Last month the City of Casey Council endorsed the Rainbow Action Plan to improve the lives of Casey’s LGBTIQA+ residents and families.
Developed in consultation with the Casey community throughout 2023 and 2024, the Plan provides a roadmap for actions and initiatives that promote LGBTIQA inclusion, equality, and protection from discrimination.
City of Casey Chair of Administrators Noelene Duff PSM, notes how vital the Plan is to improve outcomes for the community.
“Every individual, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics, deserves to feel safe and respected in their community,” said Noelene.
“As an advocate and ally of the LGBTIQA community, Council is committed to improving the lives of people and families from our rainbow community by reducing discrimination and exclusion, and increasing access to local support services.
We are immensely grateful to our community members who provided feedback and shared their experiences which has helped shape this Action Plan,” Said Noelene.
Research has found that LGBTIQA+ people living in outer Melbourne metropolitan regions experience poorer mental health outcomes and a lower connection to their local community.*
Council’s Rainbow Action Plan focuses on three key areas: inclusion, leadership and safety. Within these areas, several actions have been identified, such as:
- Embedding policies, programs and services that support LGBTIQA communities.
- Providing staff and volunteers with learning opportunities to increase awareness about LGBTIQA inclusion.
- Ensuring LGBTIQA+ inclusion is publicly promoted throughout the community.
- Developing and leading inclusion initiatives across the local government sector.
- Collaborating with other organisations to develop resources to support inclusion and safety for LGBTIQA+ people.
- Strengthening the cultural safety of existing programs, events and facilities.
- And many more.
View the Action Plan here.
*Grant, R. Amos, N. Lyons, A. McNair, R. Power, J. Carman, M. Bourne, A. (2023). Out in Suburbia: Associations between residential location, mental health, and community connectedness among LGBTQ Australians. Social & Cultural Geography, 1–19.