What is Rainbow Door?

Rainbow Door is a free specialist LGBTIQA+ (Lesbian, Gay , Bisexual, Transgender and Gender Diverse, Intersex, Queer, Asexual, BrotherBoys, SisterGirls) helpline providing information, support, and referral to all LGBTIQA+ Victorians, their friends and family during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond. 

Rainbow Door supports people of all ages and identities with Issues that may include suicidal thoughts, family and intimate partner violence (including elder abuse), alcohol and other drugs, relationship issues, sexual assault, social isolation, mental health and wellbeing.

Through advice, referral and support from an experienced LGBTIQA+ peer, Rainbow Door will help  LGBTIQA+ people navigate the system to access the supports we need. 

Who is this service for?

Rainbow Door is for all Victorian LGBTIQA+ people, their friends and family during the COVID-19 crisis and beyond.

How is Rainbow Door offering support?

All staff in the Rainbow Door are experienced specialist workers with case management, suicide  intervention and risk assessment skills. We can provide Family Violence risk assessment and safety planning. 

Rainbow door is a free service, it will be accessible through email, phone and text messaging services. Callers will be able to leave voice and text messages after hours and get a call back during operational hours. 

Can I get support in another language?

Rainbow Door is offering support in languages other than English, including Auslan through our interpreter service. To access in-language support please call us on 1800 729 367, tell us the language you speak and we will connect to the interpreter service.

How can I get text message support?

The text message service works through your phone like a regular text message. You can contact us any time of day, and we will return your text during our operating hours of 10am – 6pm, everyday.

Can I email the service?

You can email for support by emailing support@rainbowdoor.org.au and we will return your email during operating hours of 10am– 5pm, everyday.

Do I have to be LGBTIQA+ to use Rainbow Door?

No, the service is available for all Victorian LGBTIQA+ people and all those who wish to support an LGBTIQA+ person. 

This may include friends, family (both family of origin and chosen), peer support workers, counsellors, doctors and other practitioners, mental health and family violence support workers.

What if I need support when the service isn’t open?

You can contact us via phone – 1800 729 367 and leave a message for a Rainbow Door peer support worker to contact you. This message should include the best time for us to contact you, and if you prefer phone, email or text message.

You  can also contact us via email and text message and we will contact you during our operating hours.

If you are in a crisis and need urgent support, please contact 000.

Can I get in-person support from the Rainbow Door?

No, this is a service for over the phone, email and text message support only. We can provide referrals to in-person one to one support services.

Is this a service for young people?

Yes, Rainbow Door is a service for LGBTIQA+ young people seeking support, or and friends or family (both family of origin and chosen) that are looking to support them. You can contact us via phone, email or text message.

Can I seek support if I’m a parent of an LGBTIQA+ young person?

Yes, you can. Rainbow Door welcomes parents to contact our service. This includes parents or guardians of LGBTIQA+ young people or parents or guardians identifying as LGBTIQA+ or part of a rainbow family. 

Does this service cost any money?

Rainbow Door is a free service to provide the Victorian LGBTIQA+ community with support, referral and information during COVID-19 and beyond. 

Do you have to be an Australian citizen or hold a medicare card to use this service?

This is a free service for all LGBTIQA+ people that live in Victorian regardless of visa status. We welcome contact from asylum seekers living in Victoria, international students and international visitors in Victoria.

Can people in prisons and detention centers use the Rainbow Door service?

Yes, this service is available for LGBTIQA+ people in prisons, home detention and immigration detention in Victoria. We understand that in some individual case, contact may be restricted by circumstance and facility.  

If you are only able to make contact via post, you can write to us via: 
Rainbow Door c/o Switchboard Victoria
PO Box, 21291
Lt Lonsdale Street, 
Melbourne, Victoria, 8011

Please provide a return address for a Rainbow Door peer support worker to contact you.

Is this a service for older LGBTIQA+ people?

Yes, Rainbow Door is a service for LGBTIQA+ older people, or those wishing to support an LGBTIQA+ older person. You may contact Rainbow Door by phone, email or text message. 

If you are only able to make contact via post, you can write to us via: 
Rainbow Door c/o Switchboard Victoria
PO Box, 21291
Lt Lonsdale Street, 
Melbourne, Victoria, 8011

Please provide a return address for a Rainbow Door peer support worker to contact you.

Do you offer legal support?

No, we don’t offer legal support. However, we can refer you to services that offer safer legal support for the LGBTIQA+ community.

If I’m in crisis, is this the service for me?

Yes, Rainbow Door is here to support all LGBTIQA+ people in Victoria. Please contact us during operating hours (10am-6pm, everyday) to seek support from our peer support workers via phone, email or text. If you are calling after hours you may leave a message for one of our team members to contact you.

If you or someone else is in immediate danger contact 000. 

What are culturally safe services?

Rainbow Door uses referral pathways to culturally safe services. What is culturally safe depends on an individual’s circumstances and identity and we will explore your needs and expectations from a service before we refer you. 

Some of the services we might consider are more culturally safe for LGBTIQA+ individuals are

• LGBTIQA+ community controlled organisations

• Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations that have training in LGBTIQA+ inclusion and have or are working towards Rainbow tick,

• Services that have a specialist LGBTIQ+ program

• Organisations that have or are working towards Rainbow tick accreditation, and who are also committed to continuous improvement around LGBTIQA+ inclusion.  

Do you provide secondary consults for service providers?

Yes, Rainbow Door welcomes contact from service providers and practitioners who wish to support an LGBTIQA+ person.

What are the qualifications of the staff?

The staff are a multi-disciplinary team who work together to respond to the needs of those who contact this service. 

All staff are experienced specialist workers with case management, suicide intervention and risk assessment skills. 

The Rainbow Door is a culturally safe place for LGBTIQA+ people, their friends’, family and all who support them.