BlaQ is the peak organisation for Aboriginal Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer + Sistergirl and Brotherboy (LGBTQ+SB) Peoples and Communities in NSW.
As an Aboriginal community-controlled organisation, our vision is to achieve a society that nurtures, supports, affirms, and celebrates our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQ+SB community whilst promoting safety and inclusion for all.
Our approach is based on respecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the longest continual surviving culture, and our celebrating our unique connection to country, culture and community.
Person-Centred: To treat people with dignity and respect whilst valuing personal perspectives, morals, beliefs, and preferences, always ensuring our members are free to decide their own journey with BlaQ always ready to provide assistance and options.
Cultural Integrity: At the core of what we do is our culture. Our cultural identity underpins our policies, program methodology and service delivery, not just for the work we do, but also for the organisations engaging with our service and our Community.
Strength-Based: We acknowledge, appreciate, and build upon the strengths and assets of our Community. BlaQ operates with an evidence-based and lived experience model in working to create a culture of continual growth.
We are also proud members of:
NSW Coalition of Aboriginal Peak Organisations (CAPO) – CAPO is a collective of self-determining Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, which provides a strong, independent and coordinated voice to address issues affecting Aboriginal people in NSW. BlaQ works to ensure that the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQ+SB people are embedded into Closing the Gap reforms.
International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex Association (ILGA) Oceania – ILGA is a United Nations (UN) non-government organisation advocating for LGBTI rights at the UN. BlaQ has been elected as the Australian representative of the Oceania region to advocate for the human rights of our community on an international platform.