GRAI

Welcome to the July issue of our GRAI newsletter. Our biggest news is that we are ready to launch the findings of our one year Lotterywest social research grant investigating the attitudes and practices of aged care providers towards LGBT residents. With the fantastic work of our project officer Rita Freijah we are now the point of releasing the final report, best practice guidelines and a comprehensive literature review.

These will all available on our website www.grai.org.au from July 12. So please take a look or better still, come to the launch! (see next page for details).

GRAI operates as a member based organisation with an elected board. Our 2010 AGM is scheduled for Tuesday 17 August and will be held at the Freedom Centre in Brisbane Street starting at 6.00pm with refreshments.

All members are urged to attend – the AGM is always an opportunity for a pleasant get together as well as the business of the meeting. We are also seeking a couple more board members as we have several of our members retiring. Please do not be shy about self nominating or giving me a call to discuss what is involved (0422 654244). A warm welcome awaits you from the existing board.

One of our retiring board members will be Virginia Hailes who was a community representative on behalf of the Alzheimer’s Association WA.

Virginia bought a great input to the board and especially was active in getting GLBTI issues on the agenda of Alzheimer’s Australia in WA. Alzheimer’s Australia also supported the board by providing us with a meeting place and we thank them for that. We also welcome a new board member, Brett Tizard.

We have recently done a new print run of our GRAI brochure and if any member would like some to put out at their work place, or share with friends etc, please email us (info@grai.com) and we will get some in the mail for you.

Wearing our advocacy hat, GRAI made a submission to the Senate Community Affairs References Committee for its inquiry into planning options and services for people ageing with a disability. Thanks to board member June Lowe for work on this.

As always, your board is here to listen to your suggestions and remember, GRAI is your organisation – so get involved!

Jude Comfort, Chair

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

• Research Launch
• Pennies from heaven
• Recent conferences
• Rainbow Vision
• Productivity Commission review
• Thoughts on the American situation
• Where will all the Queens go?

GRAI MATTERS July 2010

You’re invited!

GRAI (Gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans and intersex Retirement Association Inc.) is delighted to invite you to the launch of the report “We don’t have any of those people here: Retirement accommodation and aged care issues for non-heterosexual populations” and best practice guidelines “Accommodating older gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans and intersex people”.

To be launched by Ambassador for Ageing Noeline Brown, and hosted by Verity James.

“We don’t have any of those people here” launch invite

Monday 12 July 2010, 5.30 – 7pm
Kingia Care Centre
5 Allen Court, Bentley, WA 6102

View Kingia in a larger map

RSVP to Rita Freijah by 2 July 2010
ritamon@iinet.net.au
Phone 0404 678 673

Welcome to our first new‐look newsletter for 2010. The newsletter contains a rundown both of GRAI activities and also broader issues on LGBTI ageing. Firstly, thank you for your continued support of GRAI.

Although GRAI is a small member‐based organisation, we always seem to have more than enough to keep us busy – and 2010 will be no different.

GRAI’s social research grant is proceeding well (see later article). Look out for the launch of the final report and the best practice guidelines due out in the next few months. I am fortunate to be off to Sydney for the Health in Difference conference and then Melbourne to the International Federation of Ageing conference. I will be able to profile the work of GRAI and also be able to discuss a range of gay research issues nationally. It can sometimes feel a bit isolated working in WA but rest assured GRAI is highly regarded on the national gay ageing front.

Jude Comfort
Chair GRAI

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

GRAI MATTERS April 2010