Quantum Support Services is working hard to ensure that they provide a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment for Gippsland’s Lesbian, Gay, Bi-Sexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI) community.

Since 2017 the organisation has progressively developed skills and awareness within the service to meet the needs and individual response requirements of LGBTI clients and employees.

As part of this process Quantum has established an LGBTI Advisory Group, to assist champion and guide the organisation as they work toward achieving Rainbow Tick accreditation.

Quantum welcomed Rainbow Health Victoria education specialists Shamini Joseph and Kerry Simple to facilitate a recent workshop held at the Morwell Bowls Club. The event was attended by Quantum’s Executive Management Team, Practice Leader Representatives, LGBTI Advisory Group members and the organisations Chief Executive Natalie McDonald. The workshop and planning activity focussed on educating those in attendance on how to identify practical considerations to enhance the experience of LGBTI community members engaging with or employed by the service.

The workshop explored the lived experience of the LGBTI client journey and aimed to build a better understanding of the experiences that LGBTI people may have when accessing Quantum’s services.  Activities included those to build the committee’s understanding of LGBTI sense of hypervigilance when accessing any services, as well as common heteronormativity “warning signs” that can impact the sense of safety for clients and employees.

The participants then set about using specialist audit tools to benchmark LGBTI inclusion at the organisation and identify additional areas of development that will support Quantum’s efforts toward Rainbow Tick accreditation.

A member of the LGBTI Advisory Group Viv Reiner stated, “I found the workshop to be very informative and worthwhile in relation to how Quantum can progress. It gave the group some great tools to identify improvements in supporting staff into the future, as well as how to build our confidence to support people accessing our services from the LGBTI community”.

The LGBTI Working Group will now draw on these learnings and work alongside management and members of the Board to embed further cultural enhancements across the organisation.

If you are interested in learning more about the steps that Quantum is taking into being a more inclusive environment, or would like to advise or assist us on our journey please call 1800 243 455