Aims & Structure

The council runs on a similar model to the local groups, the council is also a gay/straight alliance and all issues and ideas are raised and addressed by the young people who are members of the council. It is the first council in Australia of young rural people to address issues around sexual diversity at a state wide level with a rural focus.

The OUTthere Rural Victorian Youth Council for Sexual Diversity aims to raise awareness, advocate and provide information and resources to communities, youth services, schools and government departments about issues facing same sex attracted youth in rural Victoria.

Currently there are 18 active members on the OUTthere council representing Latrobe Valley, Geelong and Drysdale, Warrnambool, Ballarat, Bendigo, Macedon Ranges, Shepparton, Wodonga and Wangaratta. Council membership age limits are 16 – 25, and all the members attend quarterly ‘face to face’ meetings over 3-4 days, and fortnightly ‘online’ meetings.

Council member roles include not only bringing issues, requests and ideas from the local groups to the council but also to take information and resources back to their local groups and communities. As well as seeking to inform, raise awareness and collaborate with the wider rural community, other agencies and organisations and all levels of government to advocate for rural young people around issues associated with sexual diversity and homophobia in rural areas state wide. OUTthere members also constantly seek further funding and support, as well as promoting the council and their local groups.

The council members are also actively seeking information and updates about actions and campaigns that are happening throughout Victoria, Australia and also internationally. OUTthere members are doing all of these things daily, in their schools and workplaces, through their social networks and local communities. Many of the council members are not just members of their local groups and the OUTthere council but are also actively involved with various youth and community projects either on a local level or a state wide level and whilst they are participating across these various projects they are constantly 'OUTthere' being an advocate for themselves, their local groups, the OUTthere council and all rural young people.