Minus18 is Australia's charity, improving the lives of LGBTI youth,  aim to improve the lives of LGBTI youth by empowering them, connecting them with others just like them and helping them to understand themselves. We do this by running social events, producing resources and running sexuality and gender workshops in schools across Australia.

Since 2011, we have created spaces Australia-wide for more than 60,000 young people to feel less isolated, and provided peer-support to more than 3.5 million people online. 

But this isn't enough, so we change hearts and minds to build more inclusive communities, heading into schools and workplaces around Australia to host LGBTI training and workshops - deliverying to over 20,000 students, teachers and community members in just 2 years. 

With your support, we can make a safer, more inclusive Australia for everyone.

Why we do it

Growing up LGBTI isn't always easy, and it can be even more confusing and isolating when you don't know other people who are going through the same experiences as you. Unfortunately, because of discrimination and isolation, LGBTI young people experience higher rates of mental illness and suicide than heterosexual young people.

• 75% of LGBTI young people in Australia experience homophobic abuse - most of this occurring at school.
• As a result, LGBTI young people are 5 times as likely to experience anxiety or depression and 3 times as likely to attempt suicide.

The best remedy for social isolation is to provide a place where LGBTI youth can make friends in a safe and supported atmosphere. While Minus18 is promoted to young people as a social space, it's really so much more. We're all about improving the mental wellbeing of young people, increasing their self-confidence and overall making their lives better.

Why what we do works

A sense of belonging and inclusion assists the integration of a LGBTI young person into society and benefits their mental wellbeing.

"Minus18 helps young people rebuild social networks and establish close, trusting relationships where they feel valued and safe, and is what is needed to address the impacts of homophobia in young people's everyday live."

-Health & Well-Being of Same-Sex-Attracted Young People, Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University.