LGBTIQA+ counselling and support

About LGBTIQA+ counselling

You're not alone

At the University, we value and celebrate the richness diversity brings to our community. We are committed to fostering a safe and respectful environment free from discrimination, harassment, vilification, or victimisation based on sex, sexuality, or gender identity.

We acknowledge there can be a wide range of unique challenges facing people from the LGBTIQA+ community:

  • Sexual orientation and decisions on 'coming out/inviting in'
  • Determining an authentic sense of 'self' in relation to societal pressures
  • Strategies to deal with improving self-esteem and confidence to better deal with isolation, harassment, rejection or homophobia
  • Safe sex practices and health-related matters
  • Managing depression, anxiety and stress.

LGBTIQA+ affirming individual counselling

Exploring, understanding, and/or sharing your sexuality, gender identity, or sex can be a deeply personal process with many potential benefits and challenges. Some people find it helpful to talk with someone they trust, like a friend or a qualified counsellor.

Our service offers LGBTIQA+ affirming counselling that validates the experiences of LGBTIQA+ people and provides a safe and supportive space for LGBTIQA+ people to address unique challenges and issues related to their sexuality, gender identity, or sex.

LGBTIQA+ counselling can also be suitable for people wanting to work on general mental health and wellbeing challenges with someone who is able to tailor the counselling to the unique needs of the LGBTIQA+ community.

Students and staff can book in to see our LGBTIQA+ counsellor, Jean Popomilkov, who is a member of the LGBTIQA+ community and has significant experience working with LGBTIQA+ people. We also have several counsellors who identify as part of the LGBTIQA+ community and have interest and experience in providing LGBTIQA+ affirming counselling who can support you. You can easily identify Jean and other LGBTIQA+ identifying counsellors by the presence of a rainbow pride flag next to their profile on our staff page.

While some LGBTIQA+ students may prefer to see an LGBTIQA+ identifying counsellor, all our counsellors are welcoming and supportive of people of all backgrounds. You can read more about our staff on our staff page. If you would like to see a specific counsellor, you can request this - we will do our best to meet your request depending on availability.

Appointments can be booked online or by phone at 03 8344 6927.

eQuip: LGBTIQA+ Wellbeing and Resilience Group Program

This is a group counselling program for students who identify as part of the LGBTIQA+ community. The group aims to equip participants with tools and strategies to navigate mental health challenges, reflect on values and future directions, and connect with other LGBTIQA+ students who share similar experiences.

The group is facilitated by LGBTIQA+ CAPS counsellors and runs during the academic year. You can get up-to-date information about this program and register your interest in participating here.

Further support

  • LGBTIQA+ support (General)
    • Minus18 - Australia's youth driven network for LGBTIQA+ young people.
    • Rainbow Door - Free, specialist LGBTIQA+ helpline for all LGBTIQA+ people in Victoria. Experienced peers provide information, referral, and support to enable LGBTIAQ+ people, their friends, and their families to navigate the system and access the supports they need within a safe environment.
    • Qlife - Anonymous and free LGBTI peer support and referral for people in Australia wanting to talk about sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings, or relationships.
    • Switchboard - Community based not for profit organisation that provides a peer driven, support service for LGBTIQA+ communities and their allies, friends, support workers and families.
    • Queerspace - Family support agency that provides counselling and support to LGBTIQA+ people and their families.
    • Thorne Harbour Health - Counselling, peer, and community support for the local LGBTIQA+ community in the areas of HIV, trans and gender diverse health, mental health, alcohol and other drugs, and relationship and family violence.
  • LGBTIQA+ friendly GP clinics and health services
    • Docdir - Australia's national directory of LGBTIQ+ friendly health clinicians.
    • Equinox - Specifically trans and gender diverse health clinic located in Fitzroy providing GP services, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) management, sexual health, and counselling.
    • La Trobe Communication Clinic - Offers voice and communication training for trans people. The service is supported by world leading researchers, skilled voice clinicians and final year speech pathology students.
    • Monash Gender Clinic - Statewide service providing consumer-centred care for trans, gender diverse, and non-binary people and allies.
    • Northside Clinic - LGBTIQ+ oriented general practice and sexual health clinic in Fitzroy North.
    • Prahran Market Clinic - General medical practice in Prahran with particular focus on gay, lesbian, and gender diverse health.
    • Pronto! - Abbotsford-based sexual health service for men who have sex with men and trans and gender diverse health.
    • The Centre Clinic - General medical practice in St Kilda providing general health care for LGBTI community.
    • Touchbase - Information, support, and services for LGBTI people for alcohol and drugs, mental health, and sexual health.
    • Trans and Gender Diverse Clinic at Your Community Health - Located in Melbourne's inner north, this is Victorian Government funded health service for trans, gender diverse, and non-binary people aged 18 and over.
    • Turn the Corner Medical Clinic - General medical practice in Northcote committed to providing an environment that is safe and inclusive for LGBTIQA+ people.
  • LGBTIQA+ support for families
    • Parents of Gender Diverse Children - Provides peer support to parents and those parenting trans and gender diverse children. Supports parents of children of any age, including adults.
    • PFLAG Australia - Support group and advocacy for parents and allies of the LGBTIQ community.
    • Rainbow Families - Community organisation for rainbow families.
    • Transcend - Parent-led support network and information hub for transgender children and their families.
  • Trans and Gender Diverse (TGD)

