hard to tell if what’s happening at home or in your relationships is okay. Maybe the people in your house, your family, or the people you are dating act in ways that make you feel unsafe, scared or unable to be the person you are or want to be. When someone does things that hurt, bully or control another person, it is called abuse.
Statistically, queer people are more likely to use alcohol and other drugs in recreational settings than the general population. We’re also more likely to find ourselves in periods of problematic usage of these substances. Fortunately, over many decades the LGBTIQ community has also built complex systems of community care into our social networks, to make the partying we do as safe as possible.
QTIPOC stands for Queer, Trans, or Intersex, Person of Colour. And that's exactly what this new resource explores: being a person of colour, as well as being queer.
Created by Drummond St, Minus18, and Invisible The Drum, OMG I'm QTIPOC dives into everything from coming out (or not coming out) to the beauty of community; from activism to love across cultures; from the QTIPOC acronym to queerness itself.
People with disabilities experience higher rates of violence, abuse and neglect then non-disabled people. In addition to issues relating to their LGBTIQ status, additional barriers exist for people with disabilities accessing family violence services. These circumstances sit alongside unique requirements to meet their needs.
As we prepare ourselves for physical distancing and self-isolation, we need to remember home is not always the safest place.
For some in our community – job losses and insecure housing can mean that we are forced back to other homes with family or friends which can be highly conflictual and for others unsafe.
With Respect has several resources and fact sheets regarding Family and Intimate Partner Violence within the LGBTIQ+ communities, and their family or friends, who are affected by family violence. https://www.withrespect.org.au
Food and material aid during coronavirus
Victorians self-isolating due to coronavirus (COVID-19) with no access to food and essential supplies will receive emergency relief packages under a program introduced by the Victorian Government. For more information phone the coronavirus hotline on 1800 675 398 or visit https://dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus
Ask Izzy has a list of emergency type aid such as food supplies searchable by postcode. Organisations here will each have their own responses to COVID-19 that are being updated https://askizzy.org.au/food
Interpreter services for non-English speakers
This service is available to any individual or organisation in Australia, enabling non-English speakers to independently access services and information over the phone. TIS National's immediate phone interpreting service (24 hrs, 7 days a week) 131 450