Well, Well, Well

Many queer people living in suburban and regional Victoria struggle to access mental health care despite growing community needs. The Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals aim to fill this gap for people aged 26 and up in places like Melton and Dandenong. But what are some of the considerations when serving diverse populations, managing logistical challenges, and building visibility in peri-urban areas? Our guest is Rory, an LGBTQIA+ Specialist Mental Health Manager at Thorne Harbour Health. They speak with Jack and Joel about why social connection matters for mental health outcomes and how peer-led models differ from traditional therapy. You’ll also hear about inclusive family practices and what social prescribing actually looks like in practice. 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 light of International Women’s Day on March 8, we discuss the unique challenges and triumphs of LBQ+ women navigating cultural expectations. Rachel and Molly kick off by reflecting on the pride festival season coming to an end, and the lingering comedown you may feel afterwards. Smaller queer gatherings and creative activities can fill the gap left by large festivals, and we discuss how you can stay connected to your communities through art walks, hikes, book clubs, and more. Dr Judy Tang also joins us to chat about the mental health impact of juggling cultural and queer identities, and outline how you can set healthy boundaries, seek peer support, and foster inclusive leadership. 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

Meredith from Chillout joins us to discuss Victoria’s longest‑running regional queer festival and teases out its evolution over three decades. This modest grassroots initiative has grown into a cornerstone event for our diverse LGBTIQA+ communities, and plays a pivotal role in fostering visibility and belonging in rural settings. Shaped by both tradition and innovation, organising this multi‑day celebration isn’t easy given the limited resources Meredith and the team have to work with. She speaks with Cal and Jack about how the Chillout team overcome funding constraints, regulatory requirements, and limited people power, and how they hope to do this for years to come. 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.

Director Sophie Hyde and actor Aud-Mason Hyde unpack the new film, Jimpa, tracing the story’s roots to Professor Jim Hyde. Jim was a pivotal figure in Australia’s response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and we explore how his legacy informs today’s intergenerational queer conversations. Cal and Jake reflect on the film’s café scenes, the emotional rehearsal process with older gay men, and the challenges of translating lived trauma into drama. We also discuss the companion project “The Queer Parts of Us,” a digital archive for community storytelling. 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.

How can we strengthen community ties with a queer Lunar New Year celebration? James Tapa from Gay Asian Proud (GAP) joins us to discuss the unique challenges faced by multicultural LGBTQ+ people navigating health services, voting, and social belonging in Australia. He explores with Joel and Jack personal anecdotes about family reunions, lion‑dance performances, and the symbolism behind the zodiac animal of the year. GAP’s sister group Yellow Kitties is co-hosting the event and we dive into how gender‑specific spaces complement each other. Whether you’re new to Melbourne’s queer scene or a longtime activist, tune in for insight, inspiration, and a clear invitation to join the celebration. On JOY 94.9, we play a bunch of new music from Asian-Australian LGBTIQA+ artists, including: Aisa – Theta Waves Kaiwyn – Good Boy Robert Baxter – ICY (Take it Off) Zhuli – Mitsubishi Sheets JXCKY – BORDERLINE Nat Vazer – For What? 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 dive into the TV series Heated Rivalry, exploring how the show portrays LGBTQ+ athletes in a mixed‑gender ice‑hockey setting. Kade and Shell from Southern Lights Hockey join Jack and Jake to discuss their local queer ice-hockey team, the series’ blend of drama and advocacy, 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.

Sarah Hiley, Drug Checking Director at The Loop Australia joins Jack to discuss the Victorian Pill Testing Service and its role in harm‑reduction. The service will be present at Victoria’s Pride Street Party, offering a safe, non‑judgmental space for festival‑goers to have their substances tested. Sarah walks us through the testing process, from anonymous sample submission to rapid results, and highlights the limits and accuracy of the analyses. We also delve into the broader impact of the service, including its contributions to public health data, emergency alerts, and connections to further support. 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.

Jack speaks with Julai Diesel ahead of the THH Vogue Night event running during Midsumma and discuss what the ballroom scene looks like in Melbourne, where it serves as a survival‑focused, queer‑affirming community built around competition, performance, and chosen family. They speak about the House of Diesel’s origins, its partnership with Thorne Harbour Health, and the ways Australian houses stay connected to the historic U.S. scene. Nick Henderson from the Australian Queer Archives (AQuA) also talks about the archive’s eclectic collections of traditional documents, punk gear, erotic artifacts, and even hair‑clipping albums, highlighting its role in preserving queer histories. With the St Kilda Queer History Walking Tour just around the corner, Nick discusses some of the tour’s stops at iconic venues like the Greyhound and the Prince of Wales, illustrating how physical spaces and community memory intersect to keep queer culture alive and visible. Get tickets for the St Kilda Queer History Walking Tour and the THH Vogue Night on the Midsumma website. 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.

