LGBTIQA+ Community and Rainbow Advisory Committee

The Rainbow Advisory Committee will formally establish Council’s role in advocating for the equality and inclusion of LGBTIQA+ people, families and communities within the wider context of the City of Whittlesea.

The Committee will provide advice and recommendations to Council in relation to the LGBTIQA+ community, including:

• Advise Council of current and emerging needs of City of Whittlesea’s LGBTIQA+ community.
• Contribute and provide feedback to Council on policies, plans and services, ensuring the perspectives and lived experiences of LGBTIQA+ community members are considered
• Raise awareness and identify advocacy opportunities to promote knowledge, equality and inclusion of the LGBTIQA+ community.
• Assist in the exchange of information and views between community, Council and other relevant bodies on issues affecting the LGBTIQA+ community.

We will work to foster an inclusive, healthy, safe and welcoming community where all ways of life are celebrated and supported. The Rainbow Advisory Committee will action Key Direction 2 in the endorsed City of Whittlesea Connected Communities Strategy Plan:

“Develop a proposal to establish an advisory group with the LGBTIQA+ community to support delivery of inclusive activities and programs in Council’s facilities and spaces”.

The Committee will provide Council with an opportunity to work proactively with our LGBTIQA+ community to recognise their lived experience, and address barriers to their participation in community life.

The committee will consist of up to nine voluntary voting members, including a maximum of six community members and a minimum of two representatives from community organisations, agencies or service providers who have a connection with the local LGBTIQA+ community. The Council will also annually appoint one Councillor to the committee and one Councillor as proxy.

The committee will be made up of up to nine community members and a minimum of two representatives from community organisations, agencies or service providers who have a connection with the local LGBTIQA+ community.

The Council also appointed Councillor David Lenberg to the Committee for a one-year term and Councillor Blair Colwell as proxy.

An internal assessment panel comprising the Director Community Wellbeing, the Executive Sponsor of the internal Pride Employee Representative Group and a Council Officer will select members of the inaugural Committee. Candidates will be endorsed by the CEO.

Should a vacancy occur during the term of the Committee, the vacancy will be advertised as an EOI on Council’s website. Council will be responsible for appointing a person/s to fill any vacancy for the remainder of the term.

Council will undertake a new recruitment and selection process to fill vacancies at the end of the term of appointment. Existing members wishing to continue their appointment on the Committee will be invited to reapply.

Community representatives are people aged 18 years or over who live, work or study in the City of Whittlesea. These members are selected based on their:

1. identification as a member of the LGBTIQA+ community.
2. understanding of the needs of the LGBTIQA+ community.
3. capacity to consult with the LGBTIQA+ community and represent a wide range of views.
4. capacity to analyse information and provide advice on issues affecting the LGBTIQA+ community.

Organisational members are representatives of community-based organisations, agencies or service providers, that support LGBTQIA+ communities on a range of issues within the City of Whittlesea. These members are selected based on the services or programs that their organisation delivers directly to the Whittlesea LGBTIQA+ community, and criteria 2), 3), and 4) above.

All members must:

• Be committed to the Rainbow Advisory Committee purpose, vision and aims.
• Be committed to the Rainbow Advisory Committee and or City of Whittlesea’s Code of Conduct.
• Be committed to attending a minimum of four ordinary meetings per year.
• Not be a current employee of City of Whittlesea or an employee who has left City of Whittlesea within a two-year period.

Meetings will occur at a date and time determined by Council in consultation with members and will be approximately two hours in duration. An annual schedule of six ordinary meetings will be held with additional meetings and an annual planning meeting scheduled by agreement between the Co-Chairs and an appointed Council Officer. All members are required to attend a minimum of four ordinary meetings per year.

For more information about the Rainbow Advisory Committee, email RainbowAdvisoryCommittee@whittlesea.vic.gov.au