BFRIEND
COMMUNITY GROUP OF THE YEAR
NOMINATED FOR
Adelaide
Profiles on this page have been prepared and submitted by nominees or their representatives as part of the South Australian Pride Awards process. Content reflects the words, achievements, and information provided in those submissions. Pride Adelaide has not edited profiles beyond minor formatting or clarity adjustments. Inclusion on this page does not represent an endorsement, assessment, or ranking and does not influence the independent judging process.
How would you describe yourself or your work in one sentence?
We are South Australia’s longest running LGBTIQA+ peer support service spanning
30 years showing up for LGBTIQA+ people with genuine care, understanding whilst
being grounded in empathy, inclusion and authentic queer lived experience
connection.
Tell us a little about what you do
Bfriend is a longrunning LGBTIQA+ peer led community service, operating for 30 years on the frontline of LGBTIQA+ community connection.
We support anyone who has questions about sexuality, gender identity and intersex variations, and their loved ones. Our free and confidential services include peer support, community connections, workplace training and volunteering opportunities for the community.
What impact or achievement are you most proud of this year?
2025 was a big year for us creating space and opportunities for LGBTIQA+ folk to meet, share lived experiences and build meaningful community connections across South Australia!
Bfriend celebrated an incredible milestone, 30 years of creating connection, pride and belonging within South Australia’s fabulous LBGTQIA+ community. Held at the U City Function Centre on Thursday 26 September, the event brought together past and present workers, clients, volunteers, allies and friends of the service, alongside members and elders of SA's LGBTQIA+ community. It was a chance to celebrate the
incredible work Bfriend has contributed over the last 30 years and those it has impacted. This event was a powerful reminder of just how far connection and pride can reach.
Months of research, digitising and curation by staff and community volunteers came together in a vibrant display tracking Bfriend’s evolution across three decades as well as connecting with the history and evolution of our community from the mid 1990’s to today.
During the 2025 Feast Festival, we brought the Bfriend Welcome Mat to more than 30 events, creating a safe, inclusive and welcoming space where community members could connect, create and engage in ways that felt comfortable and authentic to them. Serving as both a friendly face and welcoming presence, the team spoke to hundreds of community members and for many we spoke with, it was there very first queer event they had been to and the Welcome Mat provided them a safe space.
We also hosted a Community Art Day series, inviting LGBTQIA+ community members to join our team across four Saturdays in October. Together, we created artworks that were later displayed in the Pitt Street windows between the UCity building and Her Majesty’s Theatre, showcasing community creativity, visibility and pride in the heart of the city whilst fostering intergeneration bonds and sharing of personal stories of what being part of the LGBTIQA+ community means to each person. The stories, art and history were viewed by thousands of passers-by and helped start important conversations about who we are, our diversity and of course our fabulousness!
Why does your work matter to the community?
Our work matters because Bfriend provides support that breaks through isolation by connecting people with peers who truly understand their journey, offering guidance and connection to the LGBTQIA+ community that is shaped around each person’s own lived experience and needs. The simple act of sitting in a space that is safe and affirming of who we are without judgement remains at the core of what Bfriend offers and is still sought after today.
Our diversity and inclusion training matters because it is tailored to the specific needs of each service, creating a safe, open and reflective space for learning. It supports staff to build confidence, understanding and practical skills around LGBTQIA+ inclusion, ensuring affirming and respectful support is embedded across all areas of service delivery.
What would you like voters to know when voting for you?
Voting for Bfriend means championing the power of LGBTIQA+ lived-experience peer support for LGBTQIA+ people. It recognises the dedication of both our staff and our incredible volunteers, whose quiet, consistent work helps reduce isolation, build connection, and strengthen community belonging. Your vote helps ensure this support remains visible, valued, and accessible to those who need it most.