Through the generosity of everyday Australians, and our partners and collaborators, we provide a number of community initiatives and outreach activities These include a microgrants program to support social events and gatherings, pre-paid data and phone credit to those in need, a Futures Fund, our annual glossary posters series and a pilot project with the Tiwi Island Sistergirls.
RESEARCH
In 2021, concerned with the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTIQA+SB people during the coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic, Black Rainbow partnered with Macquarie University’s Indigenous Studies Department. We dedicated resources from our donations to measure the impacts of the coronavirus on our community to undertake research in this area. The report is available here.
Homelessness, domestic violence, and involvement with the justice system are other areas Black Rainbow hope to engage with in the future. To date, First Nations Rainbow people have not been identified as a key target group for policy and practice intervention and we hope to further our work in this space by undertaking a national wide research project to inform future directions across these sectors.
This community report is the result of a study that took place from April to June in 2021, designed and delivered collaboratively between Black Rainbow and the Department of Indigenous Studies at Macquarie University. Black Rainbow initiated the study with interest in how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTIQSB+ people were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic in Australia is part of the currently ongoing worldwide pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019, known as COVID-19, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In conjunction with the Department of Indigenous Studies at Macquarie University, Black Rainbow created an e-survey to measure the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTIQSB+ people.
This survey was distributed via social media and email between May and June 2021. 112 participants completed the survey.
Black Rainbow is investing in the futures of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTIQA+SB community and offers up to $1000 to eight Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTIQA+SB recipients each year. The Futures Fund is a development bursary awarded to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTIQA+SB community members who demonstrate they are high achievers and are excelling in their chosen field and require additional support. These include but are not limited to the education and professional sectors and trade, arts, and sport. Please be advised this any materials or equipment requested will be considered on a case-by-case basis and cannot exceed 25% of the monies provided.
The Futures Fund application process opens on September 1st of each year and is available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTIQA+SB. Monies must be acquitted within 12 months of acceptance of offer.
To be eligible for consideration for the Futures Fund, you must meet each of the following eligibility criteria:
- Identify as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTIQA+SB person.
- Australian citizen or permanent resident (proof required during application stage)
- Be at least 15 years of age on the day of closure of application, October 30th of each year.
- Can demonstrate high achievement and merit in their field.
To express your interest in the Futures Fund, click the button below
Our next series of glossary posters are on hold. We have something new we are working on so keep an eye out! The glossary posters will be back pretty soon.
SHOWCASE
CONTAGION OF LOVE &
COMMUNITY MICRO-GRANTS
Our microgrants are available to self-identifying LGBQTI people of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. These micro-grants are to the value of $300 and include $200 to assist with hosting Indigenous LGBQTI community events. Each grant comes with a swag of selected Black Rainbow merchandise.
To apply for this grant please use this link.
CONNECTION &
CONNECTIVITY
We provide pre-paid phone and data credit to for up to three months in any calendar period to LGBTIQA+SB members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community This initiative allows for rainbow mob to stay connected with family, friends, and with services. We provide all requests every Friday. Requests need to be in by Thursday, the day before. We offer up to 3 months in any 12-month calendar year period
