Well, Well, Well

Rachel is joined by Reah Saunders, the acting President of Dykes on Bikes to talk about the future of Dykes on Bikes, and what International Lesbian Day means to her personally, and to the community she rides with. Learn more about Dykes on Bikes at their website: https://dykesonbikesmelbourne.org.au/ Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing at joy.org.au/wellwellwell. If there’s something you’d like us to explore on the show, send through ideas or questions at wellwellwell@joy.org.au Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria and South Australia at thorneharbour.org and samesh.org.au.

We continue our coverage from the Australasian Society of HIV Medicines (ASHM) Conference with conversations. Joel speaks with Brooke and Rodrigo from the Burnett Foundation about the criminalisation of HIV in Aotearoa New Zealand. Leigh Boucher talks about a project from Macquarie University exploring the impact of the first years of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in its Australian epicentre, Darlinghurst in Sydney's inner east. We also hear about a study into sexual health education for young LGBTIQA+ people and their parents from Alex from La Trobe University and one of the study's participants, Ruby. Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing at joy.org.au/wellwellwell. If there’s something you’d like us to explore on the show, send through ideas or questions at wellwellwell@joy.org.au Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria and South Australia at thorneharbour.org and samesh.org.au.

We head to Adelaide for the HIV and sexual health conference from the Australasian Society of HIV Medicine or ASHM. Ella from the Kirby Institute discusses the intersection of HIV with culturally and linguistically diverse communities. We also hear from Larisa and Carla from UNSW about the Stigma Indicators Monitoring Project for people living with HIV. Lastly, Dr Rona Carroll from the University Of Otago Wellington speaks about gender affirming care in general practice in New Zealand. Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing at joy.org.au/wellwellwell. If there’s something you’d like us to explore on the show, send through ideas or questions at wellwellwell@joy.org.au Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria and South Australia at thorneharbour.org and samesh.org.au.

Each episode, Big Bi+ Questions on JOY tackles topics for the Bi+ community like “Am I still bisexual if I have a preference in gender,” “do I have to come out as bi+,” or “Why can’t we sit on chairs properly,” and answers them over the course of an hour. Rachel and Jordan are joined in the studio by Tamzyn and Jase to blast through a bunch of Big Bi+ Questions in the limited time they have with these bicons. Listen to Big Bi+ Questions at joy.org.au/bigbiquestions or wherever you get your podcasts. Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing at joy.org.au/wellwellwell. If there’s something you’d like us to explore on the show, send through ideas or questions at wellwellwell@joy.org.au Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria and South Australia at thorneharbour.org and samesh.org.au.

We've recently seen a wave of targeted attacks where perpetrators used fake profiles to lure people before ambushing them with robbery, assault, and homophobic abuse. In response, Switchboard Victoria has launched a new dedicated helpline via the Rainbow Door service (details below) to support LGBTIQA+ people who’ve experienced violence linked to dating and meet-up apps. It’s a serious issue, and in this episode Jack and Cal speak about the helpline and the support it offers with Switchboard CEO, Jenna Tuke. Mentioned in this episode: Our previous episode with Starlady discussing the Transfemme resource Rainbow Door, the Free Victorian LGBTIQA+ Service available 10AM - 5PM, 7 days per week at 1800 729 367 Choose option 1 if you want to discuss an experience relating to Tech-Facilitated Violence QLife, the Free Australia wide LGBTIQ+ service available 3PM - 12AM, 7 days per week at 1800 184 527 Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing at joy.org.au/wellwellwell. If there’s something you’d like us to explore on the show, send through ideas or questions at wellwellwell@joy.org.au Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria and South Australia at thorneharbour.org and samesh.org.au.

Jordan and Rachel speak with queer sexologist Kendall Buckley about how to navigate sex and relationships. As this is Women's Health Week, we also look at  some of the issues that affect LGBTIQ+ women in particular and how we can better advocate for our pleasure. We dive into the myths about polyamory, non-monogamy, or kink in LGBTIQ+ circles, and how Kendall's work challenges heteronormative models of relationships and intimacy. Kendall Buckley is a sexologist and clinical nurse consultant who works exclusively with LGBTQIA+/FLINTA communities. Drawing on relational therapy and feminist theory, her evidence based person-centred practice specialises in queer sex, identity, relationships, neurodiversity and PMDD. To find out more, visit kendallbuckley.com or @kendall.buckley.sexologist.

Wear It Purple Day is celebrating 15 years of action and support for young LGBTIQA+ people. Founded in 2010 in response to stories of bullying and harassment, it’s a chance for us to show up for our young people, affirming that they are seen, supported, and valued. Rachel and Jordan spoke to Reb Mery, Brand Marketing Manager from Minus 18 about the significance of this day for our diverse communities. They discussed their personal experiences as young LGBTIQA+ people in highschool, and the generational differences and similarities that remain. Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing at joy.org.au/wellwellwell. If there’s something you’d like us to explore on the show, send through ideas or questions at wellwellwell@joy.org.au Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria and South Australia at thorneharbour.org and samesh.org.au.