Wise Words returns this Midsumma to feature a line-up of some of Australia’s most prominent and talented LGBTIQ+ women (trans and non-binary inclusive) for an evening of intergenerational storytelling. Candy Bowers will MC this year’s edition and we hear about her background in acting, production, writing, and more. Grab tickets to Wise Words on the Midsumma website: https://www.midsumma.org.au/whats-on/events/wise-words-a-night-of-intergenerational-storytelling/ Scott Walsberger from ACON also joins us to discuss cancer screening activations at the 2026 Midsumma Carnival in Alexandra Gardens. 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.

Dylan from the City of Yarra and Tex McKenzie speak about the Yarra Queer History Walk, a guided tour that traces Melbourne’s queer‑footprints through Fitzroy, Collingwood and Abbotsford. Jack is also joined by Rachel Cook and Chiron Hooson from Thorne Harbour to discuss the Community Periodic Surveys, our presence at Carnival, 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.  

Jack, Jake and Thorne Harbour Health Events Coordinator Chiron Hooson walk through a whirlwind 2025. We revisit events from Midsumma Festival, murder‑mystery parties and regional pride pop‑ups, to a record‑breaking World AIDS Day Red Ribbon Run and the revival of Northside Bazaar. Gus from Thorne Harbour’s family violence counselling team adds a quick roundup of the work their team does, 657 client contacts, new funding streams and the award‑winning Refuge to Recovery project. 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.

Molly Boorman from Thorne Harbour Health unpacks holiday wellbeing for LGBTIQ+ folk, from family driven stress to managing alcohol and other drug use. Molly shares practical tools like self compassion, safety planning, group peer support and when to access services like Direct Line, Rainbow Door and Lifeline. She also speaks with Jack and Jake about online intake options and the importance of creating new, affirming traditions when traditional gatherings feel unsafe. 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.

Cal talks with South Australian Legislative Council Member Ian Hunter about the murder of George Duncan that ignited South Australia’s push to decriminalise male homosexuality in 1975. Ian walks us through the behind the scenes lobbying by students, academic, law societies, and politicians that turned this historic event into legislative reform. He also explains how early AIDS activism blended community organising with direct access to health ministers, shaping a model of cooperative response. Ian makes a final call for younger generations to stay alert, because rights can be taken away by parliament just as easily as they were originally granted by Parliament. 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 the final episode of our 16 Days of Activism series, we’re turning to the health and support systems themselves. We talk about how mainstream family violence services can better support queer clients and what the sector can learn from the community led response with Gus and Vincent from Thorne Harbour Health. 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.

Ending intimate partner and gender violence means supporting those who use harm to change. In this episode we explore what that looks like in queer relationships with Gus and Vincent from Thorne Harbour Health’s family violence counselling team. 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.

Leaving a violent relationship is just the start. As we mark the 16 Days of Activism, we’re talking about what it takes to heal and how this journey might be different for queer people. We’re joined this episode by lived experience expert Alex as well as Gus and Vincent from Thorne Harbour Health to discuss this important topic. 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.

Sharna Ciotti and Lili K join us from Adelaide to discuss the recently released South Australian Royal Commission into Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Report. We also discuss Thorne Harbour Health’s new Family and Domestic Violence services which are tailored to our diverse LGBTIA+ communities. 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 joined by Bruce Fitzgerald, a proud member of Mob+, a unique group for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living with HIV, supported through the Thorne Harbour Positive Living Centre. With World AIDS Day just behind us and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander HIV Awareness Week underway, it’s the perfect time to talk about the group. Bruce is here to help us understand why Mob+ exists, what makes it so important, and what’s happening in the space for First Nations people living with HIV. To keep up with the group, check out the Positive Living Centre Facebook page. 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.

Continuing our 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence series, we’re discussing Unseen Abuse. Joel is joined again by Vincent and Gus from Thorne Harbour Health to learn more about what Unseen Abuse is, how it might look, and how to seek help. If this episode has raised any issues for you, help is available. 1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service at 1800 737 732 QLife provides anonymous and free LGBTIQ+ peer support and referral for people in Australia at 1800 184 527 or via their webchat Rainbow Door is a free helpline and specialist support service for LGBTIQA+ Victorians, their friends and families at 1800 729 367 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.

What is Family of Origin Violence and how does it affect our LGBTQIA+ communities? Joel speaks with Gus and Vincent from Thorne Harbour Health about this issue in light of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence campaign. If this episode has raised any issues for you, help is available. 1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service at 1800 737 732 QLife provides anonymous and free LGBTIQ+ peer support and referral for people in Australia at 1800 184 527 or via their webchat Rainbow Door is a free helpline and specialist support service for LGBTIQA+ Victorians, their friends and families at 1800 729 367 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.