Thursday, 22 February 2024

Ministers statements: QHub

Harriet SHING (Eastern Victoria – Minister for Housing, Minister for Water, Minister for Equality) (12:01): I rise today in my capacity as Minister for Equality. On 14 February QHub Geelong opened to increase access to health and mental health support services for LGBTIQA+ young people and their families across the region. It is the second of two physical hubs launched as part of the safe spaces initiative, providing outreach to Surf Coast as well as online support. QHub Ballarat is already successfully up and running after launching the service on 6 December last year, and the name was changed from Safe Spaces to QHub after it was chosen by 350 LGBTIQA+ young people in a co-design process. Both of the physical sites have facilitated holiday programs for young LGBTIQA+ people over the 2023 end-of-year school closure period. It is a critical and life-saving program that has the voices of local communities at its heart, supported by a $3.2 million investment across the 2022–‍23 budget to trial LGBTIQA+ youth safe spaces for Western Victoria.

This is of vital importance to people in Geelong and the Surf Coast, and we know that social connection cannot be underestimated in combating feelings of isolation and loneliness and in improving what we all know to be poorer whole-of-life mental health outcomes and greater risks of suicidal ideation, self-harm and indeed suicide. We will continue to promote the health and wellbeing of all LGBTIQA+ people and to ensure that the right supports are provided to improve those outcomes. Thank you to Jack Khouri, Karen Field, Wendy Sturgess and local members Darren Cheeseman, Christine Couzens, Ella George, Alison Marchant and Gayle Tierney for their support of the services, and thank you to all supporters, advocates and leaders who contributed to QHub Geelong. Your efforts will leave an indelible and positive mark on LGBTIQA+ opportunities, wellbeing and allies for years to come.