Carswell Forum Strengthens Community Ties And Charts A Path Forward For LGBTQIA+SB Queenslanders

Queensland’s LGBTQIA+ Sistergirl and Brotherboy communities have helped shape a shared agenda for a safer, fairer and more inclusive state, with the 2026 Carswell Forum bringing community expertise and lived experience together to identify priorities for the year ahead.

Hosted by Brisbane Pride and the Queensland LGBTQIA+ Alliance on Friday, October 30, the annual gathering connected community leaders, activists, advocates, service providers, researchers and government representatives.

Carswell Forum 2026 another success

The forum provided an opportunity to recognise the work already happening across Queensland, strengthen relationships and identify practical steps to improve services, safety and wellbeing.

Its outcomes will guide the organisers’ advocacy and engagement over the coming year, giving the conversations a purpose beyond the event itself.

Brisbane Pride President James McCarthy said the forum was an important opportunity to listen to community voices, acknowledge existing efforts and identify where further action was needed.

“Today’s discussions reinforced that the challenges facing LGBTQIA+SB Queenslanders are connected — from safety and violence to health, ageing, housing and access to services, particularly in regional and remote communities. We also heard about the vital role of community-led organisations and the need to properly support the people and services our communities rely on.

“Queensland has an established strategy and a strong foundation to build on. The task now is to turn commitments into action, strengthen partnerships and ensure the voices heard at forums like this lead to meaningful change. Ultimately, what matters is making a practical difference in people’s lives.”

A central message from the forum was the importance of sustaining trusted, community-led organisations and ensuring people can choose support that meets their needs.

Participants identified secure funding, skilled peer workers and culturally safe services as essential foundations for that work. They also emphasised the importance of inclusive mainstream services, with coordinated referral pathways that protect privacy, consent and individual choice.

The discussions brought together issues that can too often be considered separately: online hostility and discrimination, domestic, family and sexual violence, social isolation, housing insecurity, and gaps in health, legal and aged care support.

The forum identified opportunities for stronger cooperation between community controlled organisations, specialist violence services, mainstream providers and regional groups.

The experiences of regional, rural and remote Queenslanders were a key part of the conversation. Participants highlighted distance, transport barriers, limited specialist services and concerns about confidentiality as issues requiring locally shaped solutions.

First Nations Rainbow Mob called for culturally grounded responses designed with communities and delivered closer to where people live.

Older LGBTQIA+SB people also raised issues including transport, planning for the future and maintaining their identity in residential care, ensuring ageing and access to appropriate support formed part of the broader agenda.

Alongside identifying service needs, participants set out priorities for government action. These included completing outstanding commitments under Queensland’s whole-of-government LGBTQIA+ strategy, Pride in Our Communities, transparently reporting progress and properly resourcing the next action plan.

Other priorities included mandatory workforce training, better recording of sexuality and gender identity in health settings, and coordinated violence prevention.

Named in honour of the late Phil Carswell OAM, the forum carries forward a legacy of human rights advocacy, social justice and bringing people together to achieve change.

This year’s gathering continued that work by connecting community knowledge, research and frontline experience with practical priorities for advocacy and service delivery.

The event also took place amid disagreement over the inclusion of Queensland Child Safety Minister Amanda Stoker.

The Queensland Transgender Gender Diverse and Non-Binary Association (QTrans) withdrew from a planned Trans Pride panel in protest at her appearance.

QTrans President Brianna Hammond criticised Stoker’s record on LGBTQIA+ issues, particularly trans rights and access to gender-affirming healthcare. Stoker subsequently addressed the forum, paying tribute to Carswell and affirming that every Queenslander deserves to feel safe, supported and valued.