LGBTQIA+ Youth Events Guide
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Creating Events Where Every Young Person Feels Safe
The LGBTQIA+ Youth Events Guide is a practical, easy-to-use guide designed to help schools, community groups, youth services and event organisers build genuine safety and inclusion into every stage of event planning.
Whether you're running a small community gathering or a large youth festival, this guide walks you through the steps needed to create spaces where LGBTQIA+ young people can participate with confidence.
This guide has been developed in partnership with the Victorian Government and Office of the Victorian Commissioner for LGBTQIA+ Communities.
Why This Guide Matters
LGBTQIA+ young people continue to face higher rates of discrimination, exclusion and unsafe experiences at public events than their peers. Many organisers want to create spaces for LGBTQIA+ young people but aren't sure where to start.
This guide offers a clear framework for building safety into the structure of an event itself — from the first planning meeting through to the day it runs.
Who This Guide Is For
This resource is written for anyone responsible for planning or running youth-focused events, including event coordinators, youth workers, teachers, volunteers, venue staff and community organisations.
It's equally useful for people new to inclusive event planning and for experienced organisers looking to strengthen their existing practices.
What's Inside
The guide covers the full lifecycle of event planning, including:
- Making the Case for LGBTQIA+ Youth Events — information for why these events are important, and how to respond to the unique needs of LGBTQIA+ youth
- Event Design — Step by Step guide to designing events for LGBTQIA+ young people.
- Risk management — How to build a risk assessment relevant to the size of your event.
- Youth-led design — how to involve young people in shaping events.
- Accessibility and inclusion — practical guidance on physical access, sensory considerations, cost, culture and language, so no young person is left out before they even arrive.
- Access and Sensory Guides — how to prepare clear, upfront information (including social scripts) so young people know what to expect and can reduce anxiety before attending.
- Cultural safety — guidance for supporting First Nations and multicultural young people.
- Gender-affirming spaces — practical steps such as all-gender bathrooms, respecting chosen names and pronouns, and creating environments where gender identity is supported rather than questioned.
- Child safety compliance — guidance on Working With Children Checks, supervision and working with contractors.
- Working with police and de-escalation — including how LGBTQIA+ Liaison Officers (LLOs) and local groups can support event safety.
- Further support and resources, including information on how to find local LGBTQIA+ groups and support services.
How to Use This Guide
Safe Events is designed to be used as a working planning tool, not just a reference document.
Organisers can work through it sequentially when planning a new event, or dip into specific sections — such as risk assessment or accessibility — when reviewing and improving an event they already run. A companion glossary of key terms is included to make the guide easy to understand for readers at all experience levels, including young people themselves.
Whether you're planning your first LGBTQIA+-inclusive event or refining years of experience, Safe Events gives you the practical tools to make safety and belonging central to your planning — not an afterthought.