LGBTIQ+SB Affirmative Practice Training for folk working in the AOD Sector

Join us for an engaging and practical webinar with Jack (he/they), a proud trans man, Social Worker and founder of Rainbow Affinity. Jack delivers professional development that supports practitioners and organisations to provide affirming and culturally safer services for LGBTIQ+SB communities.

With extensive experience across the mental health and AOD sectors, including counselling, training, advocacy and research, Jack brings both lived and professional expertise to this space. He was recognised with the LGBTIQA+ Worker Award at the 2024 Australian Winter School Conference (QNADA) and is currently contributing to a national research project exploring how trans people in Australia seek AOD support and how these experiences can be improved.

In this webinar, Jack will explore the importance of affirmative practice in AOD settings, with a focus on practical strategies for frontline workers. Research shows that LGBTIQ+SB people in Australia use alcohol and other drugs at higher rates and often begin use at younger ages. Despite being recognised as a priority population in national AOD strategies, many continue to face barriers when accessing support, particularly due to a lack of culturally competent and affirming services.

This session will cover:

• What affirmative practice is and why it matters in AOD settings
• Current research and data on substance use within LGBTIQ+SB communities
• Barriers to accessing support and their impact on treatment outcomes
• Practical strategies to provide culturally safer, inclusive and affirming care

Webinar details

📅 Date: 23 April 2026

🕐 Time: 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM (NT time), including Q&A

💻 Format: Microsoft Teams