La Trobe University is investigating the experience of lesbian, gay, bisexual and

transgender (LGBT) refugees, asylum seekers and newly arrived migrants.

La Trobe University’s Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society is looking for participants for a

research project into the experience of LGBT young people who have arrived in Australia as refugees,

asylum seekers or migrants.

Researchers are looking to speak to LGBT people over 21 years old now but who were under 18 when they

arrived in Australia.

This is the second phase of a larger research project. The first phase found that service providers and case

managers who worked with LGBT asylum seekers, refugees and new migrants felt that they needed more

training to allow them to better support their clients.

The second phase of the project will investigate LGBT young people’s experiences of accessing support

services and include these experiences in training and resources aimed at improving the quality and reach

of services provided to this population.

LGBT people over 21 years old, but who were under 18 when they arrived in Australia as refugees, asylum

seekers or new migrants who wish to take part should contact the Project Officer, David Mejia-Canales on

d.mejia-canales@latrobe.edu.au or visit: www.glhv.org.au

Any people wishing to take part in the project can be assured that their confidentiality can be assured.

William Leonard, Director GLHV said that “Very little work has been done on the experiences and needs of

LGBT young people who are newly arrived in Australia. What we do know is that many service providers do

not feel that they have the knowledge or expertise to address the needs of this population”.

David Mejia-Canales, who will be conducting the interviews said, “We hope that by talking to LGBT young

people who have arrived in Australia as refugees, asylum seekers or migrants, we can include their

experiences in training and resources aimed at improving the quality of support services they receive and

making them feel more welcome and at home”.

La Trobe University Hu man Research Ethics Approval: 15-012