HAAG members will present two sessions at the Better Together conference - Advocating for systemic changes in aged care services and recognizing the importance of older LGBTQIA+ issues & Intergenerational Housing Options for the LGBTIQA+ Community.
See the full conference program and register here
Advocating for systemic changes in aged care services and recognizing the importance of older LGBTQIA+ issues
1:30 pm October 31st Orange Room
How can mainstream organisations genuinely embed LGBTQIA+ inclusion into their services, so that it is part of everyday practice rather than an optional extra?
This session will share the story of HAAG and its ongoing work to ensure LGBTQIA+ inclusion is central to the organisation’s mission, values and daily operations.
For many older LGBTQIA+ people, approaching mainstream services can be fraught with uncertainty and fear. Many in this cohort have experienced a lifetime of discrimination, criminalisation, invisibility and exclusion. They have lived through decades where their identities were stigmatised or punished by governments, institutions, and communities. The long-term impacts of the HIV/AIDS crisis, experiences of institutionalisation and rejection, and the lack of safe and inclusive housing continue to shape how older LGBTQIA+ people access services today. Many have learned through experience to remain cautious about disclosing their identity, particularly in ‘mainstream’ services.
Intergenerational Housing Options for the LGBTIQA+ Community
11:00 am October 31st The Green Room
What would truly inclusive, community-led housing options look like for older LGBTIQA+ people? How can we build intergenerational models of living that foster connection, safety and belonging?
This workshop invites participants to explore the latest thinking, challenges and opportunities in LGBTIQA+ housing and retirement living.
We will start with an update on current developments in housing options for older LGBTIQA+ communities, drawing on HAAG’s research, advocacy and the findings from last year’s Better Together workshop on retirement housing. We will share any progress or actions that have followed, as well as current gaps and barriers that remain.
The session will then shift focus to the potential of intergenerational housing models. Participants will be encouraged to reflect on what “home” and “community” could look like if designed by and for LGBTIQA+ people across generations. Together, we will envision creative housing solutions that foster connection, inclusion, and wellbeing.
The importance of ageing and aged care services that are culturally safe and inclusive remains critical. But equally vital is the role of community, connection and a sense of belonging in supporting wellbeing for LGBTIQA+ people as they age. Through this workshop, we will explore how intergenerational models might contribute to these goals, and how we can collectively progress them.
Join us to contribute your ideas and lived experience, and help imagine what our future “rainbow villages” could be.
Speakers:
Liz Sidiropoulos (HAAG LGBTQIA+ Reference Group, advocate for older LGBTQIA+ people)
Garry White (HAAG LGBTQIA+ Reference Group, advocate for older LGBTQIA+ people)
"There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort."