We exist to transform regional, rural and remote communities across Australia, ensuring LGBTIQA+ people thrive wherever they live, and providing signs of LGBTIQA+ hope. This means that everyday LGBTIQA+ people will feel more safe, supported, welcome and included wherever they live.
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At Rural Pride Australia, we're proud of the work we've done alongside LGBTIQA+ people and mainstream organisations across regional, rural and remote Australia. In partnership with locals, we've changed and saved everyday LGBTIQA+ lives, and moved beyond a “rural deficit” approach.
Daniel and Rural Pride Australia have been instrumental in supporting our Board to implement a strategic plan looking to the future. Daniel’s ability to listen, hear and support communities to pave a way forward is second to none. (Damien, Treasurer, Goulburn Valley Pride)
Golden Plains Shire asked Rural Pride Australia to weave LGBTIQA+ inclusion into its “16 Days of Action Against Violence Against Women.” Our “strategic cuppas” revealed silence—“It’s not talked about… we’re behind the times”—and one staffer who felt like “the only gay in the village.”
During the campaign we ran two all-staff Beyond the LGBTIQA+ Basics sessions, linking queer inclusion to gender-based violence and setting 16 practical “homowork” tasks for participants. Backed by the CEO, we then trained the Shire’s Gender Equity Champions in Engaging LGBTIQA+ Resistance and the Rainbow Ready Roadmap so they could apply an LGBTIQA+ lens to forthcoming Gender Impact Assessments.
A follow-up workshop with executives and councillors tackled community concerns and anticipated pushback.The result: Golden Plains adopted a Rainbow Ready-style LGBTIQA+ Action Plan and now raises the rainbow flag on a dedicated community pole every IDAHOBIT.
Rural Pride Australia, funded by the Victorian Government, chose Swan Hill as one of three pilot towns for the LGBTIQA+ Equality Roadshow. ‘Strategic cuppas’ revealed a lack of local safety and visibility, and local services without the LGBTIQA+ knowledge and practice needed.
On our first visit we heard from two local workers: “We just don’t want to be the only ones who care.” At our LGBTIQA+ 101 workshop two long-time colleagues realised they were both mothers of gay sons. Soon after, every major service agreed to back a new youth support group, and we helped embed inclusion in the new headspace centre.
Those young people led the way during the Marriage Equality debate, with their Equilibrium campaign putting 100 respected locals on the town’s biggest wall, publicly pledging support and sparking town-wide conversations. We still return regularly—delivering workshops, supporting Swan Hill’s LGBTIQA+ Network, and linking the town to our statewide Rural LGBTIQA+ Practice community. Recently we gave a Signs of Hope grant to a newly formed trans and gender diverse group.
