Forum tackles rural health

A GLBTI health and wellbeing forum will be held in Beechworth next week as part of the Spring Migration festival.

Statewide HIV and STI information and support group Country Awareness Network Victoria (CAN) will present the three-day forum in conjunction with the ALSO Foundation, Melbourne University’s Centre for Excellence in Rural Sexual Health and the WayOut youth project.

Forum topics will include physical and mental health and wellbeing, violence and community safety, youth and aging, gender identity and social networking.

CAN launched its current STI awareness project — Take Care Out Back There — during last year’s Spring Migration.
The Take Care project has been funded by the Department of Human Services over a three-year period to improve gay and lesbian health in rural areas.

The Rural GLBT Health and Wellbeing Forum will be held on September 2–4 at the Pines Conference Centre, Beechworth.

CAN excutive director and forum organiser Adam Wright said the event was designed to be interactive and target both ordinary rural community members as well as health service providers.

“It’s about connecting people to help them find out what actually is out there in rural Victoria,” he said last month.

The event will take a look at the services offered to rural GLBTI people and how to achieve better health and wellness outcomes for the community.

The ALSO Foundation is offering community groups and businesses wanting to attend the forum a chance to exhibit at the festival’s Saturday Showcase (Indoor GLBTIQ Expo) in the Pines Conference Centre.

Businesses and community groups wanting to be part of the event need to call ALSO on 9660 3900 or email [email protected]

info: For more information, visit
www.can.org.au