    The University's Safer Community Program offers specialist support to the University's trans and gender diverse (TGD) community. This support extends to information and guidance around gender affirmation at the University, facilitating connections with appropriate services and agencies, and providing TGD resources for students and staff.

  • Intersex
    • Interlink - Group-based support program that brings intersex people and family members together with trained mental health professionals and intersex peer workers.
    • Intersex Human Rights Australia - Support, education and policy development for people with intersex variations or traits focusing on human rights, bodily autonomy and self-determination, and on evidence-based, patient-directed healthcare.
    • Intersex Peer Support Groups - Monash Health Gender Clinic has an up-to-date list of support groups on their website.
  • Bisexual
    • Bi-alliance Victoria - Non-profit volunteer-run organisation dedicated to promoting the acceptance of bisexuals in LGBTI and mainstream society.
  • Asexual/Aromantic
  • LGBTIQA+ People of Colour
    • Black Rainbow - Supports the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lesbian, gay, bisexual, sistergirl and brotherboy, and queer community.
    • LGBTIQ Multicultural Directory - List of multicultural LGBTIQ services and supports.
    • Rainbows to Refuge - Supports LGBTQI asylum seekers, refugees and internally displaced people in Australia and internationally.
    • Shapes and Sounds - Mental health programs and resources specially designed by and for people of Asian and Asian diaspora identities.
    • Thorne Harbour Health Multicultural Health - Provides support for a variety of LGBTIQ+ groups with a focus on international students, newly arrived migrants, individuals born overseas or from culturally, linguistically, or religiously diverse backgrounds.

Things to do to feel connected

Becoming part of an LGBTIQA+ community can be an important step in building a support network and making lasting social connections with people who understand issues specific to LGBTIQA+ people.

  • Community and social networks (University of Melbourne)
    • Pride in Action Network - Brings together staff and students who identify as LGBTIQA+ and their allies, creating opportunities to share information and foster an inclusive and supportive workplace and learning environment.
    • UMSU Queer Department - Organises social events, hosts student collectives for different identities and experiences, maintains the Queer Space on the Parkville campus for students to hang out, and advocates on behalf of the queer community at University.
    • Graduate Student Association (GSA) - An independent association that provides all enrolled graduate students at the University with representation, events, training, and support. These include supports and activities aimed at the LGBTIQA+ student community.
  • Community and social networks (Other)
    • Globe - Not-for-profit community group that encourages diversity and inclusiveness.
    • Hares & Hyenas - Community bookshop specialising in queer identity, sexuality, sex, and gender diversity.
    • Joy 94.9 - Australia's only 24/7 LGBTIQ radio station.
    • Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Chorus - Australia's longest running LGBTIQ+ choir.
    • Pride in Law - Connecting LGBTIQ+ members of the legal profession.
    • Queers in Science - Melbourne-based initiative aiming to build community and improve support for LGBTIQA+ people working in STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine) in Australia.
    • Star Observer/Star online - The latest in LGBTIQ news from around Australia.
    • Victorian Pride Centre - Online directory for resources and LGBTIQ+ support groups in Victoria.
    • Well, Well, Well - Free podcast on mental health, HIV and sexual health, and overall health and wellbeing of LGBTI communities.
  • Sport
    • Pride in Sport - University program that aims to provide a safe place for LGBTIQA+ identifying people to participate in sport.
    • LGBTQ Sports Club Directory - Directory of LGBTQ sports clubs across Australia.