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Project Overview
We’re seeking your input to support the development of the next LGBTIQA+ Inclusion Plan. Creating an LGBTIQA+ inclusive community means making our towns, neighbourhoods, and local services welcoming, safe, accessible, and supportive for LGBTIQA+ people of all ages, identities, and lived experiences.
The LGBTIQA+ Inclusion in Ballarat Strategy and Action Plan 2027–2030 will outline what the City of Ballarat will do over the next four years to create a city where LGBTIQA+ people — young people, adults, and older folk — feel included, connected, respected, and able to live life as they choose.
Over the past four years, we’ve heard from LGBTIQA+ community members across all ages about their needs and priorities — including safety, visibility, access to inclusive services, social connection, wellbeing, and belonging. Along with this information, your contribution to this project will help shape our Action Plan for the next four years.
Why do we need an LGBTIQA+ Inclusion Plan?
Almost 10 per cent of City of Ballarat residents identify as LGBTIQA+ compared to about 5.7 per cent of Victorians. This equates to over 10,000 residents. Ballarat is an inclusive city where diversity is not only accepted but welcomed and celebrated.
For our city to flourish, we must truly embrace and harness diversity and ensure that our LGBTIQA+ communities feel supported, connected, visible and, above all, foster a strong sense of belonging.
Our city values the contribution of all people and our spaces, places, programs, events and services are designed to be welcoming and accessible to all.
We recognise that not everyone has the same experience and we work to make sure that people receive the support they need to ensure that no one is left behind.
Discrimination against LGBTIQA+ communities continues to be a serious issue
How can you get involved?
Your voice matters, and we want to make sure you can share it in the way that feels most comfortable for you.
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Complete the survey online
Our full survey is online here, click the link below to be taken straight to it.
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Come and talk to us
City of Ballarat staff will be at the Ballarat Pride Month Market to chat about the LGBTIQA+ Inclusion Survey. We will also have hard copy versions of the survey to fill out. Come visit us!
Ballarat Pride Month Market,
6 June, 10am - 3pm
The Mining Exchange, 12 Lydiard St N, Ballarat -
Join a workshop
City of Ballarat staff are running 3 workshops seeking feedback from the community.
Evening session: Tuesday, 16 June, 6:30pm - 8:30pm at the Ballarat Town Hall
Weekend session: Saturday, 20 June, 9:30am - 11:30am at Sebastopol Library
Online session: Monday, 29 June, 6pm - 8pm
Attendance is free but registration is required, click the link below to RSVP now
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Host a LGBTIQA+ Inclusion Plan Conversation
Also known as a 'Kitchen Table', this is where you gather a group of people together to talk about the Inclusion Plan.
One person hosts and another takes notes about the discussion which are then submitted to us.
Download the LGBTIQA+ Inclusion Plan Community Conversation Kit by clicking the link below.
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Host a Youth LGBTIQA+ Inclusion Plan Conversation
This Youth Conversation Kit is for young people who want to run their own discussion about the LGBTIQA+ Inclusion Plan.
Any person can lead or join a conversation. You might talk with one other person, a small group of friends or family, or your school Pride Group about what inclusion means to you.
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Print a survey
Click here to download a printable hardcopy version of the survey
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Send us your feedback
Prefer to give us your feedback as a video? Or an artwork, poem, collage, photo or something else?
You can send us an email at pride@ballarat.vic.gov.au
Or post your feedback to
City of Ballarat,
LGBTIQA+ Community Engagement,
PO Box 655,
Ballarat VIC 3353 -
Organisations, businesses and groups submissions
Does your organisation, business or community group want to make a submission to the City of Ballarat's 2026 LGBTIQA+ Inclusion Survey?
You can click the link below, or email submissions to pride@ballarat.vic.gov.au
One Quick Question - we want to hear from you!
Over the next four years, what one thing should the City of Ballarat prioritise for LGBTIQA+ people?
Ballarat as an LGBTIQA+ friendly city
Below is a short summary of some of the things that have been achieved over the past four years as a result of our previous LGBTIQA+ Inclusion Plan
In 2024, the City of Ballarat organised the first official Ballarat Pride Month.
This event, which spans the month of June, regularly attracts around 50 events celebrating LGBTIQA+ people and allies.
