We have an important role to play in supporting and addressing social equity issues affecting marginalised and at-risk communities, and want to connect with and better understand the needs of Knox's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ+) communities.

We will be undertaking a series of initiatives to ensure our services and culture are inclusive. We are focussing on a needs analysis as well as concentrating our effort to form an ongoing connection with the older LGBTI community. Our aim is to create a council where younger and older LGBTI communities have a sense of trust and comfort in any activity related to council.

We are undertaking a needs analysis to better understand the lived experience of LGBTIQ+ communities in Knox. We're exploring opportunities for Council to positively influence LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing outcomes locally and regionally. LGBTIQ+ people who live, work, study or play in the City of Knox, as well as their families and allies are invited to make a contribution to the needs analysis. Findings and insights will inform our future work and how we partner with LGBTIQ+ communities to influence Council policy, strategy and practice.

We are focussed on creating a stronger connection with the older LGBTI community (65 years+). We know many older LGBTI people have faced stigma, discrimination and lived in a time when ‘homosexual acts’ were a crime. Earlier this year, Council commenced a program of interactive inclusion training sessions. These sessions are developed to provide participants with an insight into the lived experiences of the older LGBTI community including the histories that older lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and/or intersex people have experienced as well as the barriers to social participation and accessing services created by these experiences. Participants learn practical ways for community groups and clubs to start providing welcoming and safe participation for older LGBTI people.