SAMESH, the South Australian Mobilisation and Empowerment for Sexual Health is an HIV/STI Prevention and Health Promotion program which recently celebrated ten years since its foundation. This partnership between Thorne Harbour Health and SHINE SA came about in 2015 after the AIDS Council of South Australia (ACSA) closed a few years prior. Jack spoke with two people who were instrumental in its formation and ongoing operation: Colin Batrouney, Director of Health Promotion and Community Engagement at Thorne Harbour Health Holley Skene, Chief Executive Officer of SHINE SA They discuss how SAMESH was designed to address gaps in sexual health education for our diverse communities in SA in 2015, some of the significant health promotion campaigns, and the lessons to come from overseeing this work over the past ten years. Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing at joy.org.au/wellwellwell. If there’s something you’d like us to explore on the show, send through ideas or questions at wellwellwell@joy.org.au Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria and South Australia at thorneharbour.org and samesh.org.au.

Trans and gender diverse (TGD) people face significant barriers when accessing alcohol and other drug (AOD) residential services—barriers that are too often overlooked. In this episode, we explore new research unpacking those challenges, and ask: what does inclusive care actually look like? We’re joined by Nic Robinson Griffith from Thorne Harbour Health, and Annette Peart and Blair Hill from Turning Point. Together, they delve into inconsistent practices across services, gaps in staff training, and the real-world consequences of exclusion—through both professional insights and lived experience. This is a call to action for policy makers, services, and workers alike. Read the full report.

Emen8.com.au is an Australian sexual health and wellbeing platform for gay, bisexual, and queer men. The site is vital in the HIV prevention space, providing clear information about health, sex, relationships and community. As the HIV and sexual health landscape evolves, so does Emen8, with a renewed focus on multicultural inclusion and newer prevention tools like Doxy-PEP. Joining us this episode are Project Lead Chris Williams and Content Writer Oli McAuslan to discuss a wide range of topics including: the rise of Doxy-PEP, queer housing, private health insurance and why navigating the system can be uniquely complicated for queer men, especially those who are overseas-born, HIV self-testing, building trust with audiences who may not have grown up with Australian healthcare norms, and more. Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing at joy.org.au/wellwellwell. If there’s something you’d like us to explore on the show, send through ideas or questions at wellwellwell@joy.org.au Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria and South Australia at thorneharbour.org and samesh.org.au.

We’re diving into two iconic events in Melbourne’s queer community: A Week of Leather (AWOL) and the long-awaited return of Northside Bizarre. AWOL and Northside Bizarre have long been cornerstones of Melbourne’s queer scene, creating vital spaces for connection, expression, and celebration within leather, fetish, and kink cultures. We’re joined by Dean Arcuri and Brett Lasham from The Laird Hotel, who run A Week of Leather, and Craig Bascand from Down and Dirty. Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing at joy.org.au/wellwellwell. If there’s something you’d like us to explore on the show, send through ideas or questions at wellwellwell@joy.org.au Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria and South Australia at thorneharbour.org and samesh.org.au.

This week on Well Well Well, we’re joined by Josh Smith from Lifeblood and Professor John Kaldor from the Kirby Institute to unpack the recent changes to plasma donation rules, now allowing thousands more—including gay, bi+ and trans Australians—to donate without a wait period. We also look ahead to 2026, when gender-neutral rules for blood and platelet donation are set to be introduced.

HIV Futures is the largest and longest-running study of people living with HIV in Australia. Running since 1997, the study undertakes periodic surveys of Australians living with HIV. Dr Thomas Norman joins us to discuss the study, what it aims to accomplish, some of the findings in previous years, and why people living with HIV should consider taking the survey themselves. Learn more about HIV Futures 11 at hivfutures.org. Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing at joy.org.au/wellwellwell. If there’s something you’d like us to explore on the show, send through ideas or questions at wellwellwell@joy.org.au Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria and South Australia at thorneharbour.org and samesh.org.au.

We speak with Becky about Birthing Belonging, which offers inclusive and accessible childbirth and early parenting education for LGBTQIA+ families through their Rainbow Kin sessions. These sessions explore Inclusive Childbirth Education covering labour preparation, birth options, navigating the healthcare system, and creating affirming birth plans that reflect your values, as well as Early Parenting, newborn care, feeding, sleep, bonding, and building confidence as new parents. Learn more about Birthing Belonging at their website or on Instagram. Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing at joy.org.au/wellwellwell. If there’s something you’d like us to explore on the show, send through ideas or questions at wellwellwell@joy.org.au Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria and South Australia at thorneharbour.org and samesh.org.au.