Ballarat Pride Month grew out of a number of actions in the previous LGBTIQA+ Inclusion Plan, including:
Priority 3: Visibility “I am visible and can see myself represented in my community”
3.2. Ensuring LGBTIQA+ people are visible and represented in public spaces
- Host Council celebrations of selected LGBTIQA+ Days of Significance
- Investigate opportunities to attract events to Ballarat that highlight and promote inclusivity
- Research and provide content to support LGBTIQA+ tourists with their visit to Ballarat
- Encourage LGBTIQA+ artists to apply for temporary art programs and planned creative installations
- Explore opportunities for a planned creative installation in the city for Pride month in 2024
- In line with the Municipal Early Years Plan, identify opportunities for publications, public art and other initiatives for child audiences that celebrate diverse children and families
Priority 4: Inclusion “I am supported, consulted and connected with others”
4.1. Supporting LGBTIQA+ people to connect and participate
- Create LGBTIQA+ inclusive programming in Council services
The City of Ballarat runs the Ballarat Pride website (BallaratPride.au) and the Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/CityofBallaratPride) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/CityofBallaratPride) social media accounts, where we share council supported LGBTIQA+ events, opportunities and information around Ballarat.
The website and social media accounts came from a number of actions in the previous LGBTIQA+ action plan, including:
Priority 1: Safety “I feel safe and accepted.”
1.2 Creating LGBTIQA+ safe spaces
- Demonstrate City of Ballarat’s commitment to access and inclusion by publicising a statement of commitment across a range of settings (such as facilities, website, social media)
Priority 3: Visibility “I am visible and can see myself represented in my community”
3.2. Ensuring LGBTIQA+ people are visible and represented in public spaces
- Increase the visibility of LGBTIQA+ reading resources, with an emphasis on intersectionality and diversity
- Research and provide content to support LGBTIQA+ tourists with their visit to Ballarat
- Encourage LGBTIQA+ artists to apply for temporary art programs and planned creative installation
Priority 4: Inclusion “I am supported, consulted and connected with others”
4.1. Supporting LGBTIQA+ people to connect and participate
- Promote Council grant programs to LGBTIQA+ organisations
- Develop Inclusive Event Guidelines for community event organisers
4.2 Ensuring that LGBTIQA+ people are informed and consulted
- In line with the Municipal Early Years Plan, ensure that online information for families, children and young people is LGBTIQA+ inclusive
The City of Ballarat recognises 4 LGBTIQA+ Days of Significance annually. These are chosen by our LGBTIQA+ Advisory Committee and have in previous years included:
- Transgender Day of Visibility, 31 March
- International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) 17 May
- Wear It Purple Day, 25 August
- Bisexual Visibility Day, 23 September
- World AIDS Day, 1 December
Recognising LGBITQA+ days of significance is a direct action from the previous LGBTIQA+ Inclusion Plan:
Priority 3: Visibility “I am visible and can see myself represented in my community”
3.2. Ensuring LGBTIQA+ people are visible and represented in public spaces
- Host Council celebrations of selected LGBTIQA+ Days of Significance
In 2024 and 2025, the City of Ballarat commissioned LGBITQA+ Inclusion training for all our face to face staff, including customer experience officers at The Phoenix, the Art Gallery of Ballarat and the Ballarat Lifestyle and Aquatic Centre (BALC).
In 2025 we also rolled out internal LGBTIQA+ Inclusion training which is available to all staff through our intranet.
These training sessions stem directly from our previous LGBTIQA+ Inclusion Plan:
Priority 1: Safety “I feel safe and accepted.”
1. Building the capacity of our staff to promote LGBTIQA+ safety
- Audit existing inclusivity training practices and resources available
- Develop and implement general inclusivity training for new staff as part of the onboarding process
- Develop a model of training that provides both general and specific training as required
In 2024, the City of Ballarat established the CoB Pride Group for LGBTIQA+ staff members and allies.
The CoB Pride Group is an Employee Resource Group (ERG) for the City of Ballarat. ERGs play an important role to ensure that employees are supported, feel safe at their workplace and feel seen.
The CoB Pride Group fulfils several roles for our LGBTIQA+ staff and allies, one being a place to come together, chat about work and life and have the opportunity to be surrounded by community. Another is allowing LGBTIQA+ staff and allies to have a voice in decisions that council is making, both internal decisions and decisions that affect the wider community.
The group meets bi-monthly.
The formation of the CoB Pride Group is a direct action from the previous LGBTIQA+ Inclusion Plan:
Priority 2: Advocacy and culture “The City of Ballarat is recognised as an advocate for LGBTIQA+ people.”
2.2 Promoting an inclusive workplace
- Establish an internal Pride Working Group for staff to learn about and provide input into LGBTIQA+ inclusion
