Inclusive Counselling Collective

18/08/2026

Wear It Purple Day is almost here!

And I’m so excited that ICC will be a stallholder for the fourth year in a row at the Toowoomba Wear It Purple Day Community Celebration, proudly hosted by Toowoomba Regional Council’s Youth Connect team and Regional Youth Leaders.

Wear It Purple is one of the days I look forward to most each year. Seeing the community come together and create a safe space for LGBTQIA+ young people to express themselves, be creative, laugh with friends, and celebrate who they are.

Come say hi at our stall, grab some free goodies (by popular demand there will be plenty of stickers and flags), stay for a chat, or have a go at one of the fun activities we’ve got planned.

★ Friday September 4th (Education Queensland Student Free Day)
★ 1pm – 3:30pm
★ Empire Theatre Lawn
★ Music, free activities, creative spaces, community stalls
★ LGBTQIA+ young people, families, and allies welcome

29/07/2026

Applications for the 2027 Regional Youth Leaders Program close this Friday.

I know firsthand the impact youth leadership programs can have. When I was a starry-eyed young person (though still pretty uncertain of myself and my place in the world), I joined my local youth leadership program.

It sparked a passion for community that has stayed with me ever since. I built my confidence, found my voice, and discovered the absolute joy of contributing to projects that made a real difference and advocating for issues I cared deeply about.

Looking back, I can see how much those early experiences shaped the person I am today and helped set me on the path to the work I do now.

Over the past few years, I've also had the chance to chat with the Toowoomba Regional Youth Leaders at their annual Wear It Purple Day event and hear about some of their experiences with the program. It's always been lovely to see young people so engaged in their community and passionate about creating positive change.

I'm not affiliated with the program, but I wanted to share it here because opportunities like this can have such a meaningful impact, and it's wonderful to see them happening here in our region.

If you or a young person you know might be interested, applications close this Friday, so now's the time to check it out.

14/07/2026

As a loud and proud supporter of q***r art and storytelling, I'm beyond excited to see Metamorphosis; a q***r art show happening in our local community.

With opening night just a few days away, I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge .q***r.social for creating space for more than 20 q***r and trans artists to share their creativity, stories, and perspectives.

Alongside the incredible lineup of artists (head to .q***r.social for the full list), there are a few things about this exhibition that really stand out to me, particularly the focus on accessibility, inclusion, and community care:

★ There’s a low-sensory viewing the evening before opening night for folks with sensory access needs (16 July, 12pm-4pm)

★ Tickets are priced using a pay-what-you-can model, helping reduce financial barriers and making it more accessible.

★ The exhibition is supporting important community work, with a portion of ticket sales being donated to the Institute for Collaborative Race Research. The ICRR leads anti-racist work that builds, sustains and celebrates the power of communities fighting the foundational structures of racial violence and colonialism.

If this sounds like something you’d enjoy, or you know someone who would, please share it with them. Every time we show up for q***r artists and events like this, we help strengthen the community we’re building together.

03/07/2026

This time three years ago, I was closing my notebook, packing my bag, and leaving the office after my very first day in private practice.

Skip ahead to today, and I’m incredibly proud to be celebrating three years of ICC.

I want to sincerely thank everyone who has been part of making ICC what it is today. I’m so grateful to be surrounded by the most amazing humans – my family, friends, peers, and mentors – who have been endlessly supportive and so generous with their wisdom, time, and encouragement. You’ve all helped shape both me and this practice in ways I’m deeply thankful for.

Looking back, one of the things that has surprised me most is all the ways ICC has grown beyond the therapy room.

There have been community picnics, Pride celebrations, school visits, research and policy conversations, creative collaborations, an anthology, an art exhibition, and so many opportunities to connect with incredible people.

While this journey has unfolded in ways I couldn’t have imagined three years ago, every part of it has become a meaningful expression of the values that have guided ICC since the very beginning.

Most of all, I want to acknowledge the folks I’ve had the privilege of walking alongside over these past few years. To be trusted with people’s stories and invited into both their hardest times and moments of joy is something I never take for granted.

Witnessing growth, learning about special interests, advocating alongside people, and celebrating the wins (big and small) continues to be one of the greatest joys of this work.

Three years in, my passion for this work and commitment to the people and communities I support continues to deepen, and I’m excited to see what the next chapter brings.

28/06/2026

Today is the 57th anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising, which marked a crucial turning point in modern q***r liberation and laid the foundation for Pride.

Pride Month is an annual commemoration of the Stonewall Uprising, a way to honour the q***r activists and protestors that paved the way, and a celebration of our community’s resilience.

Pride means many things to many people.

And each year, over the course of June, I find myself reflecting on what Pride means to me.

This year, I was drawn to a number of sociological writings focused on the mobilisation of q***r joy, and how it can be a lifeline when the world is burning around us.

Almost 3 years ago, before ICC even officially opened its doors, we celebrated Pride with one of our first workshop series. The theme was q***r joy.

Now more than ever, I think this topic is worth a revisit.

Globally, we're seeing an escalation of anti-q***r and anti-trans legislation, rhetoric, and hate crimes.

Simply existing as a q***r person in the current sociopolitical climate can sometimes feel like carrying a heavy weight of grief and outrage.

Q***r joy isn't about denying this very real despair, or ignoring the pain we feel.

Instead, q***r joy speaks to our community’s capacity to simultaneously hold both pain and joy.

I see this joy in the spaces we make and the ways we take care of one another.

Community potlucks.

Book clubs.

Games nights.

Art shows.

Even sitting around a picnic blanket at the park.

Q***r joy itself is an act of resistance and an expression of our aliveness.

And as we follow in the footsteps of those who came before us, carrying on the fight for LGBTQIA+ rights, it's what will fuel us.

I'd love to hear:

💬 What does Pride mean to you?
💬 What's one moment of q***r joy you've experienced this month?

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For anyone who wants to dig deeper, here's some of what I've been reading this month:

🔵 Q***r Joy as Pedagogy (Burkholder et at., 2025)
🔵 Introduction to the special issue “Mobilising q***r joy: Establishing q***r joy studies” (Wright & Burkholder, 2024), which expands understandings of q***r of colour joy, q***r crip joy, and AFAB q***r joy

20/11/2025

CW: Transphobic violence, death, grief

Trans Day of Remembrance is a day to honour and hold close the memory of trans and gender diverse people whose lives have been lost to violence, discrimination, and transphobia. Today, we speak their names, we feel the grief of their absence, and we acknowledge the deep pain carried by our communities.

In their honour, we stand together in collective mourning and unwavering solidarity. As a trans person, and as a social worker who walks alongside and supports our trans community, today sits heavy in my heart. And I know I’m not alone in that.

To my fellow trans folks:
You matter.
You deserve safety, joy, and a long life.
Your voice is needed.
Our futures are worth fighting for.

So today we pause.
And hold each other gently with care.
And tomorrow, we continue the work that needs to be done.

If today is heavy for you too, please reach out for support:
QLife (3pm - midnight) - call 1800 184 527
Su***de Call Back Service (24/7 support available) - call 1300 659 467
Lifeline (24/7 support available) - call 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14
Kids Helpline (24/7 support available) - call 1800 55 1800

Rest in Peace. Rest in Power 🏳️‍⚧️🕯

14/11/2025

Happy Trans Awareness Week 🏳️‍⚧️✨

Trans and gender diverse folks have always existed. Across all cultures and throughout all of history.

Trans Awareness Week is a time to celebrate our trans and gender diverse communities. Our history. Our stories. Our experiences.

This year we have continued to see trans and gender diverse people - our lives, rights, and access to healthcare - undermined and attacked by anti-trans hate, division, and disinformation.

Our community deserves freedom, safety, access to services and resources, and support be our most authentic selves.

This week I am leaning into joy as an act of resistance. I am leaning into the beauty, strength, and solidarity of our community. And I am leaning into the glimmers of hope and euphoria that nourish, sustain and heal.

04/09/2025

💜 Join us for Toowoomba's Wear It Purple celebration at the Empire Theatre Lawn from 4-6pm.

Swing by our stall to say hi, make a zine, get creative, and scoop up all the little treasures (yes, free stickers!! ✨) that spark joy 🌈

04/09/2025

So excited for tomorrow! The crew at Youth Connect have done an incredible job organising so many different stalls and activities. We’ll be hosting zine-making so be sure to drop by! ✨💜

💜🌈 WEAR IT PURPLE is TOMORROW! 🌈💜

Join us from 4pm - 6pm on the Empire Theatre lawn as we celebrate with stalls, performances, food, and plenty of fun! 🎉

✨ Stall holders & activities include ✨
📚 Toowoomba Region Libraries
💜 Anglicare
💪 PCYC
🌈 PFLAG
🌱 New Leaf
🤝 Mission Australia
🧩 Inclusive Counselling Collective
💡 Momentum Mental Health
🏳️‍🌈 Queensland Council for LGBTI Health (Gayawur Rainbow)
🎲 Toowoomba Dungeons & Dragons Club / Cosplay Group
📞 Lifeline Darling Downs
💚 Headspace

🎶 PLUS:
⭐ Performances by Kiyua Performing Arts
🎨 Face painting with Smiles and Rainbows
✍️ Scribble Sesh Life Drawing
🔥 BBQ with TOMNET
🎵 Music, vibes & good times!

Wear your purple, bring your friends, and let’s celebrate together 💜🌈

29/08/2025

Today is Wear It Purple Day💜

And my heart is so full.
At , I watched young people wear their flags like capes.
They covered themselves in pride stickers.
They laughed.
They celebrated who they are.

This is what Wear It Purple is about.
It’s about telling our LGBTQIA+ young people:
✨ You belong.
✨ You deserve to thrive.
✨ You deserve to grow up.

And right now, that message has never been more important.
Back in January, the QLD government banned life-saving gender affirming care for trans youth in the public system.
Our kids feel that.
They know when their rights are being stripped away.
That’s why we have to keep showing up.
To say again and again: you are loved, you are not alone, we will fight for you.

This year’s Wear It Purple theme is Bold Voices, Bright Futures.
Bold voices are what our kids need to hear.
Voices that say: you are safe, you are worthy.
And together, we can build those bright futures.

As a trans non-binary person, this day means so much to me.
Wear It Purple was never celebrated at my school when I was growing up.
We never had q***r services visit.
I never saw a trans or non-binary adult standing proud.

Now, I get to be that adult.
Standing proud and telling young people: you are not alone.
That means more than I have words for.

A teacher thanked me today for giving up my time.
But the truth is, I don’t give anything up.
This kind of work is what gives me hope.
It's why I moved into running my own practice.
It's what keeps me going.

And at the heart of it, this day is about joy.
The joy of being exactly who you are.
The joy of being seen and celebrated.
And of knowing there is a future for you.

And next Friday, Youth Connect TRC is hosting the Toowoomba Wear It Purple from 4–6pm at the Empire Theatre Lawn.
I’ll be there with a stall (goodies restocked), ready to celebrate loud and proud 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️
Hope to see you there too💜