The Informer

In recent years, we have become more and more aware of the need for changes to be made for LGBTI aged care support and services, which allows members of our communities to continue to be themselves, and not feel they have to step back into the closet to get the support and care that they need.

Housing for the Aged Action Group, or HAAG, has just launched a website with information specifically for older LGBTI Australians. Rachel Tyler Jones and Dean Arcuri spoke to Fiona York, the Executive Officer at HAAG, about how this resource could help older members of the LGBTI community find affordable housing.

This segment of The Informer aired on JOY 94.9 on the 10th May 2018

We take a look at the federal budget and its commitment to the health needs of LGBTIQA+ Australians.

It was announced last night, that a commitment of $180 million will fund access to the HIV prevention pill, PrEP, which will help to drive a sharp reduction in Australia’s HIV transmission. As well as boost to mental health and suicide prevention efforts, with additional funding committed to Lifeline, Beyond Blue and SANE Australia.

Dean Arcuri spoke with Jack Heath, the CEO of SANE Australia and the chief executive of the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations (AFAO) Darryl O’Donnell about why this funding is so important.

This segment of The Informer aired on JOY 94.9 on the 9th May 2018

Last night at Google’s Sydney Headquarters, professional service firm Deloitte and Google Australia announced Australia’s Outstanding 50 LGBTI Leaders, to further develop workplace inclusion and create role models for LGBTI workers. 

 

The list includes 24 women and 26 men, including two transgender business leaders and an intersex leader with leaders from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth, Darwin and Adelaide. 

 

Dean Arcuri spoke to Robbie Robertson, a partner in Deloitte and the national lead for the LGBTI community within Deloitte about their 50 Outstanding Leaders, and the importance of highlighting diversity within the business world. 

 

This segment aired on JOY 94.9 on 8th May 2018 

It’s never too late to say sorry, and today, that’s what happened in the Northern Territory Parliament, when Chief Minister Michael Gunner delivered a formal and moving apology to people convicted under historic gay sex laws.

It’s an historic apology for many in the Territory’s communities who were convicted or lived their lives in fear that being out of the closet, meant being arrested.

Sex between consenting adults should never have been criminalised, and this apology is an important step towards righting the wrongs of the past.

All other states and territories have introduced similar bills with the WA Government currently considering a bill.

Expungement cases will be reviewed by the Attorney-General’s Department chief executive. And “Authorised people” will be able to apply on behalf of a those who have died.

Parliament Audio from ABC Darwin.

This segment aired on JOY 94.9 on 8th May 2018

On this episode of The Informer we hear from the Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner, who today, apologised to the Territory’s gay and lesbian community who were affected by laws criminalising homosexuality.  

 

 

Also, we find out about Australia’s Outstanding 50 LGBTI Leaders, who were unveiled last night in Sydney, as we explore the importance of visibility in the corporate sector and what this diversity means. 

 

This episode of The Informer aired on JOY 94.9 & was hosted by Dean Arcuri. 

Every worker deserves to be safe and secure at work, no matter how they identify. With so many people fighting for LGBTIQA+ rights, that advocacy is expanding in Victoria with the launch of ‘We Are Union Pride’, fighting for LGBTIQA+ rights throughout the Victorian Trade Union movement.

But what does that actually mean? What support can this provide?

Rachel Tyler Jones and I find out more as she speaks to Amy Jenkins and Conner Borchard-Burns about We Are Union Pride

 This segment aired on JOY 94.9 on 7th May 2018

How close are we to a cure for HIV? While in the western world, the disease is now manageable, it still hasn’t stopped infections from continuing, and every year we see news articles announcing another big step in a cure, but is it as close as we think?

Now on the Informer Ian Muchamore explores how likely this is to happen, in the first of an ongoing series where he will delve into the reality of the science behind finding a cure for HIV with Professor Sharon Lewin.

This segment aired on JOY 94.9 on 7th May 2018

Internationally renowned contemporary artist, Spencer Tunick is returning to Melbourne this July to create two days of dramatic nude installations as the co-headlining artist of Chapel Street’s PROVOCARÉ Festival of the Arts.

The last time Tunick created work n Melbourne was 2001 with his biggest turn out of participants. And now, he is inviting Australians to take part in two days of major artistic installations, I spoke with Spencer Tunick about  art, our bodies, and the beauty of diversity.

Tunick is inviting brave Australians to register now to be part of his provocative new work in Melbourne in July, you can find out more at provocare.com.au/tunick.

This segment aired on JOY 94.9 on 7th May 2018

On this episode of The Informer, we speak to We Are Union Pride; which hit the ground running last week in Melbourne, fighting for LGBTIQA+ rights throughout the Victorian Trade Union movement.

We begin our first of an ongoing series, where we explore the realities of a cure for HIV, are we as close as we hope?

Plus, we speak to internationally renowned contemporary artist Spencer Tunick, who has announced that he is coming back to Melbourne to create more art. As he asks Australians’ to once again bare their all in a celebration of the body, in all its shapes and sizes.

This episode of The Informer aired on JOY 94.9 and was hosted by Dean Arcuri

Following the new rules announced by the IAAF last week creating a new classification for female athletes with ‘differences of sexual development’; we explore what this means for intersex athletes and the intersex population as we speak with Intersex Human Rights Australia.

These new rules specifically target athlete Caster Semenya, whose body does not fit within the “normal range”. But, most elite athletes are not within the ‘normal’ range of bodies. They all have some sort of advantage over ‘normal’. We don’t ask tall basketball players to shorten their legs, why is it okay to make any athlete take medication to lower their testosterone levels?  Does that really seem fair?

And, with the Victorian AIDS Council celebrating its’ 35th anniversary this year, we touch base with Cal Hawk from JOY and VACs Program Well Well Well, which is looking back on the rich history of VAC, how it has influenced us, guided us, and helped us to stand up for our health on all levels and to make Victoria’s LGBTI communities stronger.

This episode of The Informer aired on JOY 94.9 and was hosted by Dean Arcuri.