We hope that your weeks are winding down and are not as busy as ours. This newsletter is to provide you all with another update on the virtual ILGA Oceania conference hosted from New Caledonia (22^nd October 2020) and the AGM hosted by the University of Sydney, Sydney (24^th October 2020).  In the midst of everything we are also determining how we can write a submission to state that we reject the “Gay Panic” Bill which has been introduced into the SA Parliament.

Another piece of advocacy that we are looking into is how we can bring awareness to supporting people who have gone through conversion therapy on the grounds that we do not condone that. On the Friday 23^rd October 2020 Vanessa will be Facilitating a panel entitled ‘The Power of Pride’ an online panel discussion that focuses on the power of pride networks within the workplace, you can attend by registering at this link.

Check out the timetable of events during the ILGA Oceania Conference [Thursday, 22 October 2020] and Annual General Meeting (AGM) [Thursday, 22 October 2020]! Remember that the times, and sometimes even the days will differ depending on which time zone you are located in the ILGA Oceania region. 

When:
             WEDNESDAY, 21 OCTOBER 2020
                    Papeete (French Polynesia) [-10]                          11:30 am    
                     Avarua (Cook Islands) [-10]                                  11:30 am
             THURSDAY, 22 OCTOBER 2020
                     Ngerulmud (Palau) [+9]                                         6:30 am    
                     Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea) [+10]             7:30 am
                     Brisbane, Queensland (Australia) [+10]                7:30 am
                     Melbourne, Victoria (Australia) [+11]                     8:30 am
                     Sydney, New South Wales (Australia) [+11]          8:30 am
                     Noumea (New Caledonia) [+11]                            8:30 am
                     Tarawa (Kiribati) [+12]                                           9:30 am
                     Suva (Fiji) [+12]                                                     9:30 am 
                     Nukualofa (Tonga) [+13]                                       10:30 am
                     Wellington (New Zealand) [+13]                           10:30 am  
                     Apia (Samoa) [+14]                                               11:30 am

Passcode: 044239

This year prior to the AGM we are holding caucuses to help us identify the key issues which members think that we should be advocating for. We have scheduled the caucuses in the timetable below and we are asking each portfolio to identify two to three issues that we can support with our advocacy for over the next two years.  If you are unable to attend a particular portfolio caucus, you can leave a message on the individual caucus's Loomio discussion page or on the ILGA Oceania Facebook group. 

As the AGM is very fast approaching we need to remind Members to ensure that their memberships fees are up to date. The benefit of your LGBTI+ organisation becoming an ILGA are:

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a) Access to international and regional networking, including regional conferences
b) Access to trainings, study visits, lobbying trips
c) Access to improving advocacy capacity and opportunities
d) Participation in decision making processes in the biggest global LGBTI+ organization
e) Leadership development opportunities
f) Access to information about the global situation of LGBTI+ people
g) Shaping the future of the movement and activities of the regional and World offices and choosing conference host cities by voting in World and regional elections
h) Closer cooperation with World and regional offices – potential engagement with the UN, EC and others - applicants from member organisations receive priority
i) Scholarship applicants from member organisations receive priority
j) Strength in numbers, global solidarity

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If you are unsure whether your fees are up to date you can contact Paula at mebership[AT]ilga.org and she can help you.
 

If you know of other organisations who wish to join ILGA Oceania, let then know that they just need to contact ILGA World or they can join on this link.

We wish to bring to members attention that we have developed a staff grievances and dispute resolution document in line with Australian Government’s Fair Work Ombudsman (keeping in mind that ILGA Oceania is registered in NSW) Best Practice Guide.  The purpose of us sharing the document here is that we are asking for Members to be aware that we have developed this document and it will be tabled at the AGM to be voted on by paid Members. It is based on the 2020 Australian Government’s Fair Work Ombudsman Best Practice Guide.

We look forward to seeing you at the ILGA Oceania regional conference / AGM.