Freedom Centre (FC) is here to support young people (under 26) to be happy and healthy about their sexuality and gender.
We also provide information and training for Professionals working with young peopleand we provide information and referrals for family and friends of same sex attracted and gender diverse youth.
Our drop-in centre is a safe space to come and hang out, have fun, meet other LGBTIQQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans*, Intersex, Queer & Questioning) young people and get peer-support and info if it’s needed.
Please feel free to contact the Freedom Centre Coordinator, Dani, for info or to ask any questions you might have on info@freedom.org.au / (08) 9482 0000 / (08) 9228 0354.
other services and information about being young and same sex attracted or gender diverse - go to Info, Glossary orLinks; and
fun, interesting and creative stuff by young people, for young people - go to the FreeXpress, section of the youth portal or check out our Blog.
Staying Fit and Free
At Freedom Centre, we’ve started pulling out the fluoro legwarmers and sweatbands. And while we’ll take any excuse to wear legwarmers (like Pride, dress-ups or popping down to the shops), this time it’s because we’ve caught the fitness bug!
This year, we’re aiming to start a new fitness program at the Freedom Centre and are seeking funding for sporting equipment. Exercise has a whole range of benefits, including giving you more energy, helping to manage stress and anger, giving you a better night’s sleep and making you feel good. As gyms and public spaces don’t always feel so comfy for us/DSSG people, having our own equipment available to access in Freedom Centre will help us to feel safe and happy while getting active!
We’re also working with local personal trainer Sav Adele of Workout Savvy to provide a series of workshops, which will include tips to get us thinking about how we can stay fit and healthy as well as providing trans* body sculpting for our GenderQ sessions. Additionally, we’ll be looking to get general sporting equipment to promote confidence-building and teamwork amongst the FC community.
While we’re hoping to be able to get a grant to get sporting equipment, we do exist on funding, donations and support from our community, so to anyone with a treadmill gathering dust in the corner or a basketball that’s not being used, we would love to have it! Contact Dani on info@freedom.org.au if you have equipment that would help us stay fit and free at FC!
Youth Homelessness Matters Day April 18 2012
Did you know that young people who are same sex attracted or gender diverse experience higer rates of homelessness? Did you also know there are services out there that can help?
Youth Homelessness Matters day on April 18th aims to raise public awareness about youth homelessness, the factors that cause it and to convey a message that young people experiencing homelessness are homeless, not helpless! For more information about it go to youthhomelessnessmatters.net.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth are overrepresented in the homeless population. According to a growing body of research and study, a conservative estimate is that 1 out of every 4 homeless young person is LGBTI+. This is greatly disproportionate to the estimated percentage of LGBTI young people in the general population which is around 10 percent. (1)
How Far We’ve Come - A look at the past year for Freedom Centre.
The past year at Freedom Centre has marked some big milestones and changes for Perth’s LGBTIQQ+ youth peer support service. So as we hang up our superhero masks and capes from the annual Pride Parade and start dreaming about fruit mince pies and the beach, it’s a great time to reflect on the past year and what’s to come in the future.
FC in the Pride Parade
From January through to April, Freedom Centre ran a series of art workshops which was named the ExSIGHT Art Project by our visitors. The workshops were facilitated by local artists Martin Wills and Peter Farmer, and provided an opportunity for young people to be mentored and improve their skills. The project resulted in an exhibition which showcased the artwork of our visitors, as well as an amazing wall mural with the themes of space, land and sea. Since the workshops have finished, Freedom Centre has hosted a second exhibition during the Pride Festival at our annual Freedom Centre Open Day.
With It Gets Better Australia having launched last month, Freedom Centre has put out a one minute video to contribute to the project, featuring our visitors! The full-length version of the video will be available early 2012!
Suicide Prevention Strategy for LGBTI Community
Gay and Lesbian Community Services WA, in partnership with the WA AIDS Council's Freedom Centre has received a three-month contract to consult the LGBTI community for the One Life suicide prevention strategy.
GLCS as the lead agency has signed the contract and will be working to create a comprehensive community action plan which will then go before the Ministerial Council for Suicide Prevention for approval.
Consultations will start in January and community members are invited to have their say on initiatives and activities that would benefit the community. GLCS Chairperson Nadine Toussaint said she was looking forward to working with the community on this initiative.
1 Community against HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination
The WA AIDS Council has launched a new campaign to address the issue of HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination. At Freedom Centre we've been getting behind the campaing and showing our support.
The 1 Community campaign encourages individuals to take an active stand against stigma and discrimination by supporting the message and making a public statement at www.1community.org.au
Trish Langdon, Executive Director said that many people living with HIV still continue to report unacceptable instances of HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination in their daily lives.
“Despite having some legal protection many people living with HIV do not feel safe to disclose their status to those around them. This burden of secrecy often takes a huge toll on a person’s health, wellbeing and freedom to engage in community life.”
WA AIDS Council Freedom Centre is a service of the WA AIDS Council. They provide LGBTIQ friendly counselling, peer support, education and sexual health testing.
Youth Homelessness Matters day on April 18th aims to raise public awareness about youth homelessness, the factors that cause it and to convey a message that young people experiencing homelessness are homeless, not helpless! For more information about it go to 
The WA AIDS Council has launched a new campaign to address the issue of HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination. At Freedom Centre we've been getting behind the campaing and showing our support.
