Strategic Plan Update: May 2025

05 May 2025
As we move through 2025, we continue to drive real progress on our Towards 2030 Strategic Plan. Every goal we meet is in service of a stronger, healthier future for our LGBTIQ+ communities and people living with HIV.
With dangerous setbacks to healthcare rights both in Queensland and further abroad in the United States, we must protect what we’ve won while remaining focused on areas where we can progress. Here's a snapshot of how we’re delivering on our shared goals:
Expanding the Reach and Impact of our Programs
In line with our goal to expand service delivery across Australia, we’ve further extended our reach in South Australia. Our newly launched Family Violence Service in Adelaide is providing specialised support to LGBTIQA+ people impacted by violence — a crucial step in meeting unmet needs in our communities and bringing equitable healthcare to both states where we operate services.
At the same time, our Silver Rainbow Training in Adelaide is helping aged care providers create safer, more inclusive environments for older LGBTIQA+ people. Both these new services strengthen our footprint and make affirming support accessible to more people, wherever they live.
Exercise Trusted Leadership
Advocating for a fairer, healthier future remains central to our work, and protecting access to universal healthcare is part of that. Thorne Harbour Health is proudly backing a petition to the Victorian Parliament, urging the government to protect universal healthcare from discrimination. Through this petition, we’re encouraging the Legislative Council to call on the Federal Government to protect trans and gender diverse access to healthcare across the country.
As outlined in our plan, trusted leadership means being a fearless advocate for systems that are equitable, inclusive, and designed for everyone, and we’ll continue to defend those principles wherever they are challenged.
Developing Our Communities
Strengthening community connections is fundamental to the health and resilience of our communities. Through our new program, Pride and Culture, we’re celebrating the diversity of LGBTIQ+ identities across cultural and spiritual backgrounds — building spaces where people feel seen and heard.
These initiatives directly advance our strategic commitment to develop our communities by creating inclusive opportunities for belonging and connection, particularly for those whose experiences of marginalisation are compounded by racism or religious exclusion.
Building a Robust and Adaptable Organisation
Building a sustainable organisation means securing diverse, reliable sources of funding to future-proof our services. From expanding CONNECT — our HIV self-test vending machines — to a national scale, to launching a new health promotion campaign on vaping, growing our LGBTIQ+ mental health training offerings, establishing new financial counselling services, and investing in research through Prostate Pride, each of these projects reflects strategic diversification.
These projects ensure we are not only responding to today’s needs but also building the infrastructure to meet tomorrow’s challenges. Delivering on our goal to develop organisational resilience, we are strengthening our ability to adapt and sustain our work well into the future.
Looking Forward
As we move further into 2025 we have several more major projects on the horizon, including the return of Northside Bizarre, our legendary kink-inspired fundraiser. After a six-year hiatus, the beloved street festival is back, raising vital funds for many of our services and meeting several of our strategic goals.
Stay connected with Thorne Harbour via our newsfeed and social media to keep up with all our updates.
In other news
23 May 2025
Reconciliation Week 2025
National Reconciliation Week (27 May – 3 June) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements — and to explore how we can each contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.The 2025 theme, "Bridging Now to Next," is a reminder that, no matter what, the fight for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must continue. Whether you're attending a community event, engaging with First Nations voices, or learning something new, there are plenty of ways to get involved this year.Below is a curated list of events, activities, and resources across Melbourne and online that we encourage our communities to explore:
14 May 2025
Why This IDAHOBIT is Different
One year ago, Thorne Harbour Health stepped away from X (formerly known as Twitter) to take a stand against harmful online rhetoric on IDAHOBIT (International Day Against LGBTIQA+ Discrimination). In the months since, it’s become increasingly clear that this was the right decision. While Australia’s recent election results have sparked optimism for a more inclusive future, the past year has also seen a troubling rise in hostility against LGBTIQA+ people.