Strengthening support for LGBTQ+ young people with disability
About this webinar
As a minority within a minority, LGBTQ+ young people (9 to 24 years) with disability can face significant challenges due to societal marginalisation and discrimination. Not only do LGBTQ+ young people with disability experience significantly higher rates of harassment, poorer mental health outcomes and increased suicide risk than both LGBTQ+ people without disability and the general population, but they also face unique barriers in accessing safe and affirming care.
According to the National Action Plan for the Health and Wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ People 2025-2035 there is an urgent need for health and social care service providers to improve their accessibility, safety and inclusion for LGBTQA+ people and to recognise the diverse intersectional identities and experiences of the community.
Drawing on lived experience, practitioner knowledge and research, this webinar will explore how service providers can better support young people with this intersecting identity.
This webinar will give you:
- an introduction to intersectionality theory and how this framework can be applied in practice to help understand the experiences of LGBTQ+ young people with disability
- a better understanding of the factors that influence a young person’s exploration of their identity as an LGBTQ+ person with disability and the impact this can have on their mental health and wellbeing
- practical tips on how you can better support LGBTQ+ young people with disability.
AIFS would like to acknowledge Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA) for their support and ongoing work in this space.
Target audience
This webinar will be of interest to health, social and community service professionals that work with all young people, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation or disability status.
This webinar is co-produced by CFCA and Emerging Minds in a series focusing on children’s mental health. They are working together as part of the Emerging Minds: National Workforce Centre for Child Mental Health, which is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care under the National Support for Child and Youth Mental Health Program.
The work of CFCA is funded by the Department of Social Services.
Presenters
Dr Luke Schneider (he/him) is a Clinical Psychologist based in South Australia, a Member of the Australian Psychological Society (MAPS), Fellow of the APS College of Clinical Psychologists (FCCLP), board-approved supervisor, and 2024 Churchill Fellow. He currently works at Adelaide Child Psychology where he provides therapy services and supervision for provisional and registrar psychologists. He has a particular interest in autism and neurodiversity affirming practice. Luke conducts ADHD, psychoeducational and autism assessments.
Luke completed his psychology training at The University of Adelaide, including Masters research on video game addiction in adolescents, and previously completed a PhD in Psychology and a Graduate Certificate in Applied Statistics. He has an extensive background in research, teaching and clinical supervision, and is deeply committed to supporting children and families through compassionate, strengths-based practice.
Dylan McBurney (they/them) is a trans and disabled advocate on Wurundjeri Land that brings their lived experience of the intersection of gender diversity and disability. A Peer Research Assistant at Murdoch Children's Research Institute and Youth Officer at Children and Young People with Disability Australia, they are currently studying their Bachelors of Psychological Sciences at Swinburne University. Outside of their community work, they are a Green Room award nominated writer, producer and stage manager of theatre, delivering live events across Australia and Europe.
Bowie Stutchbury (they/them) is a Senior Research Officer and Senior Communications Specialist in the Child Family Community Australia (CFCA) team at the Australian Institute of Family Studies. Bowie works in knowledge translation, producing written resources and the webinar program. These webinars bring together research evidence, practitioner knowledge and lived experience to support practitioners in the child and family sector. Bowie is particularly interested in developmental psychology, neurodevelopment and improving the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ young people.
Facilitator
Jacquie Lee (she/her) is a practice development officer at Emerging Minds, with a background in psychology, communications and knowledge translation. She enjoys combining the latest in research findings with the lived experience wisdom of parents and practitioners to create innovative, engaging resources. Jacquie has a particular interest in neurodivergent-affirming practice, family-centred disaster response and recovery, and improving practitioners’ child mental health literacy and understanding of intersectionality. In her spare time, she enjoys long walks and longer conversations.
25 June 2026, 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm (AEST)
Luke Schneider, Dylan McBurney, Bowie Stutchbury, Jacquie Lee