Health & health care for lesbian, bisexual and same sex attracted women

Links

Opening the window: a guide to lesbian health
Produced by the Aids Council of New South Wales, Sydney: Aids Council of NSW; 2003.
URL: http://www.acon.org.au/community/index.cfm?doc_id=1332&cat_id=72

Outreach
An Australian site for same sex attracted young people
URL: http://www.also.org.au/outreach

The Alsorts Directory
A comprehensive list of services and contacts for same sex attracted young people
URL: http://www.also.org.au/alsorts

Girl2Girl
A website dedicated to safe sex information for women who have sex with women. Created by Family Planning ACT.
URL: http://www.girl2girl.info/intro.html

Pinkboard Classifieds (Australian website)
See the classified section under parenting/sperm donors
URL: http://www.pinkboard.com.au/cgi/Classifieds/

Australian Sperm Donor Registry
A database of donors, a fee is payable to access contact details of potential donors.
URL: http://www.australianspermdonorregistry.net

Over the Rainbow
A guide to the law for gay men and lesbians in Victoria. 3rd Edition, 2004.
URL: http://over-the-rainbow.org/

Talking Turkey
A legal guide on same sex parenting, which has been produced by the Inner City Legal Centre in Sydney. This has been updated in 2005.
URL: http://www.iclc.org.au/talking_turkey/

Obtaining parenting orders in Victoria
The Family Court of Australia has developed a streamlined procedure for
lesbian parents who want to obtain parenting orders. The procedure, forms and instructions are outlined on the Family Court website. Use the links below.

Melbourne URL: http://www.familycourt.gov.au/presence/connect/www/home/about/court_registries/Melbourne/artificial_conception_consent_procedure

Dandenong URL: http://www.familycourt.gov.au/presence/connect/www/home/about/court_registries/Dandenong/artificial_conception_consent_procedure

A Review of the Research on Lesbian and Gay Families
Millbank, J. Meet the Parents: A Review of the Research on Lesbian and Gay Families. Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby (NSW), 2002.
URL: http://www.glrl.org.au/pdf/major_reports/meet_the_parents.pdf

Lesbian health and menopause
Jean Hailes Foundation website:
URL: http://www.jeanhailes.org.au/issues/menopause.htm

GLBTI Retirement Association Inc, Australia
URL: http://www.grai.org.au

Hares and Hyenas Bookshop
Based in Prahran, Melbourne this bookshop caters for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities.
URL: http://www.hares-hyenas.com.au/

The Feminist Bookshop
Based in Sydney, this bookshop offers shipping of books around Australia and has comprehensive lists of books on lesbian issues, sexuality, abuse and more.
Phone: 02 9810 2666
Email: feministbookshop@iprimus.com.au
URL: http://www.feministbookshop.com/

Services and Support groups in Victoria, Australia

Minus 18
Alcohol and drug free events for same sex attracted people under 18 years old
URL: http://www.minus18.org

SSAFE Same sex attracted friendly environments
This is a website operated by Family Planning Victoria that provides a regularly updated list of same sex attracted youth services around Victoria.
URL: http://www.ssafeschools.org.au/referral.cfm

Frontyard Youth Support Services
Counselling, housing, support services for people aged 15 to 25 in Parkville.
Phone: 03 9611 2411, 1800 800 531
URL: http://www.frontyard.org

Prospective lesbian parents group
A Melbourne-based group for same sex attracted women planning pregnancy.
URL: http://www.vicnet.net.au/~plpvic

Maybebaby group
A Melbourne-based group for same sex attracted women and men planning families. Email: maybebabymelbourne@yahoo.com.au
URL: http://www.maybebaby.org.au/

Rainbow Families conferences
Conferences are held every 18 months or so in Melbourne for same sex parents and their children. These provide an opportunity to meet, find resources, hear presentations and workshops.
Email address: info@rainbowfamilies.org.au
URL: http://www.rainbowfamilies.org.au/

The Rainbow Families Council of Victoria
This group was established in September 2006 to incorporate a variety of needs of LGBT parents and families. It will facilitate the periodic Rainbow Families conferences, other education events, resourcing, lobbying for legal and social reforms, and maintain the website.
URL: http://www.rainbowfamilies.org.au/

