About Us
The Story Behind Say It Out Loud
In 2016, ACON launched this website, a world-first online resource focused on LGBTQ+ relationships. At the time of launch, it was a NSW-based website, however it was noted that the majority of visitors to the website were coming from Australian states outside of NSW. For this reason, three years later ACON approached the Australian Department of Social Services for funding to make this website a national resource for the LGBTQ+ communities and to build the capacity for service professionals working with people who have experienced sexual, domestic and family violence. The national iteration of this site was launched in September 2020.
On behalf of all of the people involved in creating this website, professionals from the sexual, domestic and family violence sector across the country and on behalf of all of the people who use this website, we would like to thank the government departments who made this website possible: Women NSW for first funding the NSW version of Say It Out Loud in 2016, as well as the Department of Social Services for funding the national version in 2020.
We hope that this website provides the information, compassion and visibility needed to prevent and end violence in LGBTQ+ relationships and support those who need it most.
Intersex People
There is very little sexual, domestic and family violence information and research that specifically focusses on or includes people with intersex variations. Much more attention, resources and support is needed for the intersex community regarding sexual, domestic and family violence.
Say It Out Loud is proud to affirm the Darlington Statement and encourages other organisations supporting the intersex-led movement to also recognise, and affirm the Darlington Statement.
We’re here to be a good intersex ally by raising the visibility of intersex community priorities, as articulated in the Darlington Statement, and deferring to intersex-led organisations such as Intersex Peer Support Australia (IPSA) and Intersex Human Rights Australia (IHRA). These organisations are intersex-led and so we defer to them rather than seek to speak on behalf of.
We acknowledge the distinctiveness and the diversity within the intersex community, and support the human rights of intersex people. We respect the intersex human rights movement and seek to support this movement without tokenism, or instrumentalising, or co-opting the issues intersex people experience as a means for other ends.
Our State-Based Partners
NSW: ACON
ACON is a New South Wales based health promotion organisation specialising in supporting the sexuality and gender diverse communities’ health and wellbeing.
ACON plays an integral role in delivering better health outcomes for sexuality and gender diverse people in areas such as sexual health, mental health and wellbeing, alcohol and other drugs, community safety and social inclusion, ageing and aged care, domestic and family violence and sexual assault and in workplace inclusion. ACON has been undertaking focussed work in the area of domestic and family violence since 2001, with the majority of our activities in this area being in research, advocacy, resource development and campaigns. In 2018 we began running support groups for victim/survivors and in 2019 we began running our behaviour change program Proud Partners.
Visit our website here.
Western Australia: Centre for Women’s Safety and Wellbeing
Our role as an independent, representative peak body for women’s specialist domestic and family violence, community-based women’s health and sexual assault services in Western Australia is underpinned by our recognition of the importance of gender equality to reduce violence against women and their children and promote their health and wellbeing.
Visit our website here.
Western Australia: WAAC
WAAC provides a broad range of sexual health and support services, including counselling and support for people living with HIV, testing and sexual health services for LGBTQIA+ people, peer mentoring, education and training, social support for LGBTQIA+ young people, harm reduction services for people who inject drugs, resources and much more.
Visit our website here.
Tasmania: SASS
Sexual Assault Support Service (SASS) is a free and confidential support service for southern Tasmanian people of all ages who have been affected by any form of sexual violence. We also provide Redress Scheme Support Services across Tasmania, offer a range of training workshops and education sessions throughout Tasmania, and provide information and support to professionals. Our mission is to work towards achieving a healthier, safer community in Tasmania, free of sexual harm.
Visit our website here.
Northern Territory: YWCA
YWCA Australia (YWCA) is a proud intersectional feminist, secular organisation committed to building a future, where all women and girls in all their diversity are equal, safe and respected. YWCA Australia in Darwin has decades of expertise in providing community services including domestic and family violence programs, youth diversion, youth transitional housing, youth crisis accommodation, women’s prison programs, medical accommodation and young parent support programs. Our vision: All women, young women and girls are safe and respected, with equal access to power, opportunity and resources.
Visit our website here.
