Our History
Intersex Peer Support Australia began in 1985 in the Royal Children Hospital in Melbourne. We became peer-led in 1996 and peer support gatherings followed soon after in Brisbane and Sydney. We have held a national support conference almost every year for the last 23 years. In 2001 we legally incorporated as the AIS Support Group Australia Inc. and in 2018 became a registered Health Promotion Charity. In 2019, we registered Intersex Peer Support Australia as our business name.
We have expanded from humble beginnings to provide peer support between people with any intersex variation throughout Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand. Our volunteers, who are our heart and soul, have successfully advocated for changes to legislative and health systems in Australia, and ensured our voices are a part of international conversations about intersex health and human rights.
“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity”.
– World Health Organisation’s definition of ‘health’
Our Objectives
To connect intersex people and families to share knowledge and experience
To reduce stigma associated with intersex through education and visibility
To encourage developments of appropriate, evidenced medical pathways and guidelines for services offered to intersex people
To encourage the provision of appropriate psychological support for intersex people and their families
To encourage meaningful, community-based participatory research into intersex issues and provide community consultation
To advocate on behalf of intersex people to ensure their human rights are protected
To foster wellbeing and pride in the intersex community.
Policy Statements
The Darlington Statement is the central policy document used by IPSA. In 2017 we facilitated a working retreat for 22 intersex activists from Australia and Aotearoa/New Zealand where a 59 point consensus paper was drafted. The Darlington Statement highlights our community’s concerns and calls for action under these headings: human rights and legal reform; health and wellbeing; peer support; allies; education, awareness and employment.
We encourage all people, intersex, endosex and organisations alike, who have read the Darlington Statement and wish to become allies of the intersex movement to implement our demands within their spheres of influence and publicly stand in solidarity with us by affirming the Darlington Statement.
Committee
Tony
President
Cody
Secretary
Treasurer
Carolyn
SA/NT Rep
Paul
VIC Rep
ACT Rep
Michelle
WA Rep
Simona-lisa
TAS Rep
Eileen
QLD Rep
Janet
Parents Rep
Contact
Email: info@isupport.org.au
Phone: 0478 537 739
Registered Address: Level 5, 615 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne VIC 3004
Postal Address: PO Box 103, Coorparoo QLD 4151
Funders
IPSA gratefully acknowledges the support of our anonymous donors and the:
Giving
IPSA (AISSGA) is a registered Health Promotion Charity. Donations over $2 are tax deductible. Donations can be made by clicking “Make a Donation” below:
