Rainbow Council Project

To help improve the wellbeing and inclusion of LGBTIQA+ people in our community, the Rainbow Local Council Project will equip councils and the local government sector with resources, guides and expert advice to help strengthen local government engagement with and inclusion of LGBTIQA+ people.

The outcomes and benefits that will be delivered through this program include:

• improving LGBTIQA+ community wellbeing and inclusion by building sector capability across South Australian councils.
• developing resources and guides for councils to use to help foster inclusion, visibility and safety of LGBTIQA+ people in their communities
• creating a network of individuals to provide expert advice to local councils on LGBTIQA+ issues.

LGBTIQA+ South Australians experience poorer health and wellbeing outcomes compared to the general population, often a result of ongoing discrimination and stigma based on our sex, sexuality, gender identity and intersex status.

Private Lives 3 (2020), Australia’s largest national study on the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQA people, found that:

• 57% of participants had been treated unfairly because of their sexual orientation in the last 12 months
• 39.1% of participants reported have been diagnosed or treated for depression in the past 12 months, nearly 10 times (4.1%) compared to the general population. 
• 57.2% of participants reported high or very high levels of psychological distress during the past four weeks.

Local councils play a vital role in providing essential services that enable our communities to thrive. As the closest level of government to the community they serve, local councils are well placed to help create connected communities where everyone belongs.

Participating in this project will provide local councils with:

• resources, guides and expert advice to help strengthen with and inclusion of LGBTIQA+ people
  
• strategies to improve the wellbeing and inclusion of LGBTIQA+ people in your community
• support of a network of individuals championing LGBTIQA+ inclusion across South Australian local government sector.

All participating councils will be acknowledged on the project’s webpage and in resources developed during the project.

The Rainbow Council Network is a group of Councillors and council staff who champion LGBTIQA+ inclusion across South Australia's local government sector.

The Network will come together four times in 2025 to:

• learn strategies to improve the wellbeing and inclusion of LGBTIQA+ people in your community
• share initiatives and experiences in LGBTIQA+ inclusion on behalf of your council 
• guide the development of LGBTIQA+ inclusion resources for local councils.

All Councils are invited to nominate a Councillor and council staff member to represent your organisation on the Rainbow Council Network.

Representatives will come together at quarterly online meetings in 2025 to: 

• learn strategies to improve the wellbeing and inclusion of LGBTIQA+ people in your community
• share initiatives and experiences in LGBTIQA+ inclusion on behalf of your council
• guide the development of LGBTIQA+ inclusion resources for local councils. 

We ask for those to be involved to:

• attend 4 online meetings in 2025
• approach the project with an open mind and heart, ready to listen, learn and engage
• connect with other similarly motivated people across the state
• be motivated to promote policies and programs that positively affect LGBTIQA+ communities
• reflect on the current state of policies and programs in your area
• share ideas and resources to enhance health, safety, inclusion, and equity of LGBTIQA+ people in your local council area.

We recognise that some local councils may wish to pass a motion endorsing participation in the project.

You may wish to consider the following motion:

1. …..(suggested staff and Councillor)....... be registered for consideration of the South Australian Rainbow Advocacy Alliance for the Rainbow Council Network for 2025. 

We request all local councils to complete the Rainbow Council Project scoping survey online. 

The survey aims to understand current and previous LGBTIQA+ initiatives within local government in South Australia. We recognise that many councils already support and celebrate LGBTIQA+ wellbeing, and we want to share your success to inspire others. 

The survey includes 10 questions and should take no more than 10 minutes to complete. 

An LGBTIQA+ inclusion initiative is a program, policy or regulation designed to support LGBTIQA+ communities.

This could include:

• ensuring council services are LGBTIQA+ inclusive
• undertaking Rainbow Tick accreditation or a similar accreditation program for council run services
• running an LGBTIQA+ advisory committee
• developing and implementing an LGBTIQA+ action plan for council
• flying the rainbow flag from council buildings on LGBTIQA+ awareness days
• marching at the state Pride March under a council banner
• participating and/ or funding artists to participate in Feast Festival, South Australia's LGBTIQA+ arts & cultural festival
• passing motions to support LGBTIQA+ equality
• training staff on LGBTIQA+ inclusion
• making all gender toilets and change rooms available at public and sporting facilities
• making public statements in support of trans and gender diverse people in your local community

We recognise that LGBTIQA+ people living regionally face additional barriers and require extra support.

We've incorporated some budget to allow us to visit regional and rural councils to provide support in person regarding LGBTIQA+ inclusion.

If this sounds like something you'd benefit from, contact Brett McAloney, Community Engagement Officer by email at brett@saraa.org.au.

This project has been supported by the Local Government Research & Development Scheme administered by the Local Government Association of South Australia to run from 1 December 2024 to 21 December 2025.

Sponsorship towards the Rainbow Council Network was supplied by SA Power Networks Employee Foundation.

SA Rainbow Advocacy Alliance (SARAA) is running this project with generous support from the Local Government Association of South Australia and SA Power Network's Employee Foundation.

SARAA is a charitable peak body for LGBTIQA+ South Australians and the sector that supports us. We work to support LGBTIQA+ South Australians to thrive in an inclusive society where we experience optimal health, safety, inclusion, equity, and equality.

You can find out more about the SA Rainbow Advocacy Alliance here.

If you want to discuss this project or have any questions, please contact us by email at info@saraa.org.au.