| The following resources and
support groups for lesbian, bisexual and same sex attracted women
are mostly based in Victoria for Victorians. Some international web-based
resources are also provided.
A brief list of texts for health care providers is also provided.
Lesbian and bisexual women’s health guides and information
GLBTI Clearinghouse
Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria has established a web-based clearinghouse
for local and international lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender
health information and research
www.glhv.org.au
Opening the window: a guide to lesbian health
Produced by the Aids Council of New South Wales.. Sydney: Aids Council
of NSW; 2003. Available at http://www.acon.org.au/community/index.cfm?doc_id=1332&cat_id=72
ACON
Opening the Window Lesbian Health guide [pdf]
Caring for Lesbian Health A resource from Canada:
http://www.cwhn.ca/pdf/caring-lesbian-healthEN.pdf
Caring
for lesbian health [pdf]
Canadian Rainbow Health Coalition
A national organisation whose objective is to address the various
health and wellness issues that people who have sexual and emotional
relationships with people of the same gender, or a gender identity
that does not conform to the identity assigned to them at birth,
encounter.
They have supported various pamphlets and information on lesbian
and bisexual women’s health including:
Women and homosexuality, Quebec, 2001
Lesbian health, Vancouver, 2004
http://www.rainbowhealth.ca/english/index.html
Dr Kate O’Hanlan’s website
Kate is a gynaecological oncologist, and past president of the USA
Gay and Lesbian Medical Association. Her website contains some excellent
information: www.ohanlan.com/lhr.htm
Lesbian Health Research Centre, University of
San Francisco, California.
This includes health information and guidelines for what to ask
your doctor.
http://www.lesbianhealthinfo.org/
General lesbian issues
This website is USA based, www.lesbian.com
Australian Domestic Violence Clearinghouse – Gay
and Lesbian Relationships
http://www.austdvclearinghouse.unsw.edu.au/topics.htm
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General health information relevant to lesbian, bisexual and SSA
women
Women’s Health Victoria
Includes a clearinghouse of general women’s health information.
www.whv.org.au
Women’s Health Information Centre, Royal
Women’s Hospital,
132 Grattan St, Carlton, Melbourne.
Phone: 03 9344 2007, 1800 442 007
Library Resource Centre: 03 9344 2452
http://www.thewomens.org.au/WomensHealthInformationCentre
Women’s Health in the South East
Lesbian health program
54-58 Wells St, Frankston, 3199
Phone: 03 9783 3211
Email: whise@vicnet.net.au
www.vicnet.net.au/~whise
Women’s Health Grampians
Lesbian health is a focus.
90 Main Rd, Ballarat
Phone: 03 5332 9477, 1800 013 432
Email: adminv@whg.com.au
Loddon Mallee Women’s Health
Have a lesbian health worker.
47 Myers Street, Bendigo 3550,
Phone: 03 5443 0233, 1800 350 233
Email:lmwh@lmwh.net
The Jean Hailes Foundation
This is a not-for-profit organisation providing clinical care, education
and research for women from adolescence to mid-life and beyond.
They have a team of researchers, clinicians, and educators delivering
programs and resources to improve Australian women's health.
Contact: 173 Carinish Rd, Clayton, 3168
Phone: 03 9562 6771, 1800 151 441
Email: education@jeanhailes.org.au
Web: http://www.jeanhailes.org.au/
Better Health Channel
A site run by the Department of Human Services, Victoria
www.betterhealth.voc.gov.au
Equal Opportunity Commission of Victoria Offer a free complaint
resolution service and advice on discrimination and/or harassment.
Phone: 03 9281 7100, 1800 134 142, www.eoc.vic.gov.au
Melbourne Sexual Health Service
Free care for people with sexual health issues including sexually
transmitted infections, sexual counselling. The website contains
a series of fact sheets for consumers and health care providers.
580 Swanston St, Carlton
Phone: 03 9347 0244, 1800 032 017,
Website: www.mshc.org.au
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Support organisations
ALSO Foundation
A coordinating body for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender communities
providing social support and fund raising activities. The web site
includes a comprehensive community directory, which is also available
in hard copy. This is updated annually.
1st Floor, 35 Cato Street, Prahran, 3181
Telephone: 03 9510 5569
Fax: 03 9510 5699
Email: also@also.org.au
web site: www.also.org.au
Gay and Lesbian Switchboard
Provides a confidential peer-based counselling service for people
who are gay or lesbian and their family and friends, as well as
a referral service to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender social,
support and political groups. Also provides counselling for people
who are coming out as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
Telephone: 03 9510 5488 or 1800 631 493 Toll free
Fax: 03 9510 5699
Email: glswitch@vicnet.net.au
web site: www.vicnet.net.au/~glswitch
6.00pm-10pm daily & 2.00pm-10pm Wednesdays
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
Telephone: 03 9511 4083 Helpline
Fax: 03 9752 2081
Email: P.flagvic@hotmail.com
Website: http://www.geocities.com/westhollywood/6076/
Victorian Gay & Lesbian Rights Lobby
A lobby group that aims to achieve equality and social justice for
gay and lesbian people. Areas of work include research and education,
monitoring and responding to media, working with government and
policy makers, and working with other community organisations.
