The iconic Mardi Gras Festival is back from 14th February to 2nd March 2025! Celebrating its 47th year, the festival’s theme is Free to Be.
“Free To Be is a manifesto of what our community has desired and fought for dozens of decades, and the reason why we will continue to be here, fighting, celebrating and being fiercely visible for the generations to come,” said Gil Beckwith, CEO of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.
“Our theme is about making a statement to embrace and rejoice in our unique individuality as well as our collective identity. It is about the bravery to rise for each other in the darkest of times and protect the progress we’ve made, using it as a springboard toward the progress we deserve.”
There are many ways to get involved in Mardi Gras. You could attend an event or even volunteer! Volunteering is a great way to support the LGBTQIA+ community, make new friends and gain work experience. Find out more on the Mardi Gras website. Many education institutions also have local on campus events to celebrate so check them out too.
In this blog post we share an international student’s experience who is both culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) and part of the gender and sexuality diverse community. Read on to hear their experience of accessing sexual, reproductive and mental health and community support for LGBTQIA+ international students in Australia, the challenges and opportunities. Everyone should feel safe and supported to access the information and services they need to live a healthy and happy life.
An International Student’s Experience
Introducing Dr Alison Guo, a Chinese international student who studied education, identifies in the queer community. Dr Alison enjoys wearing traditional clothing and has a passion for pastel oil painting. Dr Alison shares her thoughts on community empowerment, accessible multicultural peer support and mental health and wellbeing services for LGBTQIA+ communities.
Reaching out to services and actively finding information that is right for me gave me knowledge and confidence to make decisions about my health and wellbeing. In the past, I have encountered significant challenges around cultural awareness and LGBTQ+ friendliness. It’s important to me that I share my experience to help others who may face the same challenges that I did.
Firstly, accessing a counsellor or doctor that speaks in your language (if that makes you feel more comfortable) is the first step to getting the health support that you need. Here in Australia, you also have the right to ask for an interpreter to discuss your health needs – so don’t be afraid to ask for one.
Although fluent in English, I still feel more comfortable discussing my emotions and private matters with counsellors or doctors in my native language. Communicating in my mother tongue allows me to express my feelings more accurately and naturally, avoiding potential misjudgements that may arise when using English. This linguistic connection creates a space where emotions can be articulated with precision, leading to a more effective therapeutic or medical process. With culturally similar service providers, I feel a deeper connection and trust, as I believe they can better understand my experiences and perspectives.
If you would like a translator or interpreter to help you access services, please contact the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National is available 24 hours a day) by calling 131 450.
Over my four years at university, I have found helpful inclusive organisations and support services for queer, culturally and linguistically diverse international students that offer a space where our voices heard, and our unique challenges are understood. I recommend you pay it forward and share these with your friends and peers.
- Australia & New Zealand Tongzhi Rainbow Alliance (ANTRA): ANTRA is a community-based not-for-profit organisation dedicated to supporting the health and wellbeing for the Chinese-speaking LGBTQIA+ community in Australia. I discovered ANTRA through another queer Chinese international student close to my graduation and liked their list of LGBTQ+ friendly psychological and medical experts, some fluent in Mandarin or Cantonese.
- Australian GLBTIQ Multicultural Council (AGMC): AGMC is a volunteer-run community organisation advocating for the rights and inclusion of multicultural and multifaith LGBTIQ communities.
- Trikone: Trikone is a non-profit, volunteer-led social-support organisation for LGBTIQ+ people of South Asian descent living in Australia.
- Sydney Queer Muslims: Sydney Queer Muslims is a non-profit organisation for LGBT Muslims lef by LGBT Muslims dedicated to providing social support, education and resources to individuals and families in NSW.
- Multicultural HIV and Hepatitis Service (MHAHS): MHAHS works with culturally and linguistically diverse communities in NSW to improve health and well-being in relation to HIV, hepatitis B and hepatitis C. The service works with more than 20 language groups and implements a range of health promotion, community development and media initiatives, as well as offering individual assistance to people living with HIV.
- ACON: ACON is a community health organisation that provides a range of free services to support gay, lesbian, bisexual+ and queer people who live in NSW. They aim to reduce HIV transmission among gay and homosexually active men, support people with HIV and improve the health and wellbeing of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people.
- QLife: QLife provides anonymous and free LGBTIQ+ peer support and referral for people in Australia wanting to talk about sexuality, gender, bodies, feelings or relationships.
- Reach Out: Reach Out have a great article on their website with national and statewide culturally diverse LGBTQIA+ support services and groups here.
Support
Support is available to you when you need it. You can contact these trustworthy support services:
