Keynote Panel - The Power of Queer: Learning from Queer Communities on Strength-Based Approaches to Sexual Violence Prevention and Responses
| Monday, November 24, 2025 |
| 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM |
Overview
Moderators: Katherine Berney and Juliana Nkrumah. Keynote Panellists: Kai Noonan, Director of Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Prevention at LGBTIQ+ Health Australia, Jade Parker, Acting Manager, Sexual, Domestic, Family Violence, Dr Jessica Ison, Senior Lecturer and Deputy Director of Reducing Gender-Based Violence Research Group at the Violet Vines Marshman Centre for Rural Health Research, Dr Kerryn Drysdale, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Social Research in Health (CSRH)
Speaker
Katherine Berney
Executive Director
National Women's Safety Alliance
Keynote Panel Moderator
Presentation Overview
Queer communities have a long history of challenging harmful norms around gender, sexuality and sexual practices. Our communities have pushed back against repressive sanctions on our relationships by reshaping the meaning of sex beyond dominant social constructs, creating our own languages, practices, and cultures — opening up space for greater freedom, authenticity, and pleasure.
In the last few years, research has emerged on sexual violence in LGBTQ communities, which have largely framed LGBTQ+ communities through a risk-based lens that focuses on vulnerabilities. At the same time, queer communities have been at the forefront of innovative health promotion and harm reduction strategies that promote empowerment and cultures of care across a range of domains; in effect strategies that harness the strengths of community-level actions to care for the self and others.
While there has been a concerted effort to include LGBTQ+ communities in sexual violence prevention and response due to high rates of victimisation, this inclusion has often failed to meaningfully learn from our communities, including how distinctive cultures of care and protective measures can be operationalised and enhanced within communities. The role of community-inflected experiences (i.e., the significance of people’s affiliation with gender and sexuality through community) in supporting sexual safety and wellbeing is currently lacking in our national responses to sexual violence.
This panel discussion brings together LGBTQ+ advocates and thinkers to engage in a thought-provoking dialogue that speaks to the insights that LGBTQ+ communities can bring to the wider sexual violence sector.
In the last few years, research has emerged on sexual violence in LGBTQ communities, which have largely framed LGBTQ+ communities through a risk-based lens that focuses on vulnerabilities. At the same time, queer communities have been at the forefront of innovative health promotion and harm reduction strategies that promote empowerment and cultures of care across a range of domains; in effect strategies that harness the strengths of community-level actions to care for the self and others.
While there has been a concerted effort to include LGBTQ+ communities in sexual violence prevention and response due to high rates of victimisation, this inclusion has often failed to meaningfully learn from our communities, including how distinctive cultures of care and protective measures can be operationalised and enhanced within communities. The role of community-inflected experiences (i.e., the significance of people’s affiliation with gender and sexuality through community) in supporting sexual safety and wellbeing is currently lacking in our national responses to sexual violence.
This panel discussion brings together LGBTQ+ advocates and thinkers to engage in a thought-provoking dialogue that speaks to the insights that LGBTQ+ communities can bring to the wider sexual violence sector.
Biography
Katherine is the Executive Director of National Women’s Safety Alliance, with a membership over of 750 individuals and organisations she is determined we will end violence against all identifying women, non binary people and children. NWSA under Katherine’s leadership is a trusted government advisor, and has influenced major federal policy reforms in Domestic, Family and Sexual violence; There is nothing more important than making Australia a safer place for all who make their home here.
2023 Women’s Agenda Emerging NFP leader award winner.
Juliana Nkrumah
Manager, Gender Equality and Women’s Safety
SSI
Keynote Panel Moderator
Presentation Overview
Queer communities have a long history of challenging harmful norms around gender, sexuality and sexual practices. Our communities have pushed back against repressive sanctions on our relationships by reshaping the meaning of sex beyond dominant social constructs, creating our own languages, practices, and cultures — opening up space for greater freedom, authenticity, and pleasure.
In the last few years, research has emerged on sexual violence in LGBTQ communities, which have largely framed LGBTQ+ communities through a risk-based lens that focuses on vulnerabilities. At the same time, queer communities have been at the forefront of innovative health promotion and harm reduction strategies that promote empowerment and cultures of care across a range of domains; in effect strategies that harness the strengths of community-level actions to care for the self and others.
While there has been a concerted effort to include LGBTQ+ communities in sexual violence prevention and response due to high rates of victimisation, this inclusion has often failed to meaningfully learn from our communities, including how distinctive cultures of care and protective measures can be operationalised and enhanced within communities. The role of community-inflected experiences (i.e., the significance of people’s affiliation with gender and sexuality through community) in supporting sexual safety and wellbeing is currently lacking in our national responses to sexual violence.
This panel discussion brings together LGBTQ+ advocates and thinkers to engage in a thought-provoking dialogue that speaks to the insights that LGBTQ+ communities can bring to the wider sexual violence sector.
In the last few years, research has emerged on sexual violence in LGBTQ communities, which have largely framed LGBTQ+ communities through a risk-based lens that focuses on vulnerabilities. At the same time, queer communities have been at the forefront of innovative health promotion and harm reduction strategies that promote empowerment and cultures of care across a range of domains; in effect strategies that harness the strengths of community-level actions to care for the self and others.
While there has been a concerted effort to include LGBTQ+ communities in sexual violence prevention and response due to high rates of victimisation, this inclusion has often failed to meaningfully learn from our communities, including how distinctive cultures of care and protective measures can be operationalised and enhanced within communities. The role of community-inflected experiences (i.e., the significance of people’s affiliation with gender and sexuality through community) in supporting sexual safety and wellbeing is currently lacking in our national responses to sexual violence.
This panel discussion brings together LGBTQ+ advocates and thinkers to engage in a thought-provoking dialogue that speaks to the insights that LGBTQ+ communities can bring to the wider sexual violence sector.
Biography
Juliana is the Manager, Gender Equality and Women’s Safety at Settlement Services International.
Her work experience in gender equality and Women’s Human Rights spans over 30 years including experience with CSO activism at the national, regional and global levels. She has a deep commitment to Refugee and Migrant women’s empowerment; especially providing access for migrant and refugee women to relevant spaces for expression of their voices; leading to the founding of African Women AUstralia. Juliana led Australia’s response to the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and continues to conduct training around this from a Human Rights angle.
Juliana’s contribution to Multicultural Australia includes membership of the Eminent Group to review the Australian Citizenship Test, advisory committees membership in several multicultural agencies including FECCA, and the Regional Advisory Council of Multicultural NSW and the NSW Police Force’s Police Multicultural Advisory Committee (PMAC). Juliana has sat on several Boards including the Board of the Australian National Committee on Refugee Women (ANCORW), YWCA NSW and YWCA Australia and currently, Sydney Women’s Foundation. Juliana is the winner of the 2023 Human Rights Medal.
Juliana is a passionate and persuasive public speaker and excellent trainer and facilitator who leaves audiences inspired to action.
Kai Noonan
Director of Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Prevention
LGTIQ+ Australia
The Power of Queer: learning from queer communities on strength-based approaches to sexual violence prevention and responses
Presentation Overview
Queer communities have a long history of challenging harmful norms around gender, sexuality and sexual practices. Our communities have pushed back against repressive sanctions on our relationships by reshaping the meaning of sex beyond dominant social constructs, creating our own languages, practices, and cultures — opening up space for greater freedom, authenticity, and pleasure.
In the last few years, research has emerged on sexual violence in LGBTQ communities, which have largely framed LGBTQ+ communities through a risk-based lens that focuses on vulnerabilities. At the same time, queer communities have been at the forefront of innovative health promotion and harm reduction strategies that promote empowerment and cultures of care across a range of domains; in effect strategies that harness the strengths of community-level actions to care for the self and others.
While there has been a concerted effort to include LGBTQ+ communities in sexual violence prevention and response due to high rates of victimisation, this inclusion has often failed to meaningfully learn from our communities, including how distinctive cultures of care and protective measures can be operationalised and enhanced within communities. The role of community-inflected experiences (i.e., the significance of people’s affiliation with gender and sexuality through community) in supporting sexual safety and wellbeing is currently lacking in our national responses to sexual violence.
This panel discussion brings together LGBTQ+ advocates and thinkers to engage in a thought-provoking dialogue that speaks to the insights that LGBTQ+ communities can bring to the wider sexual violence sector.
In the last few years, research has emerged on sexual violence in LGBTQ communities, which have largely framed LGBTQ+ communities through a risk-based lens that focuses on vulnerabilities. At the same time, queer communities have been at the forefront of innovative health promotion and harm reduction strategies that promote empowerment and cultures of care across a range of domains; in effect strategies that harness the strengths of community-level actions to care for the self and others.
While there has been a concerted effort to include LGBTQ+ communities in sexual violence prevention and response due to high rates of victimisation, this inclusion has often failed to meaningfully learn from our communities, including how distinctive cultures of care and protective measures can be operationalised and enhanced within communities. The role of community-inflected experiences (i.e., the significance of people’s affiliation with gender and sexuality through community) in supporting sexual safety and wellbeing is currently lacking in our national responses to sexual violence.
This panel discussion brings together LGBTQ+ advocates and thinkers to engage in a thought-provoking dialogue that speaks to the insights that LGBTQ+ communities can bring to the wider sexual violence sector.
Biography
Kai Noonan (they/them) is the Director of Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence Prevention at LGBTIQ+ Health Australia, where their primary focus is on building awareness and advocating for policy changes that prevent and respond to violence within LGBTIQ+ communities.
Kai has over 15 years of experience delivering and managing programs and services in sexual, domestic and family violence.
In 2024, Kai was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the LGBTIQ+ community and to the domestic and family violence sector.
Dr Kerryn Drysdale
Senior Research Fellow
Centre for Social Research in Health (CSRH), UNSW Sydney
Keynote Panel - The Power of Queer: Learning from Queer Communities on Strength-Based Approaches to Sexual Violence Prevention and Responses
Presentation Overview
Queer communities have a long history of challenging harmful norms around gender, sexuality and sexual practices. Our communities have pushed back against repressive sanctions on our relationships by reshaping the meaning of sex beyond dominant social constructs, creating our own languages, practices, and cultures — opening up space for greater freedom, authenticity, and pleasure.
In the last few years, research has emerged on sexual violence in LGBTQ communities, which have largely framed LGBTQ+ communities through a risk-based lens that focuses on vulnerabilities. At the same time, queer communities have been at the forefront of innovative health promotion and harm reduction strategies that promote empowerment and cultures of care across a range of domains; in effect strategies that harness the strengths of community-level actions to care for the self and others.
While there has been a concerted effort to include LGBTQ+ communities in sexual violence prevention and response due to high rates of victimisation, this inclusion has often failed to meaningfully learn from our communities, including how distinctive cultures of care and protective measures can be operationalised and enhanced within communities. The role of community-inflected experiences (i.e., the significance of people’s affiliation with gender and sexuality through community) in supporting sexual safety and wellbeing is currently lacking in our national responses to sexual violence.
This panel discussion brings together LGBTQ+ advocates and thinkers to engage in a thought-provoking dialogue that speaks to the insights that LGBTQ+ communities can bring to the wider sexual violence sector.
In the last few years, research has emerged on sexual violence in LGBTQ communities, which have largely framed LGBTQ+ communities through a risk-based lens that focuses on vulnerabilities. At the same time, queer communities have been at the forefront of innovative health promotion and harm reduction strategies that promote empowerment and cultures of care across a range of domains; in effect strategies that harness the strengths of community-level actions to care for the self and others.
While there has been a concerted effort to include LGBTQ+ communities in sexual violence prevention and response due to high rates of victimisation, this inclusion has often failed to meaningfully learn from our communities, including how distinctive cultures of care and protective measures can be operationalised and enhanced within communities. The role of community-inflected experiences (i.e., the significance of people’s affiliation with gender and sexuality through community) in supporting sexual safety and wellbeing is currently lacking in our national responses to sexual violence.
This panel discussion brings together LGBTQ+ advocates and thinkers to engage in a thought-provoking dialogue that speaks to the insights that LGBTQ+ communities can bring to the wider sexual violence sector.
Biography
Dr Kerryn Drysdale (she/her) is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Social Research in Health (CSRH), a specialist research centre at UNSW Sydney. By conducting research with affected communities, she endeavours to bring a critical cultural lens to everyday lived experiences as they pertain to public health concerns, and to respond to health inequities and social determinants of health. In particular, Kerryn’s research tracks sex-based scenes for LGBTQ+ people, with a specific focus on the social norms and affects that give rise to innovative and intra-community forms of health promotion and harm reduction.
Dr Jessica Irons
Senior Lecturer and the Deputy Director of the Reducing Gender-Based Violence Research Group
Violet Vines Marshman Centre for Rural Health Research in the La Trobe Rural Health School
Keynote Panel - The Power of Queer: Learning from Queer Communities on Strength-Based Approaches to Sexual Violence Prevention and Responses
Presentation Overview
Queer communities have a long history of challenging harmful norms around gender, sexuality and sexual practices. Our communities have pushed back against repressive sanctions on our relationships by reshaping the meaning of sex beyond dominant social constructs, creating our own languages, practices, and cultures — opening up space for greater freedom, authenticity, and pleasure.
In the last few years, research has emerged on sexual violence in LGBTQ communities, which have largely framed LGBTQ+ communities through a risk-based lens that focuses on vulnerabilities. At the same time, queer communities have been at the forefront of innovative health promotion and harm reduction strategies that promote empowerment and cultures of care across a range of domains; in effect strategies that harness the strengths of community-level actions to care for the self and others.
While there has been a concerted effort to include LGBTQ+ communities in sexual violence prevention and response due to high rates of victimisation, this inclusion has often failed to meaningfully learn from our communities, including how distinctive cultures of care and protective measures can be operationalised and enhanced within communities. The role of community-inflected experiences (i.e., the significance of people’s affiliation with gender and sexuality through community) in supporting sexual safety and wellbeing is currently lacking in our national responses to sexual violence.
This panel discussion brings together LGBTQ+ advocates and thinkers to engage in a thought-provoking dialogue that speaks to the insights that LGBTQ+ communities can bring to the wider sexual violence sector.
In the last few years, research has emerged on sexual violence in LGBTQ communities, which have largely framed LGBTQ+ communities through a risk-based lens that focuses on vulnerabilities. At the same time, queer communities have been at the forefront of innovative health promotion and harm reduction strategies that promote empowerment and cultures of care across a range of domains; in effect strategies that harness the strengths of community-level actions to care for the self and others.
While there has been a concerted effort to include LGBTQ+ communities in sexual violence prevention and response due to high rates of victimisation, this inclusion has often failed to meaningfully learn from our communities, including how distinctive cultures of care and protective measures can be operationalised and enhanced within communities. The role of community-inflected experiences (i.e., the significance of people’s affiliation with gender and sexuality through community) in supporting sexual safety and wellbeing is currently lacking in our national responses to sexual violence.
This panel discussion brings together LGBTQ+ advocates and thinkers to engage in a thought-provoking dialogue that speaks to the insights that LGBTQ+ communities can bring to the wider sexual violence sector.
Biography
Dr Jessica Ison (she/her) is a Senior Lecturer and the Deputy Director of the Reducing Gender-Based Violence Research Group, at the Violet Vines Marshman Centre for Rural Health Research in the La Trobe Rural Health School. Jess specialises in sexual violence prevention and is leading a body of research on "drink spiking" or alcohol and other drug-facilitated sexual violence. Ison's sexual violence research also includes a focus on LGBTQ+ sexual violence and safety on public transport and university campuses. She is currently Co-Lead of the Partners in Prevention of Sexual Violence project, which received $7.45mil funding from the Federal Government to evaluate community-led primary and secondary prevention of sexual violence interventions.
Mx Jade Parker
Acting Manager (Sexual, Domestic and Family Violence)
Acon Health Limited
Keynote Panel - The Power of Queer: Learning from Queer Communities on Strength-Based Approaches to Sexual Violence Prevention and Responses
Presentation Overview
Queer communities have a long history of challenging harmful norms around gender, sexuality and sexual practices. Our communities have pushed back against repressive sanctions on our relationships by reshaping the meaning of sex beyond dominant social constructs, creating our own languages, practices, and cultures — opening up space for greater freedom, authenticity, and pleasure.
In the last few years, research has emerged on sexual violence in LGBTQ communities, which have largely framed LGBTQ+ communities through a risk-based lens that focuses on vulnerabilities. At the same time, queer communities have been at the forefront of innovative health promotion and harm reduction strategies that promote empowerment and cultures of care across a range of domains; in effect strategies that harness the strengths of community-level actions to care for the self and others.
While there has been a concerted effort to include LGBTQ+ communities in sexual violence prevention and response due to high rates of victimisation, this inclusion has often failed to meaningfully learn from our communities, including how distinctive cultures of care and protective measures can be operationalised and enhanced within communities. The role of community-inflected experiences (i.e., the significance of people’s affiliation with gender and sexuality through community) in supporting sexual safety and wellbeing is currently lacking in our national responses to sexual violence.
This panel discussion brings together LGBTQ+ advocates and thinkers to engage in a thought-provoking dialogue that speaks to the insights that LGBTQ+ communities can bring to the wider sexual violence sector.
In the last few years, research has emerged on sexual violence in LGBTQ communities, which have largely framed LGBTQ+ communities through a risk-based lens that focuses on vulnerabilities. At the same time, queer communities have been at the forefront of innovative health promotion and harm reduction strategies that promote empowerment and cultures of care across a range of domains; in effect strategies that harness the strengths of community-level actions to care for the self and others.
While there has been a concerted effort to include LGBTQ+ communities in sexual violence prevention and response due to high rates of victimisation, this inclusion has often failed to meaningfully learn from our communities, including how distinctive cultures of care and protective measures can be operationalised and enhanced within communities. The role of community-inflected experiences (i.e., the significance of people’s affiliation with gender and sexuality through community) in supporting sexual safety and wellbeing is currently lacking in our national responses to sexual violence.
This panel discussion brings together LGBTQ+ advocates and thinkers to engage in a thought-provoking dialogue that speaks to the insights that LGBTQ+ communities can bring to the wider sexual violence sector.
Biography
Jade Parker (they/them) is the Acting Manager - Sexual, Domestic, and Family Violence at ACON. They are a proud non binary queer person with lived experience of SDFV. Jade supports a team of 6 who provide health promotion on SDFV to LGBTQ+ people across NSW. Jade holds a Bachelor of Social Science (Criminology) First Class and Deans Merit List Honours Degree. They are also a researcher with experience in the areas of help-seeking for LGBTQ+ victim survivors of intimate partner violence regionally, LGBTQ+ experiences and perceptions of sexual violence, trans peoples experiences on Instagram and trans health needs in NSW.
