As part of Meridian’s work with the Canberra Inclusive Partnership (CIP), Meridian coordinates a Service User Reference Group (SURG) to provide advice and input on the provision of our services. Our CIP agencies include Northside Community Service, A Gender Agenda (AGA) and Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT (SHFPACT).
The CIP SURG is a group of up to 10 LGBTIQA+ community representatives and is funded by the ACT Government as part of the Supporting and Strengthening Canberra’s LGBTIQA+ Communities Program.
Our SURG Members are a wise and beloved group of people who contribute their lived expertise to provide CIP agencies with valuable input. SURG Members help us to identify service gaps whilst also assisting us in the design of our services and contributing to the continual improvement of service provision for our LGBTIQA+ communities.
SURG Members from Left to Right: James Collier, Shane Vincent, Saige Whelan-Schrapel, C Moore and Rebecca Shammas.
Membership is open to people who identify as LGBTIQA+. We acknowledge that as a term, LGBTIQA+ cannot capture the diversity of sexualities, bodies, identities, and experiences that exist in our communities. We use the plus sign to communicate that LGBTIQA does not capture the full diversity of sexualities, bodies, identities, and experiences, which include people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, intersex, queer, agender, non-binary, gender fluid, asexual, and pansexual.
People of all identities, sexualities, bodies, and experiences who identify as a part of the LGBTIQA+ communities who is interested in contributing to the development and continual improvement of services for LGBTIQA+ people in Canberra is encouraged to apply. We particularly welcome applications from people who identify as one or more of the following:
- LGBTIQA+ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
- LGBTIQA+ people living with a disability
- LGBTIQA+ families
- LGBTIQA+ people with HIV
- LGBTIQA+ people who use alcohol and other drugs
- LGBTIQA+ people experiencing or at risk of homelessness
- LGBTIQA+ people living in regional or rural areas.
Membership is also encouraged from people who are family or allies of LGBTIQA+ people.
For more information about applying for SURG and details on how to apply, click the button below.
Please read the following additional documents for more information. Contact [email protected] for further enquiries.
- CIP SURG Terms of Reference;
- CIP SURG General Member Position Description;
- CIP SURG Co-Chair Position Description;
- CIP SURG Resource Protocol.