PO Box 2156, Fitzroy 3065
Telephone: 0417 484 438 or 0417 484 427
Email: info@vglrl.org.au
Website: www.vglrl.org.au
Over the Rainbow
A guide to the law for gay men and lesbians in Victoria. 3rd Edition,
2004.
Available from URL: http://over-the-rainbow.org/
The Australian Lesbian Medical Association (ALMA)
ALMA is a group for lesbian medical students, doctors and their
partners. It runs an annual national conference, State-based social
events and an email group. They also advocate for the health care
needs of lesbian and bisexual women.
Email: info@almas.net.au
Web: www.almas.net.au
Bi Pride Australia
Support for bisexual women and men.
www.bi-org.au/bpa/
Australian gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex
and queer multicultural council
The first conference was held in 2004. The aim was “to highlight,
discuss, explore and respond to issues relating to sexual diversity
across and within the various ethnic communities. We recognise the
need to address the issue that there exists diversity within diversity.”
The website includes a multicultural groups directory.
PO Box 342, Carlton South, 3053
Phone: 0431 432 412
Email: contact@agmc.org.au
Website: http://www.agmc.org.au
Victorian Aids Council
Offering counselling, support groups, information for LGBT people
6 Claremont St, South Yarra,
Phone: 03 9865 6700, 1800 134 840,
www.vicaids.asn.au
Victoria Police Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officers
Several Victorian police officers have been designated to have a
liaison role with the GLBTI communities. They can be contacted to
be involved in events, speak, and give advice.
Phone: 03 9247 6944
www.police.voc.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
www.gwcsa.org
Rainbow Network
A coordinating group for same sex attracted youth services and groups
across Victoria.
http://www.frontyard.org/rainbownetwork.htm
TransGender Victoria
Aiming to achieve justice and equity for all transgender people,
including those who identify as cross dressers, those who identify
as being transsexual, and all other people with gender-related issues
http://home.vicnet.net.au/~victrans/
Pink Board
An electronic meeting place for lesbians, bisexuals, gay men, transgender
people in Australia and around the world. Guide to accommodation,
personals, classifieds, venue guide and gossip, community groups
listing.
http://www.pinkboard.com.au/
The Pink Sofa
This is the largest online lesbian community for personals, chat
and forums.
www.thepinksofa.com.au
Hares and Hyenas Bookshop
Based in Prahran, Melbourne this bookshop caters for the lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender communities.
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
Web: http://www.feministbookshop.com/
GLBTI Retirement Association
Email: info@grai.org.au
Web: http://www.grai.org.au
Lemonkind
A web-based resource of information, discussion forums
and resources for Australian lesbians and bisexual women.
www.lemonkind.com
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Texts on lesbian and bisexual women’s health for health
care providers
Peterkin, Allan, & Risdon, Cathy. Caring for lesbian and gay
people: a clinical guide. Toronto: Toronto University Press, 2003.
Meyer Ilan H and Northridge Mary E (Editors), The Health of Sexual Minorities. Public health perspectives on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender populations. Springer: New York, 2007
Gruskin EP. Treating lesbian and bisexual women: challenges and
strategies for health professionals. San Francisco: Sage Publications,
1999.
Solarz, A. Lesbian health: current assessment and directions for
the future. Washington: Committee on Lesbian Health Research Priorities,
Neuroscience and Behavioral Health Program, Health Sciences Policy
Program, Health Sciences Section, Institute of Medicine, 1999.
Bradford, D., Fairley, C. K., & Russell, D. (2005). Sexual
health medicine. East Hawthorn, Vic.: IP Communications, 2005.
This includes chapters relevant to same sex attracted women’s
health:
- Sexual diversity by David Bradford
- Taking a sexual history by Roy Chan
- Lesbianism and bisexual women’s sexuality by Ruth McNair
- Transgender sexual health by Darren Russell
Booth, Carol. Woman to woman: a guide to lesbian sexuality. Sydney:
Simon and Schuster, 2002.
Kelly, Jennifer. Zest for life: lesbians' experiences of menopause.
Melbourne: Spinifex Press, 2005.
D. Davies & C. Neal (Eds.), Pink Therapy. A guide for counsellors
and therapists working with lesbian, gay and bisexual clients. Buckingham:
Open University Press, 1994.
Gay and Lesbian Medical Association. Healthy people 2010. Companion
document for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender health. San
Francisco: Gay and Lesbian Medical Association, 2001.
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