Northern Territory: NTAHC
NTAHC’s programs are aimed at preventing the transmission of blood borne viruses and have been developed to provide services, support and preventative initiatives with and for our priority populations, including LGBTI people.
Visit our website here.
Queensland: DVCONNECT
DVConnect believes everyone deserves to live a life free from violence. DVConnect helps Queenslanders find pathways to safety, away from domestic, family and sexual violence. We help women, men and children regardless of age, ability, ethnicity, gender identification or religion. We also help pets of those escaping a violent home.
DVConnect is a not-for-profit organisation that has provided state-wide specialist domestic and family violence crisis counselling, intervention, information, referrals, safety planning and pathways to safety, (emergency transport and safe accommodation) for almost 20 years.
Visit our website here.
Queensland: QuAC
QuAC’s mission is to enable lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people to increase control over and improve their health, as a resource for social, economic and personal development and an important dimension of quality of life.
Visit our website here.
SA: WSSSA
Women’s Safety Services SA (WSSSA) supports women and their children who are experiencing domestic and family violence. We are an organisation committed to helping individuals find safety and support during, and after, experiencing abuse.
WSSSA has a range of programs and services over numerous sites to assist a diverse range of people across the South Australian community and embraces the diversity of expression of human gender, sexuality and relationship structures.
When you contact us, whether through the Domestic Violence Crisis Line, or one of our programs directly, we will believe you, hear your story, talk with you about your concerns, work with you to understand your risk, hear from you about what you want and support your safety.
WSSSA believes that all women and children have the right to live safely in their own homes. We recognise that LGBTIQ+ people and their families are subject to significant discrimination and hardship due to prejudice against their sexual and/or gender identity and that this can create barriers in reporting abuse or seeking support.
Visit our website here.
ACT: DVCS
The Domestic Violence Crisis Service (DVCS) is an inclusive service supporting children, young people and adults impacted by domestic, family and intimate partner violence. This includes people who use violence.
DVCS provides 24/7 crisis intervention, safety planning, referrals and information, legal advocacy, access to emergency accommodation and security upgrades, support groups, case management and support to men who want to address their use of family or domestic violence. Additionally DVCS provides awareness, education and training.
DVCS is a free service which has been operating in the ACT for over 30 years.
Visit our website here.
ACT: Meridian
We are a community-controlled, peer-led organisation that provides health and social support services to our community. We celebrate diversity, strengthen community and empower individuals to live their best lives. Community, health and action are the core of Meridian and how we work.
Visit our website here.
VIC: Kara House
Kara House is a Specialist Family Violence Service based in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne with a long history of providing specialist domestic and family violence support including risk assessment and safety planning, case management and advocacy, referral to other services, secondary consultation and community education. We provide:
- Highly secure, safe, short term accommodation in refuge, for women and children from diverse backgrounds that need relocation for their safety
- Support to clients living in transitional housing and other short-term accommodation
- Outreach support, information, and advice to women and children impacted by family violence
Visit our website here.
VIC: Thorne Harbour Health
Thorne Harbour Health is one of Australia’s largest LGBTI community-controlled organisations – providing services and advocacy for the wellbeing of our LGBTI communities and people living with HIV. Established in 1983, the organisation was founded to lead the community response to HIV and AIDS. Today, Thorne Harbour honours that legacy as it responds to a broad range of issues affecting our gender, sex, and sexually diverse communities, including: sexual health, mental health, alcohol and drug use, trans health, and family violence – support for both victim survivors and users of violence. Through a range of projects, Thorne Harbour delivers community-led and culturally appropriate services that improve the health and wellbeing of LGBTI people living throughout Victoria, South Australia, and beyond.
Visit our website here.
National: LGBTIQ+ Health Australia
LGBTIQ+ Health Australia is the national peak health organisation in Australia for organisations and individuals that provide health-related programs, services and research focused on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer people and other sexuality and gender diverse (LGBTIQ+) people and communities.
We recognise that people’s genders, bodies, relationships and sexualities affect their health and wellbeing in every domain of their life.
Visit our website here.
National: 1800Respect
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.