Objectives - Values - Constitution
OUR PURPOSE
To support and represent Australian Defence LGBTI personnel and their families
Support
We facilitate professional networking opportunities to create a strong supportive community that can provide peer-support to one another.
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Strengthen
We help to strengthen Defence capability through initiatives that foster inclusion of LGBTI personnel.
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Educate
We provide subject matter expert advice to the services and the department, new and education about LGBTI matters to the Defence community.
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OUR VISION
A Defence culture that is fair and inclusive that strongly values the contributions of its diverse workforce.
Defence personnel who are well supported throughout sexual orientation and gender identity development.
A strong Defence LBGTI community with resilient members who support one another.
OUR STRATEGY
Our strategy is focussed on identifying and delivering benefits to meet the diverse needs of our membership base and the Defence organisation and community.
| Lesbian and Bisexual Women |
Gay and Bisexual Men |
Transgender and Intersex Personnel |
Family and Community |
OUR VALUES
We have four core values that express what we stand for and are core to all of our initiatives. They guide how we work together, and shape our decisions and actions. Our values are consistent with Australian Defence Force, Australian Public Service and single service values.
| INCLUSION |
JUSTICE |
INTEGRITY |
COMMUNITY |
WHO WE ARE
We are a registered charity, first founded in 2002. We are a volunteer led and volunteer operated incorporated association with strong connections with the Australian Defence Force. We believe that greater inclusion and respect enables greater delivery of Defence outcomes. Our association is non-political in nature and we do not endorse or make donations to any political party.
Our constitution
Our constitution is available online and was approved via Special Resolution on 02 Apr 2014.
Download Hi-Res PDF Flyer
What we do
What we do
DEFGLIS, the Defence Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Information Service, is a network of volunteers who provide LGBTI information, referrals and peer-support to Defence personnel and advice to commanders and managers. The focus of DEFGLIS aims to ensure that serving members and their families are well supported, which enhances Defence capability.
Specifically, DEFGLIS provides:
- peer-support to LGBTI service personnel
- service personnel with information and referrals to community-based support services
- advice on sexual orientation and gender identity diversity and inclusion matters to commanders and managers
- education about sexual orientation and gender identity
- representation of LGBTI personnel to Defence policy-makers
DEFGLIS has a network of volunteer advisers for each state who are engaged with community organisations that can provide specialist support for LGBTI personnel. State advisers co-ordinate local activities to keep members in touch with their community no matter where they are posted.
DEFGLIS also has a network for transgender personnel, as we recognise that transgender people may not wish to be part of a broader LGBTI group.
DEFGLIS passed a Special Resolution to incorporate in April 2014.
Peer Support
Peer Support
If you are looking for peer support, please e-mail us to get started. We have a range of experienced LGBTI people in Defence that can help you out and help you connect with the LGBTI community.
DEFGLIS provides peer support rather than counselling to members. For members who need access to trained counsellers, we can provide referrals to appropriate services available within Defence and the LGBTI community. Since our network extends across Australia and to overseas posts and deployments, most of our peer support is accomplished online, via skype or via telephone.
If you are interested in becoming a Supporter, or if you are already performing a support role, you should undertake our Online Peer Support Training Course.
Peer support gives LGBTI personnel the opportunity to meet as equals to give each other support on a reciprocal basis. Our network of advisers are peers that have "been there, and done that" and can relate to others who are now in a similar situation.
E-mail us to access peer-support now
Our Members
Membership
The membership of DEFGLIS includes serving members, reserves, public service, ex-service personnel, professional service providers, friends, family, foreign military members, and allies. You can sign up to be a member online.
We have a diverse membership base that supports inclusion. There are too many attributes to list them all. We think everyone who is willing to work with others deserves a fair go. If you value inclusion as we do, we welcome you to join. There is no requirement to be LGBTI to join our community.
Non-Political Nature
Non-Political Nature of Organisation
DEFGLIS works with the Department of Defence and the government of the day to ensure inclusion and a fair go for LGBTI people and families in Defence. From time-to-time, DEFGLIS will provide position statements or evidence consistent with our values and objects and in the common interests of those who we support, when invited to do so by the Department of Defence and government.
DEFGLIS does not support bullying or vilification of any kind. That behaviour is against our values.
DEFGLIS does not support or make donations to any political party. DEFGLIS works with the government of the day to provide support to Defence personnel and their families.
