Council Members

Jakob Quilligan

Macedon Youth WayOut Group

Macedon Ranges

Jakob is also a winner in the 2010 Heywire Competition. 

Check out this Video or read his story on Heywire.

Jakob has been involved with MY WayOut group since 2007, and considers him-self fortunate to have been able attend the 2007 Rural Youth and Sexual Diversity Forum.  Jakob has also been involved with the B-EPIC group since it started in 2010. As part of both groups Jakob has participated in local projects such as the “Big Picture” and “Bendigo says no to Homophobia” projects, has taken part in local school events, and been an advocate for the needs of SSAGD young people by having discussion with local MPs via forums and roundtable discussions.

Jakob has been a part of OUTthere since it’s inception in 2008, and currently holds the position of co-chair. During Jakob’s involvement with the council he has been able to work as part of a team to develop a survey that investigated homophobia in rural Victorian secondary schools as well as take part in statewide and national LGBT health conferences and forums (such as The Take Care Out Back There Forum, and the National Health in Difference Conference).  Jakob was also successful in becoming a young social pioneer in 2010 through his involvement with the OUTthere council.

Jakob wants to see a day where diversity, rather than conformity, is what ties communities together. In the future, Jakob would like to see OUTthere branch out across Australia in its entirety and get young people across the country sharing their experiences and working together to create significant social change.  Jakob would also like to see other generations of young people able to express themselves freely, for who they truely are, and Jakob believes that OUTthere can help in achieving this goal.

Jakob first got involved with the OUTthere council at a time when he was very uncertain about a great many things. “The people I’ve met, and the things I’ve been able to do, by way of my involvement with OUTthere have helped to shape the person that I am today. I’ve met people who I now consider family, and I know that I can count on them for advice and support when I need them. I’m not afraid to be who I am anymore, and OUTthere has played a part in developing that confidence” says Jakob.  “OUTthere is important because it provides a safe and inclusive environment where young people can connect and work together for a common good. This environment is not always present in a young person’s life, particularly when it comes to discussing matters relating to sexual and gender diversity, and it needs to be. I think that establishing a safe platform for young people encourages them to do the same in their home, schools and life in general, and that this is the way to create strong, positive change in their lives.”

David Crisp

B-EPIC

Bendigo

David has been involved with B-EPIC since the groups’ formation in October 2009, and has represented the group at many events, such as Pride March 2010, The Chillout Rural Youth Camp, The Take Care OutBack There GLBT Rural Health Forum and now the OUTthere Council.

In 2010 David was nominated by his group to be a representative on the OUTthere Rural Victorian Youth Council.  David has an extensive knowledge of Computers and the Internet, and hopes to use his knowledge to enrich the councils existing activities. He is currently involved in the OUTthere Councils Newsletter/Magazine Project.

In the Future David hopes that B-EPIC and OUTthere will tackle some of the big issues facing rural LGBTIQA Youth, and create invaluable resources about LGBTIQA issues, and services that regional areas are severely lacking in.

“I Believe OUTthere is a huge step for LGBTIQA Youth, as it provides a platform for everyone in our local areas to get their say in and have their say heard on a state-wide scope, not just in their local areas. OUTthere fills a gap that I feel had been left open for too long, and the changes that they’ve already achieved are fantastic, and personally; I cannot wait to see what we’ll be doing in the future”

Rob Lean

B-EPIC

Bendigo

Rob has been involved with the B-EPIC group since March 2010 and during this time Rob has been involved in projects and events such as the ‘Bendigo says no to Homophobia’ photo and entering a photo competition for awareness of Hepatitis C. Rob is also a student at La Trobe University studying Urban Planning.

In 2010 Rob was nominated by B-EPIC to be a representative on the OUTthere Rural Victorian Youth Council for Sexual Diversity.  Rob is hoping to take on the responsibility of working on projects addressing Education and planning of events for IDAHO (International Day Against Homophobia) 2011.

