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About the Queer Sisterhood

Queer Sisterhood Project is a peer-run support and advocacy group aimed to provide a space of community and belonging to queer refugee women.

The group is open to all women (based on the self-identification) who are identifying as queer (homosexual, bisexual, lesbian, same-sex attracted, pansexual) and have sought asylum in Australia because of the persecution on the grounds of gender or sexuality. Women on different stages of the protection visa application, including those who were refugees in the past and are citizens now, are welcome.

The group is run by Tina and Renee Dixson in partnership with Twenty10. At present we meet in Sydney, but we are looking to expand.

We also have an online chat for women who live in different states and territories.

Watch the cartoon ‘Being Queer and Refugee’

Download ‘Being Queer and Refugee’ brochure here that contains 30 tips for service providers for inclusive service provision.
If you are a queer woman who is seeking asylum in Australia, send us an email at queersisterhood [at] gmail.com
If you are an ally, Join us as we are building a community where queer refugee women.
Donate to support this important work.

Download and share the project flyer.

For referrals and more information, send me an email at queersisterhood [at] gmail.com.

Check out our current work here.
For media articles about queer sisterhood, visit this page.
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Our work

Current

Cartoon ‘Being Queer and Refugee’  

This project has been funded by the Channel Diverse Storytelling Grant. The cartoon discusses the experiences of being queer and refugee taking about navigating the life in Australia as a queer refugee woman. The cartoon has been co-designed with women.

This project privileges and foregrounds the lived experience of queer refugee women. It’s unique as we share what we think is an effective support and vital as it tells the world that we exist. This is one of the first projects in Australia of such nature.

If you are a queer woman who is seeking asylum in Australia and you want to be a part of this work, please contact me.

Brochure ‘Being Queer and Refugee’

This project has been funded by the Lesbian Inc Grant. It is an informational resource aimed at service providers to better understand the experiences of queer refugee women and ensure appropriate service provision. It provides 30 useful tips for service providers to make sure that their service provision is inclusive.

You can download the web version and the print version with crop and bleed here. You can print your own copy, however you may not change the content of the brochure. See the copyright instructions on the p2 of the brochure.

Sexual health: free workshop for queer refugee women

This workshop aimed to cover a range of topics in relation to sexual health including types of sexual practices between people with vulvas, psychosexual health, consent, body autonomy, STIs and transmission, and methods of safe sex. This workshop is for all women, non-binary people and people with vulvas.

It was held in December 2018.

GALFA Grant to organise a first-ever retreat for queer refugee women. 

Read about it here.

Submission to the CEDAW review of Australia.

Access the submission here.

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Media

Radio interview with Sally Goldner, Out of the Pan

Listen to the full episode.

https://www.3cr.org.au/outofthepan/episode-201906231200/queer-displacements-grass-roots

 Interview on the Queering the Air 

Listen to the full episode here.
http://3cr.org.au/queeringtheair

Queer refugee women an invisible minority in Australia, experts say

Starobserver, Matthew Wade, September 2018

Queer refugee women are often left out of the conversation around those seeking asylum in Australia, but one same-sex couple is fighting to change that. Matthew Wade reports.

Read the full article here.

Radio interview with Sally Goldner, Out of the Pan

Listen to the full episode.