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 believe every rural LGBTIQA+ community can flourish when people feel connected, supported, and celebrated—no matter how remote. We reshape the “rural deficit” narrative by amplifying stories of hope, progress, and celebration in local contexts, we’re committed to ensuring accessible, affirming services reach even the most isolated areas.
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)
Add: Maxine and Aden/Meg
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 a pilot town to lift LGBTIQA+ inclusion. ‘Strategic cuppas’ revealed persistent fear—local stories of queer residents being “run out of town”—and no openly LGBTIQA+ community presence.
A health-promotion officer captured local sentiment: “We just don’t want to be the only ones who care.”Determined action followed. 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.
During the Marriage Equality debate our Equilibrium campaign put 100 respected locals on the town’s biggest wall, publicly pledging support and sparking town-wide conversations.We still return regularly—delivering advanced inclusion workshops, supporting Swan Hill’s LGBTIQA+ Network, and linking the town to our statewide Rural LGBTIQA+ Practice community.