Meridian provides support, education and health and wellbeing promotion to young LGBTQ+ people in the Canberra region.
Our Wellbeing Services can support young LGBTQ+ people and those questioning their sexuality and gender (and their families or carers) to explore their identity in a secure and affirming environment. These services are for people aged 15+ but we will always work to connect you with other relevant information and services if you are under 15.
We can also provide information about sexual health and gender and sexuality diversity, including through partnering with local youth services and schools across the Canberra region.
Meridian’s services for young people
Meridian’s multidisciplinary team provides mental health care, wellbeing support, and peer support to young people living, working, or studying in the ACT, as well as their families and carers.
Inclusive Pathways
Inclusive Pathways is a wellbeing service providing free psychological and social work support for LGBTQ+ (or questioning) folk who are 16+ years and live/work or study in the ACT. This program requires a Mental Health Treatment Plan from a GP, or a willingness to be supported to get one.
This activity is supported by funding from Capital Health Network (CHN), the ACT PHN through the Australian Government’s PHN Program.
Counselling
Meridian Wellbeing Services provides safe, inclusive and affordable counselling and mental health and wellbeing services for people of diverse sexualities and gender identities as well as their families and allies.
Meridian is not a crisis service. See our crisis support page if you’re in need of immediate support (or call 000 in an emergency), or look at the support services below.
Gender Pathways with AGA
Gender Pathways is a free, all-ages service led by peer navigators from A Gender Agenda (AGA) for trans, gender diverse and intersex people and their parents, families and carers to find referrals and information.
Gender Pathways is a drop-in service (no appointments required) which runs from Meridian’s Wellbeing Service every Friday from 1 to 6pm.
You can also contact the Gender Pathways team during service hours on 0402 276 553 or email [email protected].
Sexual health
Meridian works to support the sexual health of young people across the region. Our website has information about safer sex, including how to prevent transmission of sexually transmitted infections and bloodborne viruses,
STRIP Clinic
Working in partnership with Canberra Sexual Health Centre, the STRIP Clinic program allows LGBTQ+ people take control of their sexual health. STRIP is a community-based STI testing clinic where LGBTQ+ people can speak about their sexual health directly with health professionals who understand our community.
Free condoms
Young people can access free safer sex products at Meridian, where we provide individual condom/lube packs, or check out our Free Safer Sex Products locator, which has a map of services across Canberra who provide free condoms. We also provide free condoms at outreach stalls at various events across including university and CIT open days, pride celebrations and other community events.
Check out our online store for safer sex products including condoms, internal/vaginal condoms, lube, dental dams, sponges and HIV self-test kits.
Outreach, events and presentations
Meridian staff can attend events in tertiary settings to provide information and resources to students/young people about our services, sexual health and LGBTQ+ inclusion, as well as free safer sex packs (condoms, lube and dams).
On request (dependent on our team’s availability), we can also visit local services, school groups, community groups and pride events to speak to young people about sexual health services and how to access STI testing in Canberra.
Other support services
A Gender Agenda
As well as running the Gender Pathways service at Meridian on Fridays, A Gender Agenda (AGA) works to support intersex, trans and gender-diverse communities across the Canberra region through education, advocacy, peer support and professional networks. AGA also runs Encampment, a free annual 3-day retreat for LGBTIQA+ young people aged 12 to 17, led by peer mentors.
Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT (SHFPACT)
Free walk-in sexual health testing for people under 30 every Tuesday from 4:30 to 6:30pm.
SHFPACT’s services are holistic, confidential and respectful, and their practitioners have specialist sexual and reproductive health qualifications. Young people can attend the free youth clinic on Tuesdays without an appointment, where they can also access sexual health information and talk to professional educators. SHFPACT’s other services (paid) include IUD consultation and insertion, pelvic pain clinic, pregnancy options counselling and general sexual health appointments.
headspace
Free mental health support for young people aged 12 to 25.
Headspace can support young people with mental health, education and employment alcohol and drug use and physical and sexual health. Headspace Braddon has an Early Psychosis program for young people experiencing an early episode of psychosis, or at risk of developing psychosis.
Local headspace centres are located in Braddon, Tuggeranong and Queanbeyan.
The Junction Youth Health Service
Free health care services for young people aged 12 to 25.
Appointments available for primary healthcare with GPs and nurse practitioners, as well as case management and youth work support, education and advocacy.
YWCA Canberra Youth Services
Youth services for young people ages 10 to 25 and their parents and carers, including connection to community, social-emotional development, education and training, and domestic violence and housing support.
In-person services for young people are located at the Mura Lanyon Youth and Community Centre in the Tuggeranong area.
T25 Clinic
The T25 Clinic is a free nurse-led health and wellbeing service for young people that offers a range of support including STI screening, sexual health and contraception, sexuality and gender, mental health, family and relationship issues, drugs and alcohol and general physical health.
The T25 Clinic operates on weekdays at various locations around Canberra including Queanbeyan, Woden, Lanyon and Belconnen, as well as running pop-up clinics at local high schools.
LGBTQ+ social and support groups
A–Z Social Support Group (Lanyon)
A–Z is a free drop-in social support group for gender and sexually diverse young people and allies ages 12 to 25.
A–Z runs on Tuesdays from 5 to 7pm at the Mura Lanyon Youth and Community Centre (22 Sidney Nolan St, Conder).
AGA Drop-In
AGA runs a range of free drop-in sessions and other events for intersex, trans and gender diverse people. Sessions include Youth Point for folks aged 12 to 20, Kids Point for young people under 12 and their parents, Intersex Point, as well as art workshops, board games and general all-ages drop-in sessions.
Bit Bent Belconnen
Bit Bent is a free drop-in social support group for LGBTIQA+ young people and allies at the Belconnen Youth Centre (Cnr Chandler St and Swanson Ct, Belconnen).
Drop-in groups run on Thursday afternoons and are divided by age: ages 10 to 17 meet from 4 to 5:45pm, ages 18 to 25 meet from 5:45 to 7pm.
Starbursts Group at headspace Queanbeyan
Starbursts provides LGBTQIA+ young people with a supportive and inclusive space to connect, socialise and express themselves in a safe environment.
Group sessions are a blend of different social activities, with members deciding what they would like to do between group sessions. From game nights and arts & crafts to guest speakers and LGBTQIA+ themed excursions, Starbursts offers a range of fun and meaningful experiences for our group members!
Group meetings take place fortnightly, with dates and times being shared exclusively to members.
For students
For people in high school, many schools run regular meetups for LGBTQ+ folks, allies and those exploring their identity. These groups often run at lunchtime and are supported by staff from the school. They can be a great way to connect with peers with similar experiences or just make friends.
For university students, campuses often have LGBTQ+ student associations or guilds. You can find out more information and how to connect with these groups through your university’s student supports. These groups may offer a range of opportunities including social meetups, advocacy and support for LGBTQ+ students, and information sessions.
Resources and support
- PFLAG Australia provides support and connection for parents, guardians, carers and friends of the LGBTIQA+ community across Australia. You can connect with the local PFLAG group on Facebook.
- AGA provides an Information Hub with information and resources for supporting intersex, trans and gender diverse people at AGA’s Information Hub.
- Transforming Families is a digital resource for parents and carers of gender diverse children which contains research and support information.
- SECCA’s online resource library provides a range of accessible, picture-based and easy English information about sexuality and sexual health, with a particular focus on disability.