A new $477,590 Australian Research Council Discovery grant will fund research to explore how living in outer suburban areas shapes the wellbeing and social inclusion of LGBTQ people across Australia.
Titled Out in Suburbia: Improving LGBTQ Wellbeing and Inclusion in Outer Suburban Australia, the project has been awarded $477,590 over three years and is one of just 12 Discovery Projects funded at La Trobe University in this round.
The project, led by Dr Ruby Grant and Prof Adam Bourne, will be based at La Trobe University’s Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society (ARCSHS).
“This research addresses an urgent gap in understanding how the rapidly growing outer suburbs affect LGBTQ people’s everyday lives, sense of belonging, and mental health,” said Dr Grant.
“While much is known about LGBTQ experiences in inner cities, outer suburbs remain largely invisible in both research and policy. This project will uncover how place influences wellbeing and what local governments can do to make their communities more inclusive.”
The project will involve collaboration with social geographer Prof Andrew Gorman-Murray (Western Sydney University) and will combine expertise in LGBTQ health, geography, and inclusive community development.
Working directly with local governments and community organisations, the team will use innovative place-based and co-design methods to produce tailored, evidence-based strategies for councils to strengthen LGBTQ inclusion.
Alongside Rainbow Health Australia, the project will also adapt the acclaimed How2 LGBTQ-inclusive organisational change program specifically for local governments, ensuring findings translate into practical tools for policy and practice.
“This project responds to growing demand from local councils for evidence and guidance on LGBTQ inclusion, and will deliver tangible outcomes that improve wellbeing not only for LGBTQ residents, but for communities as a whole,” said Dr Grant.
The project will run from 2026 to 2028, with results to be shared through reports, training programs, and a podcast series.