Looking into the future Rob hopes that the work of the OUTthere youth council will help to improve the lives of same sex attracted and gender diverse young people.  Rob would also like to see the development of a safe school environment for same sex attracted and gender diverse young people who might be being bullied.  Rob also encourages anyone in the Bendigo area who wants to challenge homophobia to contact the B-EPIC group or the CAN resource centre (Country Awareness Network) to express their interest in being involved.

“With Urban Planning, there is a part of it called Strategic Planning, this where you plan the future for communities. Hopefully in the future, a very lucky local government and the OUTthere could work together on creating a safe environment for every youth in the local community” says Rob.

“What OUTthere means to me is a valuable resource to have and to be a part of it will be important for me in the future to create a safe environment for every youth in a local community and if more, state-wide.”

Siann Pettersen

Whatever Youth Diversity Project

Latrobe Valley

Siann has been involved in her local group for almost 2 years. Siann’s role has changed from development into a more of a senior leadership role during her time participating in her local group. Siann started attending the group for the social aspect the same as so many other same-sex attracted young people. “Being in a rural area isolation is a huge problem and I wanted to find more people with the same interests as me. So I joined whatever I had a few friends that all ready attended the group which made it easier and wasn’t as daunting on my first few times attending” says Siann.

Siann’s local group nominated her to be a representative for the Whatever Youth Diversity Project in 2010. Currently Siann is the only representative for her local group as well as the only representative in the Eastern Victoria Region.

Siann would like to see her local group finish their current video project and to have a good solid transport strategy to assist the members who live out of town where the group meetings are held. Siann comments on the need to accommodate for members outside of the immediate area “The last public transport available is at 7pm and the group finishes at 9pm so members are missing out on two hours of group and dinner is usually served at 7pm so members also miss out on dinner”.

Siann would like to see OUTthere to develop a resource for same-sex attracted young people in rural areas that includes a directory of doctor’s and other community services that are same-sex attracted friendly. “I think this will be extremely helpful and resourceful even used as a reference list for other services referrals for same-sex attracted clients” says Siann.

When asked what OUTthere means to Siann she says “OUTthere is a group uniting young people who are leaders, who have a vision and who are strong minded individuals who are wanting and determined to make a change for the better; who aren’t afraid to tackle big issues and stand up for what they believe in. This is what I believe in”.

Sally Peck

ZAQUE

Ballarat

Sally has been involved with Zaque since it's very first meeting in 2004. She has been involved in projects around bullying, sexual health and even wrote a script and acted in Zaque's early failed attempt at making a movie!

In 2009 Sally was nominated by Zaque to be a representative on the OUTthere Rural Victorian Youth Council for Sexual Diversity. Since then she has attended many meetings and been involved in projects such as research on homophobia in schools and a United Nations youth consultation.

Sally hopes that OUTthere can make way to stronger connections and communication to all the involved groups. She also wants OUTthere to be able to influence change in legislation that affects GLBTI young people.

"Through being a part of OUTthere I have met many new like-minded people. I have been involved in projects, discussions and activities that I would never have had access without OUTthere. I have gained skills and experience that I can use in my future career as a Youth Worker."

Lucy McLean

YUMCHA

Warrnambool

Lucy has been involved in YUMCHA since 2005 back when it was first started, since then YUMCHA has come a long way, much more community oriented and much better known in the community, just recently Lucy helped set up a mini bus  which YUMCHA took “lapping” down the main street of Warrnambool with ‘Honk if you hate homophobia” across the side of the bus.

In 2009 Lucy became a member of the OUTthere council, since then she has worked alongside all other OUTthere members to update our website, compile feedback on how we could better the current website and helped plan the Rural Youth and Sexual Diversity Forum 2010.

Lucy hopes that the members of the OUTthere council will bring all the rural groups closer together, with one main objective, having one voice for all the GLBT youth in victoria instead of lots of small voices.

 “OUTthere is important to me because it gives rural young people a voice which they wouldn’t usually have, lets them put their views forward for the better of the community, and most importantly brings all the rural youth groups together, forming one united voice which is extremely important.”