Drummond Street Relationship Centre
Provides counselling for individuals, couples and families.
195 Drummond St, Carlton,
Phone: 03 9663 6733
URL: http://www.drummondstreet.com.au

The Bouverie Centre, Victoria’s Family Institute
A public centre offering counselling for families. This is a lesbian and gay sensitive service.
50 Flemington Street, Flemington 3031
Phone: 03 9376 9844
Email: bouverie.centre@latrobe.edu.au
URL: http://www.latrobe.edu.au/bouverie/

The Matrix Guild, Victoria
A group run by lesbians in Victoria. They are committed to the establishment of appropriate care and accommodation and the support of alternative lifestyle options for lesbians over 40.
Contact: PO Box 99, Fairfield 3078
Phone: 03 9347 2532
URL: http://home.vicnet.net.au/~matrix/welcome.htm

Linx
A support group for lesbians, meeting weekly on Thursday evenings.
Contact: PO Bo 152, Ashburton, 3147
Email: lynx@aussiemail.com.au
URL: http://www.geocities.com/lynxincmelb

Victorian Aids Council
Lesbian-aware public counselling is available at the Victorian Aids Council
6 Claremont St, South Yarra,
Phone: 03 9865 6700, 1800 134 840,
URL: http://www.vicaids.asn.au/

Women’s Circus
Footscray Community Arts Centre
45 Moreland Street, Footscray, 3011
Ph: 03 9687 3665
Fax: 03 9687 6041
Email: info@womenscircus.org.au
Web: http://www.womenscircus.org.au

Domestic Violence Incest and Resource Centre, Victoria
Information for lesbians on violence and abuse in relationships
URL: http://home.vicnet.net.au/~dvirc/Lesbian%20DV.htm

Turning Point
A public health care service in Melbourne dedicated to drug and alcohol issues.
54–62 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, 3065
Phone: 03 8413 8413
Email: info@turningpoint.org.au
URL: http://www.turningpoint.org.au

WIRE – women’s information and referral exchange
A telephone service run by women for women and based in Victoria.
Phone: 1300 134 130, 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday
URL: http://www.wire.org.au

Women’s Heath in the South East
Lesbian health program.
54-58 Wells St, Frankston, Victoria
Phone: 03 9783 3211
Email: whise@vicnet.net.au
URL: http://www.vicnet.net.au/~whise

Women’s Health Grampians
Lesbian health is a focus.
90 Main Rd, Ballarat, Victoria
Phone: 03 5332 9477, 1800 013 432
Email: adminv@whg.com.au

Women’s Health Loddon Mallee
47 Myers Street, Bendigo, Vic
Phone: 03 5443 0233, 1800 350 233
Email: whlm@whlm.org.au
Website: http://www.whlm.org.au/

ALSO Foundation
1st Floor, 35 Cato Street, Prahran, 3181
Phone: 03 9510 5569
Email: also@also.org.au
URL: http://www.also.org.au/

Gay and Lesbian Switchboard
Provides a confidential peer-based counselling and referral service for people who are gay or lesbian and their family and friends
Phone: 03 9510 5488 or 1800 631 493 Toll free
Email: glswitch@vicnet.net.au
URL: http://www.vicnet.net.au/~glswitch

PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)
An informal support group for families and friends of someone who is lesbian, gay or bisexual.
PO Box 741, Glen Waverley 3150
Phone: 03 9511 4083
Email: P.flagvic@hotmail.com
URL: http://www.geocities.com/westhollywood/6076/

The Australian Lesbian Medical Association (ALMA)
ALMA is a group for lesbian medical students, doctors and their partners.
Email: info@almas.net.au
URL: http://www.almas.net.au/

Bi Pride Australia
Support for bisexual women and men.
URL: http://www.bi-org.au/bpa/

Australian gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer multicultural council
The website includes a multicultural groups directory.
PO Box 342, Carlton South, 3053
Phone: 0431 432 412
Email: contact@agmc.org.au
URL: http://www.agmc.org.au

Victoria Police Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officers
Phone: 03 9247 6944
URL: http://www.police.vic.gov.au

Lesbian Open House
An informal discussion and support group for same sex attracted women.
Meet at 14 Smith St, Collingwood, every 1st and 3rd Thursday evening.
Phone: 0409 255 775

