LGBTQI initiative for international students the Rainbow Hub launched at the State Library of Queensland‘s The Edge on Tuesday 20 March by Trade and Investment Queensland’s (TIQ) Executive Director Rebecca Hall. Established to help create a safe and supportive environment for international students who identify as LGBTQI in Brisbane, the Rainbow Hub will be based at The Edge and share the space with the Brisbane Student Hub.

The Rainbow Hub will host fortnightly sessions to empower and support the international queer community. Minister for Innovation and Tourism Industry Development Kate Jones said, “this service will provide access to information on local LGBTQI services and will connect international students to the wider community.”  Ms Jones is also the Ministerial Champion for International Education and Training.

The idea for a hub was formed by teachers and students at Navitas, one of the world’s leading education providers, who wanted to ensure that every student had the best possible experience while they were visiting Australia and studying with Navitas. The Rainbow Hub consortium now includes English Australia, the national peak body for the English language sector of International Education in Australia, and Open Doors, a queer youth counselling service.

The project was co-funded by the $6 million International Education and Training Partnership fund, a Queensland Government initiative that’s contributed $25.3 million towards an International Education and Training Strategy. This  year the fund will allocate $1.2 million to support innovative industry initiatives that aim to boost Queensland’s international education and training sector. Navitas is excited to be involved in the Rainbow Hub project that’s services are available to all international students in and around Brisbane.

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