LGBTIQA+ inclusion

The Charles Sturt Ally Network is an informal visible network of students and staff who are identified Allies to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer/questioning, asexual, or members of related communities (LGBTIQA+). The Network acknowledges and supports sexual, sex, and gender diversity at Charles Sturt University.

Charles Sturt University’s Ally Network was established in 2014. Since this time, the Ally Network has contributed to:

• Charles Sturt’s Institutional Support for Marriage Equality;
• Marking and celebrating key dates of significant to the LGBTIQA+ community;
• Sponsoring and participating in regional LGBTIQA+ events;
• Permanent signs of visibility on campus; and
• Continued advocacy and advancement of inclusion for LGBTIQA+ staff and students.

For a full list of current allies, please visit the Find an Ally web page.

Responsibilities of the Ally Network

The responsibilities of the Charles Sturt Ally Network members are to:

• Increase respect and inclusion of LGBTIQA+ staff and students and role model non-discriminatory practices and language;
• Provide a safe and confidential environment for people to make enquiries regarding issues related to matters of sexual diversity and gender identity;
• Act as a point of contact and provide a safe place for staff and students to seek support;
• Provide information when required, and refer appropriately;
• Allies will display visible signs of Ally membership, including, but not limited to, displaying a poster, email signature, and other physical merchandise provided;
• Attend Charles Sturt University Ally Network meetings and events as regularly as possible;
• Have a strategy with clearly defined action plans, timelines, and/or deliverables;
• Exhibit the highest standards of ethical behavior;
• Report against this Strategy on an annual basis to the Equity & Diversity Committee; and
• Act with an inter sectional approach within the LGBTIQA+ community, and where possible, actively promote the visibility of Trans/Gender Diverse people, LGBTIQA+ women, Indigenous LGBTIQA+, LGBTIQA+ person of faith, LGBTIQA+ CALD, LGBTIQA+ of mature age, LGBTIQA+ living with disability and Intersex people.

Full Terms of Reference [PDF]

We offer students and staff two training modules in a range of delivery modes, as outlined below:

LGBTIQA+ Awareness

This session is 1.5 hours in length, and covers:

• The importance of creating an inclusive culture within the workplace;
• Some of the experiences of LGBTIQA+ people;
• The differences and diversity of sex characteristics, gender identity, and expression and sexual orientation; and
• Actions that individuals can take to be active allies.

This training is open to everyone who would like more information and knowledge relating to sex and gender diversity.

Empowering Allies

This session is 1.5 hours in length, and covers:

• The role of allies;
• Ally actions;
• The importance of visibility; and
• How one might ‘call out’ problematic behaviours.

To enrol in the Empowering Allies session, confirmation of attendance at an LGBTIQ+ Awareness session (or equivalent) is required.

This training is only open to those who have completed the LGBTIQA+ Awareness module, and who wish to join the Ally Network and be recognised as an Ally.

How to enrol: Please check out the Student Portal Workshops and Events page for a listing of upcoming training sessions.

Email ally@csu.edu.au for any enquiries and added to the wait list to be the first to receive details of upcoming sessions.

The following organisations provide information, counselling, and social opportunities for LGBTIQA+ people. Some of these sites list many other support and community groups, social venues and events.

A Gender Agenda

A Gender Agenda works with all those who do not fit cultural assumptions about the male/female binary, whether because of their gender identity, gender presentation, history or biological characters. They provide support, advocacy, training and community development.

ACON NSW

ACON is New South Wales' leading health promotion organisation specialising in HIV and LGBTIQA+ health.

Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby

Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby (GLRL) advocates on behalf of the lesbians and gay men. GLRL provide referral and educative resources on gay and lesbian rights to the media, policy makers and the community.

The Gender Centre

The Gender Centre provide a wide range of services to people with gender issues, their partners, family members and friends in New South Wales. They are an accommodation and counselling service for our gender questioning clients from the age of 16 and up, and also act as an education, support, training and referral resource centre to other organisations and service providers.

MCC Sydney

Metropolitan Community Church Sydney (MCC Sydney) is a dynamic, spiritual and friendly place of Christian worship. They welcome men and women of all ages, backgrounds and stages of their relationship with God. Our members and friends are a broad community of individuals and families who come together in gospel, communion, music and prayer.

National LGBTI Health Alliance

The National LGBTI Health Alliance 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, and intersex people and other sexuality and gender diverse (LGBTI) people and communities.

PFLAG

PFLAG - Parents and Friends of Lesbians And Gays is a non-profit voluntary organisation whose members have a common goal of keeping families together. PFLAG offer help, support and information to families, friends of all lesbian and gay people.

QLIFE

QLife is Australia's first nationally-oriented counselling and referral service for people of diverse sex, genders and sexualities. QLife provides nation-wide, early intervention, peer supported telephone and web based services to support LGBTIQA+ people of all ages.

1800 184 527 (5:30PM-10:30PM)

Reach Out

Reach Out is a site specifically dedicated to helping youth all over Australia come to terms with all sorts of issues they may have.

Twenty10

Twenty10 incorporating GLCS NSW is a community-based, non-profit, state-wide organisation, working with and supporting people of diverse genders, sexes and sexualities, their families and communities.

Headspace

headspace is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation providing early intervention mental health services to 12-25 year olds. headspace can help young people with mental health, physical health (including sexual health) alcohol and other drug services, and work and study support.

minus18!

minus18! are leading change, building social inclusion, and advocating for an Australia where all young people are safe, empowered, and surrounded by people that support them.

Ygender

Ygender is a peer led support and advocacy organisation for trans and gender diverse young people. They were established in 2010 by a group of trans young people who realised that our community needed an autonomous space to support each other and advocate for our rights.

Equality Australia

Equality Australia exists to improve the wellbeing and circumstances of LGBTIQ+ people in Australia and their families. They work with gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer people to build the power, voices and influence of our communities to address issues impacting the community.

Queerspace

Queerspace – for community, by community. counselling. case management. advocacy. research. training. professional development. consultancy.

TransHub

TransHub is ACON’s digital information and resource platform for all trans and gender diverse (TGD) people in NSW, our loved ones, allies and health providers. You’ll find information about social, medical and legal affirmation, as well as health and support resources. TransHub also has lots of information to support allies and clinicians.