Gay Women’s Cancer Support Group, Victoria.
A group for information, support and advocacy.
Phone: 03 9876 0939, 1800 002 174, 0417 525 493
URL: http://www.gwcsa.org

Rainbow Visions
A group for gay and lesbian ageing resources and activities established in the Hunter Valley NSW. It contains excellent links to other sites.
URL: http://www.rainbowvisions.org.au

Lemonkind
A web-based resource of information, discussion forums and resources for Australian lesbians and bisexual women.
URL: http://www.lemonkind.com

Resources for Health Care Providers and other Service providers

Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria
Establishing standards of care for LGBT people and developing training modules for health care providers.
La Trobe University, 1st Floor, 215 Franklin St, Melbourne 3000, Victoria
Phone: 03 9285 5382
Email: info@glhv.org.au
URL: http://www.glhv.org.au

Australian Medical Association
Position Statement on Sexual Identity and Gender Diversity, 2002.
URL: http://www.ama.com.au/web.nsf/doc/WEEN-5GA2YX

Overview paper on lesbian health
McNair RP. Lesbian health inequalities: a cultural minority issue for health professionals. MJA 2003; 178: 643-645.
URL: http://www.mja.com.au/public/issues/178_12_160603/mcn10852_fm.html

We're here - a resource for childcare workers.
A booklet written by members of the lesbian parents playgroups in the City of Darebin, Victoria, 2001.
Available from Darebin Community Health Centre
Phone: 03 9478-5711) or from URL: http://www.edfac.unimelb.edu.au/LED/CEIEC/resources.html in ‘other publications’

Australian research about same sex attracted youth
Hillier L, Turner A, Mitchell A. Writing themselves in again: 6 years on. The second national report on the sexuality, health and well-being of same sex attracted young people in Australia. Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, 2005.
URL: http://www.latrobe.edu.au/ssay/index.html

Not round here: affirming diversity, challenging homophobia
A training manual for use in anti-homophobia training for service providers.
Authors Kenton Penley Miller and Mahamati.
URL: http://www.hreoc.gov.au/human_rights/gay_lesbian/index.html

Gay and Lesbian Ageing Issues in Australia
This site is owned by Dr Jo Harrison, University of South Australia.
URL: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~jamms

Clinical Guidelines: Creating a safe clinical environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex clients.
Gay and Lesbian Medical Association, USA.
URL: http://www.glma.org/medical/clinical/lgbti_clinical_guidelines.pdf

Not 'just' a friend: best practice guidance on health care for lesbian, gay and bisexual service users and their families
A joint publication of the Royal College of Nursing, UK and UNISON, the UK trade union for public sector workers, 2003.
URL: http://www.rcn.org.uk/london/downloads/notjustafriend.pdf

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Education Modules
Council of Ontario Faculties of Medicine, Canada
URL: http://www.genderandhealth.ca/en/modules/sexandsexuality

GLMA-Columbia University White paper on LGBT Health
This paper was written in 2000 to contribute LGBT content for the national Healthy People 2010 health plan of the USA.
URL: http://www.glma.org/pub/jglma/vol4/3/index.shtml

International Links

Canadian Rainbow Health Coalition
URL: http://www.rainbowhealth.ca/english/index.html

The Mautner project, USA
A resource, education and research centre for lesbian and bisexual women’s health.
URL: http://www.mautnerproject.org

Classic Dykes
A website provides a list of resources, advice and chat and North American stories of women coming out later in life called Latebloomers.
URL: http://www.classicdykes.com/

Dr Kate O’Hanlan’s lesbian health website
Kate is a gynaecological oncologist, and past president of the USA Gay and Lesbian Medical Association.
URL: http://www.ohanlan.com/lhr.htm

Lesbian Health Research Centre, University of San Francisco, California.
This includes lesbian health information and guidelines.
URL: http://www.lesbianhealthinfo.org/

General lesbian issues
URL: http://www.lesbian.com

Rainbow Hope
A UK-based online support group for lesbian survivors of abuse and their partners.
URL: http://www.rainbowhope.org/

Domestic Violence in Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Relationships
URL: http://www.lambda.org/DV_background.htm