RAINBOW COUNCIL PROJECT - SARAA
COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD
NOMINATED FOR
Adelaide
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How would you describe yourself or your work in one sentence?
Embedding LGBTIQA+ inclusion into local government.
Tell us a little about what you do
The Rainbow Council Project is a South Australian first: a structured, statewide initiative supporting LGBTIQA+ inclusion in local government systems. Initiated by the South Australian Rainbow Advocacy Alliance (SARAA) with support from LGA SA in 2025, the project consists of a community of practice network and the publicly available Rainbow Council Toolkit to provide practical guidance for local councils to embed LGBTIQA+ inclusion into leadership, policy, community engagement and services.
What impact or achievement are you most proud of this year?
In its first year, the Rainbow Council Project achieved measurable, statewide change through engaging 19 councils representing over 40% of the state's population. In project evaluation, 87% of network representatives strongly agreed that participation in the network increased their knowledge and confidence to support LGBTIQA+ communities. This contributed to 2025 being the most geographically distributed Feast Festival in history, with a number of councils directly hosting, producing or supporting metropolitan and regional events.
Why does your work matter to the community?
Local government is the level of government closest to daily life. Councils shape libraries, recreation centres, community programs, events, planning frameworks and public spaces. When inclusion is inconsistent, the consequences are real - affecting safety, participation and visibility for LGBTIQA+ people. The impact of the Rainbow Council Project is systemic, ongoing and statewide.
What would you like voters to know when voting for you?
The Rainbow Council Project represents practical, measurable and collaborative impact. It strengthens and connects community groups with local councils. But we still have a long way to go. Recognition through this award provides the community endorsement to advocate for continued funding to grow the network to as many councils as possible.