WIO’s vision is to build individual resilience, community capacity and a more just society for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex community members and their friends and family.

WIO ensures consistent and quality service delivery, to people negotiating their sexuality and or gender identity, providing positive outcomes from a foundation of evidence-based practice.

In A Social Inclusion Strategy for Tasmania (September 2009) Professor David Adams, Social Inclusion Commissioner states

"When families and communities are working well they are places and spaces that generate
healthy lifestyles, safety, creativity, innovation, trust and belonging. Families and communities
that are caring, confident and resilient are the best buffer against exclusion."

Research verifies the vital role that family, friends, colleagues or organisations play in providing support to a person negotiating their gender and or sexuality. In the Australian research writing themselves in again: 6 years on
"Young people who had support felt significantly better about their sexuality. In 2004
those who had told no one tended to be younger, less sure of their sexuality and less
likely to feel good or great about their sexual feelings than those who had told someone."

"There was a strong and significant relationship between having support and how young
people felt about their sexuality, with 79% of those who had support feeling good or
great about their sexual feelings compared with 54% of those with no support."

Key findings in Writing themselves in 3 (2010)

"Knowledge that their school had policies that protected them from homophobia, meant
that young people who suffered no abuse were less likely to self harm and attempt
suicide. Young people, who attended a school that was supportive, rather than
homophobic, were less likely to self-harm and attempt suicide."

Of course young people who feel good about their sexuality are more likely to play an active role at school or in the community generally, more able to manage discrimination, more likely to be included and more likely to have feelings of self-worth. The social and economic costs of exclusion and discrimination of members of the GLBTI community can be long term.

There is an effective solution. Education and early intervention for both the individual and their family provides recognition, visibility, information, and support.

WIO is funded by the Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services to provide Direct support including free and confidential counseling, support groups, education programs and work place training. Visit our services page for more information.

WIO maintains a collection of all Tasmanian articles in relation to gender and sexuality and has resources, DVDs and books available to members.

The Executive Officer, Susan Ditter sits on the Tasmanian Government Whole of Government LGBTI Working Group and the DHHS, DoE and Police Reference Groups. Susan is also the Tasmanian Director on the Board of the National LGBTI Health Alliance and she chairs the National Health in Difference Conference 2013 Working Group.

Supporting Working It Out
You can support the organisation by becoming a member, nominating to sit on the Committee of Managament or donating to the organisation. All donations over $2 are tax deductible.

To donate just follow the link www.givenow.com.au/workingitout



WIO is a proud member of the National LGBTI Health Alliance
Susan Ditter is the Tasmanian Director and Alliance Vice Chair
WIO is a partner with The Tasmania Together Progress Board



Building individual resilience,
community capacity
and a more just society