Claiming our space

Presentation slide outline

Claiming Our Space: Challenges of using the Internet to empower and support same-sex attracted young people
- David Mills, Project Officer, AIDS Action Council of the ACT
Overview
- Why?
- Building a community
- Balancing the role of the AAC
- Other challenges
- The value to the AAC
Aim of Qnet project
- Danger of suicide most acute before coming out
- Many same-sex attracted youth seeking support on Internet before coming out
Difficulties connecting in Canberra
- Lack of ‘gay press’
- Lack of ‘gay ghetto’
- Difficulties travelling without a car
Building community
- Driven by youth
- What the community wanted.
- Ability to ‘do’ stuff and contribute
- No glitz
- Community skills
- IT
- Creative
- Social
qnet.org.au visits
qnet.org.au posts
qnet.org.au new members
Importance to the AAC
- New audience for AAC health promotion campaigns
- Discussion and feedback
- Advocacy
Summary
- Focus on facilitating community
- Internet overcomes some challenges
- New challenges and risks arise
- New opportunities
Thanks
- Healthpact
- Kevin Schamburg and Tony Blattman, AIDS Action Council of the ACT
- ACT Health
- AHPA