ACON

Social isolation can have significant negative health impacts. ACON’s LOVE Project works to improve the health and wellbeing of older LGBTQ community members by providing social opportunities, facilitating community connections, enabling access to information and resources, and creating understanding about healthy ageing issues. Help keep our LOVE Project going by giving us some love this GiveOUT Day. Big or small - every little bit counts! Donate now ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gVRp6Sby

TODAY is GiveOUT Australia Day! ❤️ #GiveOUTDay is a national day of giving to raise money for LGBTQ+ projects and charities. This GiveOUT Day we're raising funds to support ACON’s Love Project. The LOVE Project is ACON’s healthy ageing initiative. Established in 2013, LOVE works to improve the health and wellbeing of older LGBTQ community members by providing social opportunities, addressing social isolation, creating understanding about healthy ageing issues and encourage people to maintain healthy lifestyles. We thank you for your love and support which will help us continue to empower and connect older members of our communities. ❤️ Learn more about the LOVE Project and help us reach our fundraising goal at https://lnkd.in/gMb6Nj_u

"Thank you ACON and the LOVE Project for providing a space for older LGBTQ people to mingle, socialise and connect with each other.” This GiveOUT Australia Day, we're raising funds to support our wonderful Love Project - Living Older Visibly and Engaged. The project aims to improve the health and wellbeing of older LGBTQ community members with events to reduce social isolation, create new connections and increase understanding about healthy ageing issues. ❤ Learn more about the LOVE Project and help us reach our fundraising goal at https://lnkd.in/gMb6Nj_u

In the lead up to, and on GiveOUT Australia Day (17 October), ACON is raising funds to support the Love Project. ❤️ The LOVE Project, ACON’s ageing initiative, aims to improve the health and wellbeing of older LGBTQ community members by reducing social isolation, increasing connection and creating understanding about healthy ageing issues. Donate now and help us support older LGBTQ communities to lead healthy, active and more social lives. All funds raised will go towards powering this vital community service. Big or small – every little bit counts. Your contribution will make a huge impact. Thank you for your support! Donate here: https://lnkd.in/gMb6Nj_u

Today is International Lesbian Day! The day acknowledges the rich diversity within lesbian communities and celebrates our stories, culture and history. The day is also an opportunity to knock down some of the stereotypes about what it means to be a lesbian. Take a moment today to celebrate the incredible lesbians around us who continue to enrich and strengthen our communities.

NEWS: "The rapidly rising numbers of mpox cases detected across the state are very concerning, with 26 people requiring hospitalisation due to the severity of their symptoms," says NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant. "The majority of cases of hospitalisation have been among people who are unvaccinated or have received only one dose of vaccine. While cases of mpox are occurring in vaccinated people, the cases tend to be milder and for a shorter period."

"With mpox circulating in NSW, it's important our communities keep vigilant for mpox symptoms and take measures to safeguard their health. Now is the time to protect yourself and others by getting vaccinated against mpox." Thank you Star Observer for helping us get the word out. To find out where your nearest mpox vaccination point is, call the Sexual Health Infolink on 1800 451 624.

ACON proudly sponsored the Rainbow Inclusion Award 🌈 at the Wayahead - Mental Health Association NSW Mental Health Matters Awards! The winner: WALK ON WALK STRONG - an initiative by STARTTS | NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors to support LGBTIQA+ people with refugee and asylum-seeker backgrounds in Australia through peer-led support groups, co-creating a safer space for sharing experiences and accessing information. Congratulations to the team who created Walk On Walk Strong! Read about the project here: https://lnkd.in/g9dAA4qr

ACON CEO Michael Woodhouse joined NSW Health Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant and Western Sydney LHD Sexual Health Specialist Dr Rohan Bopage at a press conference today to provide an important community update on mpox. Since June 2024, there have been over 400 mpox notifications in NSW. "People in our communities are at higher risk of acquiring mpox particularly sexually active gay and bisexual men and their partners," Woodhouse said. "Our communities have a long history of doing what it takes to protect ourselves and our partners. Now is one of those times. "Getting the mpox vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and others against severe illness caused by the virus." Woodhouse urged people to not hesitate in getting fully vaccinated against mpox. "The majority of hospitalisations are among those who are unvaccinated or have only received one dose," Woodhouse said. "Getting the mpox vaccine is easy. It is free and you do not need a Medicare card to receive it. All vaccination appointments are private and confidential. "With mpox circulating in NSW, it’s important our communities keep vigilant for mpox symptoms and take measures to safeguard their health. Now is the time to protect yourself and others by getting vaccinated against mpox." Read the full ACON media release: https://lnkd.in/gvTvTQ4c For more on mpox, including vaccination locations, go to https://lnkd.in/gZXfbn3t

The 2024 Pride in Sport Australia Summit was a big success this week! 👏 The Summit brought together leaders from across the sporting world to explore LGBTQ+ inclusion in Australian sport. The discussion included 20 CEOs from some of Australia’s largest sporting codes, including the Australian Sports Commission’s CEO and Olympic gold medallist Kieren Perkins OAM and Sport Integrity Australia A/CEO Dr Sarah Benson. The sporting organisations are committed to becoming more inclusive of LGBTQ+ communities. ACON’s Pride in Sport program is there to support them every step along their journey. Pride in Sport is a national not-for-profit sporting inclusion program specifically designed to assist sporting organisations of all levels with the inclusion of employees, athletes, coaches, volunteers and spectators with diverse sexualities and genders. Find out more at www.prideinsport.com.au.