Page 3912 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 1 December 2021
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professionals, about the best way to reform policy so that it ensures essential medical care is always provided, while medical treatments that can be delayed are deferred until an individual is able to participate in that decision-making. Over the coming months the government will undertake public consultation on a draft bill to provide these important protections, with an aim to introduce the legislation into the Assembly in the middle of next year.
In addition, the government is funding A Gender Agenda to employ a dedicated intersex peer support worker. We will be the only jurisdiction in Australia with such a position. This initiative forms part of additional funding for A Gender Agenda of $623,000 over four years, outlined in the 2021-22 budget. This means that intersex people and parents of intersex children in Canberra are being provided with expert support and holistic advice. We have also provided funds to enable the next annual conference of Intersex Peer Support Australia to be held in Canberra.
Madam Speaker, we are investing in support systems for Canberra’s schools, including the safe and inclusive schools initiative. In May the government released a good practice guide for supporting students who are affirming their gender at school. The guide helps schools to be proactive in gender-inclusive practices and support students who are transgender and gender diverse when they decide they wish to share or express their gender identity or expression at school. We know how crucial and how lifesaving it is for young trans and gender diverse people to be supported and affirmed, and we are proud to be championing this initiative in Canberra.
We have funded targeted, peer-led services to provide lifesaving psychosocial supports to LGBTIQ+ Canberrans, as well as training to improve the competence and responsiveness of mainstream organisations. The supporting and strengthening LGBTIQ+ communities initiative, implemented by Meridian since 2019, has already delivered over 1,500 hours of psychosocial services to LGBTIQ+ people and their families. The initiative has established a specialist service user reference group to improve communication and collaboration between services and organisations working with people, families and communities.
Madam Speaker, we know that there is no universal LGBTIQ+ experience and that migration status, race, ethnicity, disability and socioeconomic status, among many other factors, often contribute to poorer outcomes in all areas of public and private lives. Through the Capital of Equality Grants Program we have provided over $300,000 to more than 30 innovative opportunities providing connection, belonging and community for LGBTIQ+ Canberrans with intersecting marginalised experiences. Some of the grants, accounting for around 30 per cent of all allocated funds, have specifically supported local projects led by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and culturally and linguistically diverse communities. We have supported a wide range of larger scale community events, from SpringOUT to Yes!Fest, to provide the opportunity to celebrate pride, celebrate strength and the resilience of our communities.
We have provided financial support to enable young and emerging leaders to engage in training on advocacy and leadership and attend the Canberra Together and Better Together conferences, including support for leaders in the asexual community. We
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