RAINBOW HUB SA
COMMUNITY GROUP OF THE YEAR
NOMINATED FOR
Statewide
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How would you describe yourself or your work in one sentence?
Rainbow Hub SA is an independent community-led organisation providing a voice for the over 77,000 older LGBTI+ people in South Australia.
Tell us a little about what you do
Rainbow Hub SA is an independent community-led incorporated organisation providing a voice for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex plus (LGBTI+) people in South Australia aged 50+.
This is achieved through advocating and building community through action, events, targeted projects and information sharing, including:
• implementing findings from the Rainbow Dog Project: Older LGBTI+ Peoples’ Experience of Illness and its Impact on Mental Health
• commissioning a film to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Decriminalisation of Homosexuality in SA
• hosting monthly lunches at the Treasury for older LGBTI+ people for connection and celebration.
This builds from work in 2017-2018 when the LGBTIQ People Ageing Well Project engaged with older people from SA’s rainbow communities to find out what mattered most to them as they age to better inform policy and create a groundswell for change to the policies that impact their lives.
Since its establishment, the organisation has continued to grow and thrive responding to the needs of the older LGBTI+ community in SA offering various programs, including aged care training and activities. We publish a monthly e-Newsletter, use Facebook, our presence at community events and our work with other organisations. We also provide input to the COTA SA Policy Council.= to ensure that the views of older LGBTI+ people are represented.
What impact or achievement are you most proud of this year?
Rainbow Hub SA’s leadership on various projects has created a sustained difference in the lives of LGBTI+ older adults, commencing with the work on the LGBTIQ People Ageing Well Project under the auspices of COTA SA. When the Project ended, after the funding contract was successfully completed, the majority of the Project Steering Committee became the inaugural members of the Rainbow Hub. They were responsible for the oversight of all work undertaken, working closely with the LGBTI Project Manager.
The Final Report of the LGBTIQ People Ageing Well Project identified five key areas of development, with detailed recommendations for each area. These five key areas for development were:
- Overarching Issues
- Social Isolation
- Health and Well-being
- Housing
- Aged Care.
To improve social connection monthly lunches were organised back in 2018 and these continue, often attracting new people. The lunches provide an opportunity for people to come together in a safe and supportive environment, to develop friendships and gain support from Rainbow Hub SA.
Rainbow Hub SA (RHSA) values collaboration and works closely with a wide range of organisations both within the LGBTI community as well as mainstream organisations, including Thorne Harbour Health. Catalyst Foundation and the ECH LGBTI Connection Project.
Under COTA SA, the Rainbow Hub successfully tendered to be the lead agency in South Australia to deliver the Silver Rainbow Training. Funding came from LGBTIQ Health Australia and one organisation in each state and territory was funded. The Rainbow Hub tender highlighted the importance of having people delivering the training who not only had skills in training but also had the lived experience as an older LGBTI+ person themselves. The training team delivered training to aged care organisations in metropolitan and regional South Australia to increase their knowledge and understanding about the lives of older LGBTI+ people.
Additional impact has been created through the development of the Rainbow Horizons compassionate community project and the Rainbow Rights Toolkit. Since becoming independent in July 2024, Rainbow Hub SA has built on this legacy and is now implementing findings from the Rainbow Dog project, a positive health and well-being initiative for the LGBTI+ community.
Each of these projects is designed, developed and led by LGBTI+ older people, for LGBTI+ older people with intergenerational collaboration and consultation to ensure the best outcomes for LGBTI+ people over 50 living in South Australia and beyond. Each project also links back to the original LGBTIQ People Ageing Well Project, demonstrating the organisation’s commitment to both listening to people about what they wanted but also taking action by planning and delivering this breadth of projects.
RHSA collaborated with Centacare Port Pirie; Lifeline Clare; Mid North Arts (SA), Uniting Country SA & LGBTQIA+ Volunteer, Port Pirie to provide a presence at Clare, Peterborough and Pt Pirie country markets to celebrate LGBTQIA+ regional diversity and inclusion in the Mid North.
In 2025, Rainbow Hub SA contributed to celebrations of the 50th year of the decriminalisation of homosexual acts in South Australia by commissioning a film to recognise the lived experiences of LGBTI+ individuals before and after this significant law reform. Launched in Parliament House, the film will be used in education programs and film festivals.
Why does your work matter to the community?
The work of RHSA matters because as we age, LGBTI+ people deserve to be heard, to be represented and to be able to live their best lives as active, valued and engaged members of the community. Our mission is to advocate with and for our community to create an inclusive, safe & welcoming environment that supports and promotes older LGBTI+ people.
What would you like voters to know when voting for you?
Beyond the incredible work in advocacy, education and activism, Rainbow Hub SA creates opportunities for LGBTI+ individuals aged 50+ to connect and develop meaningful networks. This is done through a monthly lunch, newsletter, educational events and many other collaborations. During Feast Festival a successful intergenerational lunch was held in collaboration with queer groups from the three universities. The individuals at Rainbow Hub SA bring their expertise, their passion and their commitment to further LGBTI+ visibility for older adults and to support all individuals to age well. Building on a proud history of achievements, before becoming independent on 1 July 2024, the organisation works to reach ever more of the 77,000+ older LGBTI+ people in South Australia. Our Board volunteers time, passion & energy as we create our newly independent organisation and seek sustainable resourcing to meet our ambitious aims in advocacy, building community connection, celebrating the lives of older LGBTI+ people, continuing to collaborate, providing education & consultancy and building our sustainability.