With any form of government, it is important to have representation in all shapes and sizes. After all, the point of an election is to choose a candidate who best represents your interests.
For people within the LGBTIQA+ community, finding this representation may be difficult, as queerness and politics do not always work together in a sometimes cynical world.
Thankfully, the Office of LGBTIQA+ Affairs stands to act as that representation, influencing change and understanding within the ACT government.
What The Office Does
The Office of LGBTIQA+ Affairs is a team within the ACT Government which handles all things queer. The acronym ‘LGBTIQA+’ is an umbrella term used to capture as much of the community as possible. This includes, but is not limited to, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, asexual, aromantic, agender, non-binary and pansexual identities.
The Office works to advise the ACT Government about how certain policies will affect members of the LGBTIQA+ community. This includes their Capital of Equality Strategy 2024-2029, which aims to make Canberra the most welcoming city in Australia for LGBTIQA+ people.
The first plan of action for this strategy finished in June of 2026, which included promoting awareness and stripping down barriers to equality, enhancing systems and services ability, as well as advancing legal and policy reforms to ensure equal rights.
The second plan of action, which is now in effect, includes strengthening ACT Government engagement with the community, diversifying inclusive representation of LGBTIQA+ communities, and promoting LGBTIQA+ inclusion across all aspects of life.
The office also manages funding for LGBTIQA+ groups, such as the annual SpringOUT festival, A Gender Agenda, and Meridian.
Further, the office also sets up a community grant program, the Capital of Equality Grants Program, which supports a range of projects related to the community in order to strengthen future leaders, grow stronger organisations, and promote connections for LGBTIQA+ people.
A community roundtable is held at least twice a year, giving LGBTIQA+ community members a regular way to inform government decisions. On top of this, the office hosts free awareness training to Government directorates, agencies and community organisations in order to create more supportive and inclusive workspaces.
Finally, the office has supported law reforms, including a ban on sexuality and gender identity conversion practices, protections against inappropriate medical treatments without consent, and changes to registrations for name and sex changes for people under the age of 18.
What to Look Forward To
The second action plan runs from 2026 to 2028 and is made up of four main objectives.
Objective 1: Promote awareness and understanding to eliminate barriers to equality
This part of the plan includes strengthening the government’s engagement with the LGBTIQA+ community and policies that affect them.
It also includes the continuation of LGBTIQA+ roundtables to engage the community.
Then community infrastructure, such as public transport and libraries will be advanced to better fulfil the needs of the community.
Then, across all aspects of life, changes will be made to better fit LGBTIQA+ lives. This includes increasing the number of all gender bathrooms, delivering library programs, and implementing co-designs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Finally, the office will enhance ACT government data practices to obtain more inclusive information about the community and improve information regarding the prohibition of sexual and gender identity conversion services.
Objective 2: Enhance systems and service availability and their competencies
The second phase of this plan is to change already existing services to better fit the needs of members within the community. These services include domestic, family, and sexual violence sectors, as well as housing and homelessness services.
Afterwards, protections for people with variations in sex characteristics, such as intersex people, will be strengthened.
Furthermore, supports will be put in place to enhance inclusion within ACT public schools, and add more gender diverse resources for Early Childhood educators.
Opportunities will be increased to facilitate queer athletes.
Health system policies and practices will be improved for LGBTIQA+ members to have safe and inclusive access. This includes providing better pathways to gender-affirming healthcare.
Sexual health services will be expanded to North Canberra. Adding onto this, access to mpox and hepatitis B vaccination, and to STI and blood-borne virus prevention, testing and care, will be improved.
Objective 3: Advance legal and policy reforms to ensure equal rights
The third part of this plan stands to strengthen existing laws and improve the justice system to enhance a society where LGBTIQA+ members are included.
This includes identifying and introducing reforms that enhance LGBTIQA+ equality. Such as reviewing laws regarding hate crime laws and the ‘Variations in Sex Characteristics Act’ of 2023.
It also stands to strengthen the relationship between members of the LGBTIQA+ community and the police.
Objective 4: Empower safe, resilient, and sustainable LGBTIQA+ communities
The final part of this plan stands to empower the communities and services that bring positive contributions to society. This includes performers, artists, and initiatives.
The first order of business is supporting LGBTIQA+ peer-led organisations that meet the diverse and intersectional needs of queer communities.
Following this, support will be shown to queer and diverse initiatives through the Capital of Equality Grants Program.
There will be a celebration to mark the 10th anniversary of marriage equality, likely taking place in December of 2027.
Resource events for LGBTIQA+ members will be held to strengthen connections and celebrate diversity.
There will be an increase in representation and opportunities for LGBTIQA+ artists and performers.
Finally, step-by-step guides will be developed to provide practical tools for LGBTIQA+ communities to access these new systems, as well as various situations across justice and health.
Who The Office Works With
The LGBTIQA+ Ministerial Advisory Council
The LGBTIQA+ Ministerial Advisory Council acts as a method of sharing advice with the ACT Government. It is supported heavily by the Office of LGBTIQA+ Affairs.
The council is set up to gather information, consulting with LGBTIQA+ people to obtain a range of viewpoints and experiences, which is used to share updates, advise the government, and keep the Minister for Equality informed.
The council is only an advisory body, and does not have the power to change laws or act on the behalf of the government.
The council is made up of thirteen members of a range of different genders and sexualities. The members of the council were appointed by ACT ministers and carry a variety of different backgrounds.
SpringOUT
SpringOUT is a not-for-profit charity organisation which hosts various pride events throughout the year, particularly in November. They are supported by the Office of LGBTIQA+ Affairs.
The SpringOUT pride festival is one of the largest pride events in Canberra, aiming to spread awareness of LGBTIQA+ issues and communities.
They anchor Canberra as a hub of LGBTIQA+ events, such as a cabaret, a comedy gala, as well as various other exciting parties and events.
The largest of these events, held in Glebe Park on Saturday 31st October 2026 11:00am to 5:00pm, is the SpringOUT Fair Day, a free convention of music, market stalls, and delicious food, hosted for the benefit of queer communities around the ACT, by SpringOUT and Meridian.
Meridian
Meridian is an organisation centred around Canberra’s LGBTIQA+ community, hosting some of the best events and services for the queer community.
Some of the work they do is centred around your occupation, such as their LGBTIQA+ foundation training program or their tailored sessions.
Meridian also offers health and wellbeing support, including HIV testing and support for people living with or affected by HIV, mental health and wellbeing services, a needle and syringe program, and information about CanTEST, Canberra’s free drug checking service.
On top of this, Meridian has services for minorities within the LGBTIQA+ space, such as their aged care training and sex worker outreach program.
Where to Find Out More
The ACT Government will publish a progress report halfway through the Second Action Plan and a final report at the end, so the community can see how each action is tracking.
To read the full plan, learn about the Capital of Equality Grants Program or ask about free awareness training for your workplace, visit act.gov.au/lgbtiqa or email the Office of LGBTIQA+ Affairs at LGBTIQAOffice@act.gov.au.
If you’d like to meet the community in person, SpringOUT Fair Day at Glebe Park on Saturday 31 October is free and welcomes LGBTIQA+ people, their friends, families and allies.
If you’d like to talk to someone, QLife offers free, anonymous LGBTIQ+ peer support and referral on 1800 184 527, and Meridian provides peer-led support services in Canberra.