In this special episode of Well Well Well, we’re coming to you from two corners of queer community celebration and connection. First, we head to the Adelaide Pride Gala to hear from this year’s award winners—recognising trailblazers, community champions, and unsung heroes making a difference across South Australia. Then we sit down with Tom Herbert from Living Positive Victoria for a crossover conversation about their podcast Poslink+, exploring the power of peer voices, creative partnerships like HIV Unwrapped, and Bi+ inclusion in HIV services.

South Australia this year is celebrating 50 years of gay decriminalisation with a bevy of events from street parties to sport events and nature walks. The flagship Adelaide Pride Gala is also taking place on Friday June 27th to honour the state’s history, celebrate the community and recognise those making a positive impact across South Australia. In this episode of WWW we’ll hear from South Australians who were there when homosexuality was decriminalised including: South Australian Legislative Council Member, the Honorable Ian Hunter Gay Liberationist and Historian William Sergeant OAM, and CEO of the History Trust of South Australia, Greg Mackie OAM Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing at joy.org.au/wellwellwell. If there’s something you’d like us to explore on the show, send through ideas or questions at wellwellwell@joy.org.au Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria and South Australia at thorneharbour.org and samesh.org.au.

The City of Yarra is partnering with VicHealth to kick off Dry July with Somewhere Sober – a place for connection and conversation around the relationship between queer social spaces and alcohol. This is a relaxed, welcoming event for LGBTQIA+ folks and allies who are sober, sober-curious, or simply keen to explore social spaces that don’t revolve around drinking. For a primo showcase of sober (and sober-curious) LGBTQIA+ comedians and artists, check out the event on the City of Yarra website here. Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing at joy.org.au/wellwellwell. If there’s something you’d like us to explore on the show, send through ideas or questions at wellwellwell@joy.org.au Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria and South Australia at thorneharbour.org and samesh.org.au.

This week on Well Well Well, we’re joined by Alex Lopez and Derryn Pert from Pelvic Health Melbourne to talk about all things pelvic health — what it is, why it matters, and how it shows up differently for different people. We’ll explore the unique concerns across our LGBTIQA+ communities, including for gay and bi men, lesbian and bi women, and trans and gender diverse people.

This week on Well Well Well, we explore the power of play and life-saving health interventions. Dr Phoebe Toups Dugas from Monash University joins us to discuss how games can be more than just entertainment—they can be spaces for identity exploration, community building, and inclusion for trans and queer players. We dive into what makes a game truly inclusive, how queer and trans gamers are shaping the future of game design, and why representation behind the scenes matters. Then, we turn our focus to harm reduction with Linda Cowan from Thorne Harbour Health, who breaks down everything you need to know about Naloxone—how it works, how to access it, and how this simple intervention can save lives in the face of Australia’s ongoing overdose crisis. TGD Gaming Resources:  Published Papers: Designed & Discovered Euphoria: Insights from Trans-Femme Players' Experiences of Gender Euphoria in Video Games Analyzing Trans (Mis)Representation in Video Games to Remediate Gender Dysphoria Triggers Games Discussed: Celeste One night; hot springs Cyberpunk 2077 VA-11 Hall-A: Cyberpunk Bartender Action Easy, Free Development Platforms: Twine Godot Naloxone Resources: Sesh.ed (Instagram)Follow @sesh.ed for down-to-earth, non-stigmatising drug education and harm reduction info. Overdose DayLearn how to administer naloxone and access overdose prevention resources: overdoseday.com TripSit Drug Combinations ChartCheck drug interactions and potentially dangerous combinations with this easy-to-use chart: combo.tripsit.me Drug Alerts (Victoria)Stay informed with alerts from VicHealth and Sesh.ed. You can also get SMS alerts direct to your phone via Barwon Health: mhdas.barwonhealth.org.au Free Naloxone at PharmaciesAccess naloxone for free through Victoria’s Take Home Naloxone program—no prescription needed: health.vic.gov.au – Naloxone Program

In this episode of Well Well Well, we shine a spotlight on the power of community-led solutions in HIV prevention, care, and support. We’re joined by representatives from ViiV Healthcare, WAAC, Watipa, NAPWHA, Thorne Harbour Health, and the HIV/AIDS Legal Centre to discuss the 2024 Positive Action Community Grants. Together, we explore how these grants are funding innovative projects that make a real difference—whether that’s supporting peer-led initiatives, improving access to care, or addressing the unique challenges faced by people living with HIV across Australia. Tune in to hear how grassroots organisations are driving positive change and what’s next in the fight for health equity. Check out our other JOY Podcasts for more on LGBTIQ+ health and wellbeing at joy.org.au/wellwellwell. If there’s something you’d like us to explore on the show, send through ideas or questions at wellwellwell@joy.org.au Find out more about LGBTIQ+ services and events in Victoria at thorneharbour.org and in South Australia at samesh.org.au.