Background
In December 2019, NSW’s peak alcohol and other drug (AOD) organisation, NADA, established a Gender and Sexuality diverse AOD worker network. The aim was to “provide a space for AOD workers in gender and sexuality diverse (GSD) communities to support one another in their everyday work with co-workers and clients, and to foster discussions about how to make AOD services more LGBTQ+ inclusive.” The Network was in keeping with a broader National Drug Strategy which prioritises gender and sexuality diverse people as related to their AOD use. Representatives from NADA reached out to VAADA to gauge interest in whether a similar Network could be established in Victoria.
An expression of interest was sent via VAADA’s ENEWS for initial membership, and a survey was distributed following the Network’s first meeting to capture the membership’s thoughts and ideas on the purpose and governance of the Network. The Network was named “Sex, Sexuality and Gender Diverse (SSGD) AOD Worker Network” to ensure inclusivity of colleagues and clients with intersex variations.
Purpose
The network has a dual purpose to:
- provide a supportive network for sex, sexuality and gender diverse workers in the AOD sector;
- improve AOD services for sex, sexuality and gender diverse people.
To read the Terms of Reference, click here.
Membership
The membership is comprised of Victorian AOD workers who identify as sex, sexuality and/or gender diverse. Workers are inclusive of those providing frontline services, management, administration and research.
To join the Sex, Sexuality and Gender Diverse AOD Worker Network, click here.