It was a huge year for the award-winning team from Chicks Talkin Footy who made a name for themselves within the broader AFL and AFLW communities – because they know their stuff and they can communicate it in a way that is accessible and enjoyable whether or not you are a footy fan. We spoke to Fiona Newton from the team about how the year has been kicking off with broadcasting live from the second AFL Pride Match in Sydney.

Empowering women to be active participants in football, particularly during the inaugural AFLW season that kicked off in early 2017, there is plenty inshore for 2018.

2017 saw JOY broadcast 6,552 hours of unique broadcasts, as well as 10 podcast only programs announcing this year that our podcast count reached  1 million downloads. We spoke to JOYs Production Manager Jason Gipps about how important JOYs podcast network is giving a space for the voices of our communities to be shared around the world past the broadcasts live to air.

This was the first year for JOYs new program director Chris Tait who dived head first into JOY managing outside broadcasts in his first few weeks.

He coordinated a huge Mardi Gras program with 3 shows broadcast from SBS and a live broadcast from the SBS van with JOYs commentary of the Mardi Gras Parade.

Chris joins The Informer to talk about this achievement and what his first year in the role was like.

Instead of covering the days big news from an LGBTI perspective, on our final episode fr 2017 we are focusing on our Year in Review here at JOY 94.9. We aren’t playing our top stories of the year or recounting the interviews we’ve had, you can access those via our podcast page.

Over 320 volunteers have worked together to create over 6,552 hours of broadcasting which has helped us to achieve our highest listenership ever of 377,000 listeners. We’ve gotten a new look, a new direction, taken a stand for equality and stepped up what it means to be a voice for Australia’s LGBTQI communities.

Join us as we look back on JOY during 2017, and speak to the team members behind the scenes that help keep JOY Out, Loud, and Proud

On this episode of The Informer we look at both the Midsumma and Mardi Gras festivals, how are our queer festivals changing with our ever evolving LGBTI narrative?

We talk to Jason Tuazon-McCheyne about The Better Together Conference which kicks off in early January in 2018 and hear from two “Best Drag Venue” nominees from this years Melbourne Drag Awards.

And Ruby Mountford speaks to Alison King from The Aurora Group who have recently announced that LGBTI Community Groups will benefit from over $65,000 worth in grants funded by Aurora.

For many in our communities, the holiday season can be a stressful one, with anxiety, frustration and insecurity to navigate. On this episode of The Informer we look at some of the support networks that exist and how to reach out for help best the festive season.

Ruby and Ian speak to Yvonne Gardiner, the founder of Positive Attitude, who runs monthly luncheons for people living with HIV, including one on Christmas day.

Richard Keane from Living Positive Victoria discusses how they help people living with HIV over the holiday period and discusses disclosing your status to your family over the holidays

Max Mclean from Mind Australia who has some holiday tips for LGTBI people.

If you are dealing with difficult families, relations and relationships or social isolation and loneliness at this time of year, remember that you are not alone and that it is important to reach out.

In October of this year, Parents of Gender Diverse Children began working in South Australia, with mothers Sam and Georgia creating networks and pathways not just for parents to find the information they need to support their children, but to help provide greater support and communication across the whole of SA’s trans and gender diverse support services. Sam and Georgia speak to The Informer about what it’s like to not just advocate for our communities, but to challenge and educate for our rights when you aren’t actually under the LGBTI banner.

 

For the first time during the 2018 Commonwealth Games next year, Australia will host its first Pride House at Rise Bar on the Gold Coast. The Pride House will raise awareness and on topics affecting the LGBTIQ communities as well as focus on mental health and legal issues and give an inclusive for anyone to come and watch the Games. Pride House project manager Matt Hall speaks to The Informer.

For many the year is winding down, and it’s the season to celebrate and party, but partying can get out of hand. This time of year is especially high-risk for those in our community with substance use or abuse issues, so it’s especially important to be keeping an eye out for each other. Jane from Harm Reduction Victoria speaks to The Informer about how you can not only look after yourself, but others as well.

 

For many the year is winding down, and it’s the season to celebrate and party, but partying can get out of hand.

This time of year is especially high-risk for those in our community with substance use or abuse issues, so it’s especially important to be keeping an eye out for each other.

Jane from Harm Reduction Victoria speaks to The Informer about how you can not only look after yourself, but others as well.

For the first time during the 2018 Commonwealth Games next year, Australia will host its first Pride House at Rise Bar on the Gold Coast.

The Pride House will raise awareness and on topics affecting the LGBTIQ communities as well as focus on mental health and legal issues and give an inclusive for anyone to come and watch the Games.

Pride House project manager Matt Hall speaks to The Informer.

 

In October of this year, Parents of Gender Diverse Children began working in South Australia, with mothers Sam and Georgia creating networks and pathways not just for parents to find the information they need to support their children, but to help provide greater support and communication across the whole of SA’s trans and gender diverse support services.

Sam and Georgia speak to The Informer about what it’s like to not just advocate for our communities, but to challenge and educate for our rights when you aren’t actually under the LGBTI banner.