DEI Training

• In-person and online delivery available
• Customisable to your team’s context and needs
• Single session or series-based learning models

Fee-for-service training is available. Some training may be eligible for full funding through Victorian Government initiatives. Contact us to discuss pricing and eligibility.

Alex Sturman (he/they) leads our Training and Capacity building. With over 20 years of experience in community services, including mental health, disability, and the justice sector, Alex brings a wealth of expertise in creating inclusive and affirming learning environments.

Alex has a background in behavioural psychology and Integrative Medicine (USA), with clinical experience in reproductive health. As a seasoned adult educator, professional coach, and facilitator, Alex is passionate about empowering others to foster equity, inclusion, and improved health outcomes in healthcare and beyond.

Outside of work, Alex enjoys outdoor recreational activities and building Lego creations.

Linda Cowan (she/her) is our LGBTIQ+ Mental Health Workforce Development Senior Trainer and Secondary Consultation Coordinator. Linda is a health project management specialist with a strong background in alcohol and other drugs (AOD) practice and harm reduction. With extensive experience in health promotion, she has led the design and delivery of workplace training programs focused on harm reduction and LGBTIQ+-affirming practice. Linda’s work spans peer outreach, community engagement, and the development of inclusive, evidence-informed resources that support the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ+ communities. She brings a collaborative, community-centred approach to program design, implementation, and evaluation.

She also enjoys cooking and costume design.

REGISTRATIONS AVAILABLE MONDAY 2 JUNE

For enquiries, email education@thorneharbour.org.

This training explores the complex relationship between minority stress, mental health challenges, and substance use within LGBTIQ+ communities. It covers the unique drivers of AOD use, including the role of stigma, discrimination, and social isolation.

• Exploring the prevalence of mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, and suicidality among LGBTIQ+ people.
• Addressing the impact of social exclusion and minority stress on mental health and coping behaviours.
• Building confidence in delivering culturally responsive care within adult mental health and AOD services.
• Fully funded options available through the Victorian Workforce Development Train-the-Trainer initiative (July–December 2025).

This training focuses on the specific needs and experiences of trans and gender diverse people. Participants will learn how to create affirming environments through respectful engagement, appropriate language, and adapting services to better support TGD clients.

• Deepening understanding of gender diversity beyond binary frameworks.
• Legal and ethical considerations, including documentation, privacy, and anti-discrimination protections.
• Using inclusive intake processes, service pathways, and facilities (e.g., non-gendered bathrooms).
• Addressing specific barriers faced by TGD people in accessing healthcare and support services.
• Fully funded options available through the TGDiCH initiative for eligible Victorian based clinics.

This foundational training is ideal for organisations starting their journey toward more inclusive practice. It introduces participants to LGBTIQ+ identities, terminology, and historical contexts, helping them understand how stigma, discrimination, and systemic inequality have shaped the experiences of LGBTIQ+ people.

• Correct use of inclusive language and terminology to avoid harm and miscommunication.
• Understanding historical and ongoing health disparities affecting LGBTIQ+ communities.
• Building cultural awareness to prevent unintentional exclusion or discrimination in service delivery.

Designed for clinical and community health professionals, this module focuses on providing culturally safe and affirming care to LGBTIQ+ people across diverse healthcare environments.

• Applying inclusive communication strategies during client assessments and consultations.
• Addressing health disparities in areas such as HIV prevention, cancer screening, sexual health, and mental health.
• Embedding LGBTIQ+ cultural safety into service design and delivery.

This training supports organisations to understand and appropriately respond to the dynamics of family violence as experienced by LGBTIQ+ communities.

• Recognising that family violence in LGBTIQ+ relationships can include unique forms of abuse.
• Understanding the additional barriers LGBTIQ+ people face when seeking help, including fear of discrimination from mainstream services.
• Identifying safe referral pathways to LGBTIQ+-inclusive family violence support services.

This module moves beyond awareness to focus on practical strategies for being an active and effective ally in your workplace or service.

• Understanding the difference between performative allyship and meaningful action.
• Developing confidence to call out exclusionary behaviours and language.
• Implementing structural changes that improve inclusion and representation.

This training helps organisations build psychologically safe environments where LGBTIQ+ employees and service users feel respected, valued, and able to thrive.

• Recognising how workplace culture, policies, and leadership practices impact inclusion.
• Implementing strategies to prevent bullying, harassment, and microaggressions.
• Creating supportive pathways for staff to report discrimination and access support.

This module helps participants understand how overlapping identities—such as race, disability, migration status, and socioeconomic background—intersect with LGBTIQ+ experiences to create compounded forms of disadvantage.

• Recognising the unique challenges faced by LGBTIQ+ people from marginalised backgrounds.
• Integrating intersectional frameworks into service design and delivery.
• Applying trauma-informed approaches to reduce the cumulative impact of minority stress.

This practical module focuses on improving everyday language use across your organisation to ensure respectful, affirming, and inclusive communication with LGBTIQ+ clients, staff, and stakeholders.

• Avoiding assumptions about sexual orientation, gender identity, and relationships.
• Using correct pronouns and inclusive terminology.
• Reviewing organisational documents, websites, and communication channels for inclusive language.

In this hands-on workshop, our team works directly with your organisation to review policies, procedures, and documentation through an LGBTIQ+-inclusive lens.

• Identifying structural barriers and gaps in current policies.
• Ensuring compliance with anti-discrimination laws and best practice guidelines.
• Developing clear, inclusive policies that promote equity and safety for LGBTIQ+ people.