This month we are taking a closer look at Say It Out Loud, a toolkit from ACON for the LGBTIQA+ community on sexual, family and intimate partner violence and how to support each other.
About ACON
ACON is an Australian community organisation, established in response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in New South Wales. They aim to create opportunities for people living with HIV/AIDS and the LGBTQ+ community to live their healthiest lives. ACON provide information, and deliver campaigns and programs for community health, inclusion and HIV responses for people of diverse sexualities and genders.
About Say It Out Loud
Say It Out Loud is an online toolkit from ACON for LGBTIQA+ communities to learn about healthy relationships, how to support friends who have experienced sexual, domestic and family violence, and how to get help. It aims to provide information, compassion and visibility needed to prevent and end violence in LGBTIQA+ relationships, and support those who need it.
The Say It Out Loud website includes information and resources on abuse, healthy relationships, information for friends, family and the community, as well as tools for professionals. Users can access online tools to examine how healthy their relationships are, safety planning resources and the latest news and events relating to LGBTIQA+ relationships.
Say It Out Loud also helps people find local services with their ‘find a service’ feature, to find a professional support service to meet their needs. Their service list includes counselling services, behaviour change programs, health and medical services, legal and court services, accommodation, advocacy, youth services and more.
Who is Say It Out Loud for?
Say It Out Loud is designed to support people of diverse genders and sexualities including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex people who have been the victim of sexual, family and/or intimate partner violence.
Say It Out Loud is also suitable for people supporting friends, family or someone in their community, or if someone they know is abusing their loved one and needs help changing their behaviour.
Benefits of Say It Out Loud
Say It Out Loud fills a crucial gap by centering LGBTIQA+ voices and lived experiences in conversations about violence and support. Its inclusive, affirming approach helps reduce isolation and stigma. The toolkit also encourages early intervention by making it easier to recognise unhealthy relationship patterns.
How Health Practitioners can use Say It Out Loud
Health practitioners can use the Say It Out Loud website to access tips and tools to use with their LGBTIQA+ clients. They can access resources like:
- A sexual violence consult service
- Key messages for health practitioners assisting victims/survivors of abuse in the LGBTIQA+ community.
- Practice considerations.
- A language guide.
- Safety planning tools.
Is there a cost to use Say It Out Loud?
Say It Out Loud is free to use at any time.
How to access Say It Out Loud?
Say It Out Loud is available online at https://sayitoutloud.org.au/?state=all.
Say It Out Loud Research and Evaluation
Developed by ACON, Say It Out Loud was first launched in 2016 as a NSW-based initiative and expanded nationally in 2020 with federal funding. The toolkit is grounded in ongoing research, community feedback, and collaboration with professionals in the sexual, domestic and family violence sector. Learn more about the research and resources behind the site at https://sayitoutloud.org.au/learn-more/research-and-resources/?state=all
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