Welcome to Rainbow Families
The Rainbow Families Council is a volunteer community organisation that aims to ensure equality for rainbow families (parents, partners and prospective parents who identify as being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or intersex, and their children). We invite you to JOIN US by becoming a member, get informed, get support and get active!
WHAT'S NEW
Rainbow Families Council presents...
- Rainbow Families Council Annual General Meeting - 24 Oct 2010...see events
- The Love Makes A Family 2010 Adoption Campaign - access to adoption for gay and lesbian single people and same-sex couples in Victoria. Take our survey and get involved...see campaigns
- Federal Election 2010 - RFC has developed a statement outlining the issues that we
believe need to be addressed on a Federal level...see news 
'Who is in your family?' kit now available - our new resource kit provides information sheets and posters for early childhood services, primary schools and the rainbow families who use them. Download the resources here- Hares and Hyena's Bookshop in Melbourne have put together a booklist of children’s picture books to accompany our 'Who is in your family?' Resource Kit...download it here
- 'How To Tell' Seminar 28 Aug 2010 - telling children about their donor origins seminar presented by Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority, with the Donor Conception Support Group and Rainbow Families Council...see events
- The Assisted Reproductive Treatment (ART) Act came into effect on 1 January 2010! After years of campaigning the new laws have come into effect. Families with two mothers can register both mothers as parents on birth certificates. Same-sex couples can now access IVF and other assisted reproductive treatment in Victoria. See our page Becoming a Parent.
Community News and Events
- New VARTA Brochures - 'Time to apply? Making an application to the Central & Voluntary Donor Registers'; and 'Time to Consent? Consent to the release of information from the Central Donor Register' - download from our ART in Victoria page
- Proud & Pregnant - Lesbian orientated childbirth preparation. Thornbury...see events
- Not so private lives: National findings on the relationships and well-being of same-sex attracted Australians - new research findings, including on LGBTI parenting and children...see research reports
- Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority Seminar - Surrogacy in Victoria – Issues to Consider - 8 September 2010...see events
- Gay Dads National Conference on 18th and 19th September, Melbourne...see events
- Glockids - support group Gay and Lesbian of Co-parent kids...see Glockids
- Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority July newsletter features new resources, seminars, and inquiry into donor conception...see News
- New Book available - Baby Makes 4, a 30-page picture book now available at Hares & Hyenas
- New research finds that children born to lesbian parents are better off (reported in The Age); gay dads are doing well in the transition to parenthood (Newswise); a German study of rainbow families finds children have stronger self-esteem than kids in other families; and a UK study finds that children of gay and lesbian parents are just like other children - except they have to deal with homophobia (Stonewall)...see News
- 'Here I Am' comic book about two lesbian mums having a baby, by Melbourne artist Kath D - now available online
- Sperm Donor Drive, April 2010 - Melbourne IVF has launched a new sperm 'drive' called 'A donation to us won’t save a life, hopefully it will create one'...read more from Melbourne IVF about what's involved in being a donor. See also Monash IVF
- Wear it with Pride - The parenting page of this site provides a guide to the recent reforms to federal laws, including changes to family law that provide recognition for same-sex couples and their children.
- Presentation by Births Deaths Marriages Victoria on the new laws, registering a birth, donor and relationship - see Victorian Law Reforms.
- Rainbow Families Council Conference 2010 - our fourth community conference for same-sex parents, prospective parents, rainbow families and our supporters was held on Sat 13 Feb. Papers from the conference available soon!
Join Rainbow Families Council by becoming a member in 2010. We receive no ongoing funding and have no paid positions. If you have enjoyed any of the membership benefits listed here, or think you might in the future, please consider becoming a financial member today (only $10/year for single; or $20 family).
