By Molly Magennis
Maribyrnong council is establishing a LGBTQIA+ community advisory group, and is calling for residents to be a part of it.
Council plans to establish the advisory group by December after they received an inquiry in August regarding the process of establishing one.
The proposed LGBTIQA+ community advisory group will advise council on the needs people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, or allied/asexual in Maribyrnong.
It will formally establish the council’s role in advocating for the equality and inclusion of the LGBTIQA+ people, families and communities within the wider context of Maribyrnong.
The advisory group will comprise of up to three councillors (to be nominated by council), up to 10 community members and up to three representatives from community organisation, agencies or service providers that are linked with LGBTIQA+ communities in Maribyrnong.
At a council meeting on November 16, c ouncillor Bernadette Thomas said the advisory group will greatly assist in developing a strategy and action plan to be used for years to come.
“[I’m] really looking forward to expressions of interest and people getting involved in participating through the advisory group, I think it’d be a really great experience,” she said.
Cr Sarah Carter agreed with this sentiment and said that the City of Maribyrnong is a better place thanks to it’s ‘rainbow community’.
“I think our community is much, much richer for it,” she said.
“So it’s about time, it’s probably a little late, to be honest. But you know, it’s good that we’re starting this now.”
An expression of interest process inviting applications from the Maribyrnong community is expected to begin in late November, with information on how to apply on the council’s website and social media.
