How2
In this interactive program, participating organisations gain the knowledge, skills and tools to develop a whole-of-organisation LGBTIQ+ strategy.
Introduction
We believe LGBTIQ+ people deserve to be seen, affirmed and treated with the dignity, respect and care when they access services. We recognise and affirm the genuine ambition of service providers to be LGBTIQ+ inclusive.
Who's it for?
The How2 Program is suited to any organisation looking to embed LGBTIQ+ inclusion in a sustainable way. It will guide participants in developing, and beginning to implement, a plan specific to their organisation for facilitating LGBTIQ+ inclusion.
Completing the How2 Program can greatly assist organisations in gaining Rainbow Tick accreditation, which is currently only for health and human services organisations. However, any organisation will benefit from the program, whether or not they are seeking formal accreditation.
This program is delivered by Rainbow Health Australia and there are a number of funding streams for specific sectors, funded by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing as part of the implementation of Pride in our future: Victoria’s LGBTIQ+ strategy 2022-32, and by the Department of Health.
Rainbow Health Australia has developed a tailored version of the How2 program for mental health services funded by the Department of Health as an outcome of the Royal Commission into the Victorian Mental Health System. Participation is fully subsidised. To learn more, visit the Mental Health How2 program page.
Subsidy now available
Through Rainbow Health Australia the Victorian Government is providing subsidisation for health and human services based in Victoria to:
- Participate in no-cost high quality evidence based training programs to build interpersonal skills and organisational strategy for LGBTIQ+ inclusive practice
- Receive support and funding to achieve Rainbow Tick assessment and accreditation
Organisations interested in this program will first complete the How2 Program free of charge.
Please express interest here and we will contact you about eligibility.
About the program
In this program participants learn to identify hidden harms to LGBTIQ+ staff and service users within their systems and to work towards evidence-informed solutions and good practice to address this.
Using guidance from LGBTIQ+ affirmative change
management and implementation science, participants are supported to identify common pitfalls of ‘diversity and inclusion’ initiatives, and to lead a collaborative development of a meaningful, impactful LGBTIQ+ strategy with their teams.
Many organisations will then progress, as a separate process from this program, to be assessed and accredited with the Rainbow Tick.
Program objectives
- To provide organisations with the foundational knowledge on standards for LGBTIQ+ inclusion as enshrined in the Rainbow Tick framework
- To support organisations to develop an implementation plan for LGBTIQ+ inclusion in their service
- To provide practical support to organisations in the form of tools and templates to support them on their journey to LGBTIQ+ inclusion
- To promote continued learning, motivation and collaboration opportunities for groups of organisations seeking to improve their LGBTIQ+ inclusion practices
Program structure
The program comprises weekly sessions including self paced online learning modules and live online workshops. The main course content will run over 7 weeks, with ongoing support available via communities of practice for an additional 6 months after course completion.
Organisations will receive a variety of supporting materials to guide internal work and will be supported to develop an implementation plan for LGBTIQ+ inclusion for their organisations.
The time commitment to complete this work is a minimum 3 hours per week over 6 months with additional time needed for implementation of the plan from the whole of organisation.
Program streams
Next streams:
- Stream 14 (intensive)
- Stream 15 (workshops run on Tuesdays)
Stream 14 (Intensive 2025)
| Week | Session | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Online module (prerequisite) | True Colours: Introduction to LGBTIQ+ Inclusive Practice | Mon 3 March |
| 2 | Workshop (prerequisite) | Work with Pride: LGBTIQ+ Affirmative Interpersonal Skills | Thu 13 March |
| 3 | Online module | 0. Making a Strong Start: introduction to How 2, building a change team and planning for LGBTIQ+ affirmative strategy development | Mon 17 March |
| 4 | Workshop | 1. Creating Common Purpose: anticipating resistance, understanding motivation and bringing people on board | Mon 24 March |
| 4 | Workshop | 2. Scanning for Hidden Harms 1: leadership, service provision, and the physical environment | Tues 25 March |
| 4 | Zoom Drop-in Q&A | Troubleshooting: a drop-in clinic for participants and facilitators to workshop any blocks, challenges or clarify choices | Tues 25 March |
| 4 | Workshop | 3. Scanning for Hidden Harms 2: reviewing human resources, data and privacy, and operational health and safety | Wed 26 March |
| 4 | Workshop | 4. Designing solutions: consultation, planning, implementation and monitoring | Thurs 27 march |
| - | One-on-one Zoom sessions | Mentoring session: one-to-one session with RHA specialist to support organisations to identify and resolve any barriers to the development or implementation of their strategy | Bookable with facilitators |
Stream 15 (Tuesdays 2025)
| Week | Session | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Online module (prerequisite) | True Colours: Introduction to LGBTIQ+ Inclusive Practice | Tues 11 March |
| 2 | Workshop (prerequisite) | Work with Pride: LGBTIQ+ Affirmative Interpersonal Skills | Tues 18 March |
| 3 | Online module | 0. Making a Strong Start: introduction to How 2, building a change team and planning for LGBTIQ+ affirmative strategy development | Tues 25 March |
| 4 | Workshop | 1. Creating Common Purpose: anticipating resistance, understanding motivation and bringing people on board | Tues 1 April |
| 5 | Workshop | 2. Scanning for Hidden Harms 1: leadership, service provision, and the physical environment | Tues 8 April |
| 5 | Zoom Drop-in Q&A | Troubleshooting: a drop-in clinic for participants and facilitators to workshop any blocks, challenges or clarify choices | Tues 8 April |
| 6 | Workshop | 3. Scanning for Hidden Harms 2: reviewing human resources, data and privacy, and operational health and safety | Tues 15 April |
| 7 | Workshop | 4. Designing solutions: consultation, planning, implementation and monitoring | Tues 29 April |
| - | One-on-one Zoom sessions | Mentoring session: one-to-one session with RHA specialist to support organisations to identify and resolve any barriers to the development or implementation of their strategy | Bookable with facilitators |
Past Participants
“So far this training has been some of the best I’ve ever attended. The content is thorough, resources are brilliant, there’s a clear logic and ideas relate strategically to each other. It’s really brilliant and I’m very grateful for how much time and energy your team has put into creating/delivering such a quality piece of training”
— Participant feedback 2024
“The webinars were interactive, moving from small group discussions to the larger group and then into didactic mode with powerpoint presentations - it was essentially like being in a training room or as close as you will get!”
— Participant feedback 2024
“You’ve managed to deliver complex content remotely in a way that was engaging and informative. I appreciate all the planning that has gone into the sessions and the extra ways you have made the sessions interactive, such as the polls and break out rooms. Thank you also for all the extra resources and links you provide throughout the sessions”
— Participant feedback 2024