Rainbow Training

RAQ has been delivering LGBTI training to our staff across the state since 2009, helping them to become more confident and competent in working with LGBTI clients.

In early 2014 we began extending this training to other human services organisations and received overwhelmingly positive evaluations of our dynamic and experiential approach, as the following quotes from participants illustrate:

“Very thorough presentation. Excellent presenters. Learnt a lot today, thank you.”

“Loved this training! Opened my eyes to areas of peoples’ lives I had never considered.”.

“It was enlightening for me to learn that my acceptance of the Rainbow community did not necessarily mean a strong understanding. I have learnt a lot today, thank you.”

What is involved?

The Relationships Australia Queensland Rainbow Training is a suite of training modules designed to offer effective training for human services organisations in achieving best practice in service provision to clients of diverse bodies, genders and sexualities. This target group is often referred to as the LGBTIQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex or queer) community. At Relationships Australia Queensland, we also sometimes refer to this community as the Rainbow Community.

With a range of training modules offered, we can work with you to tailor a training program that meets your needs. To find out how the Rainbow Program at RAQ can help you and your staff to become more confident and competent in working appropriately with LGBTI clients, contact Talent and Diversity Manager Ben Bolt on: 1300 364 277 .

Who is Rainbow Training For?

Human services organisations and staff teams, wishing to develop greater confidence and competence in working with LGBTI clients and community

The Benefits of Rainbow Training

The Rainbow Training modules are largely informed by the Gay-Affirmative Practice Approach and the growing body of work supporting its efficacy (McGeorge & Stone Carlson, 2011; Bieschke, Perez et al., 2007; Lebolt, 1999). In order to reflect the inclusive nature of the Rainbow Program, we have adopted the term ‘LGBTIQ-Affirmative Practice’.

Central to LGBTIQ-Affirmative Practice is an emphasis on an exploration of practitioners’ understandings of their own gender and sexuality as well as their understanding of the heteronormative assumptions they were conditioned by and the heterosexual privilege they experience (if heterosexual) in daily life.

Broad Training Objective:

  • Development of high quality training, which supports workers in becoming more confident and competent in providing support to people of diverse bodies, genders and sexualities

Expected Outcomes:

  • Participants feel they have greater knowledge and understanding of Rainbow cultural issues and experiences
  • Participants have a deeper understanding of their own identity & values development and conditioned heteronormative assumptions
  • Participants have a deeper understanding of the negative impacts of heterosexism and cisgenderism on the lives of people of diverse bodies, genders and sexualities
  • Participants feel more confident in approaching work with people of diverse bodies, genders and sexualities