How2
In this interactive program, participating organisations gain the knowledge, skills and tools to develop a whole-of-organisation LGBTIQ+ strategy.
Introduction
We believe LGBTIQ+ people deserve to be seen, affirmed and treated with the dignity, respect and care when they access services. We recognise and affirm the genuine ambition of service providers to be LGBTIQ+ inclusive.
Who's it for?
The How2 Program is suited to any organisation looking to embed LGBTIQ+ inclusion in a sustainable way. It will guide participants in developing, and beginning to implement, a plan specific to their organisation for facilitating LGBTIQ+ inclusion.
Completing the How2 Program can greatly assist organisations in gaining Rainbow Tick accreditation, which is currently only for health and human services organisations. However, any organisation will benefit from the program, whether or not they are seeking formal accreditation.
This program is delivered by Rainbow Health Australia and there are a number of funding streams for specific sectors, funded by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing as part of the implementation of Pride in our future: Victoria’s LGBTIQ+ strategy 2022-32, and by the Department of Health.
Program dates
Select each stream to expand it and see the workshop and online module dates:
Stream Yellow, starts Tuesday 10th February 2026
| Week | Session | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Online module (prerequisite) | True Colours: Introduction to LGBTIQ+ Inclusive Practice | Available from Tues 10th Feb |
| 2 | Workshop (prerequisite) | Work with Pride: LGBTIQ+ Affirmative Interpersonal Skills | Tues 17th Feb |
| 3 | Online module | 0. Making a Strong Start: introduction to How 2, building a change team and planning for LGBTIQ+ affirmative strategy development | Available from Tues 24th Feb |
| 4 | Workshop | 1. Creating Common Purpose: anticipating resistance, understanding motivation and bringing people on board | Tues 3rd Mar |
| 5 | Workshop | 2. Scanning for Hidden Harms 1: leadership, service provision, and the physical environment | Tues 10th Mar |
| 5 | Zoom Drop-in Q&A | Troubleshooting: a drop-in clinic for participants and facilitators to workshop any blocks, challenges or clarify choices | Tues 10th Mar |
| 6 | Workshop | 3. Scanning for Hidden Harms 2: reviewing human resources, data and privacy, and operational health and safety | Tues 17th Mar |
| 7 | Workshop | 4. Designing solutions: consultation, planning, implementation and monitoring | Tues 24th Mar |
| - | One-on-one Zoom sessions | Mentoring session: one-to-one session with RHA specialist to support organisations to identify and resolve any barriers to the development or implementation of their strategy | Bookable with facilitators in April/May |
Stream Green, starts Thursday 26th March 2026
| Week | Session | Description | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Online module (prerequisite) | True Colours: Introduction to LGBTIQ+ Inclusive Practice | Available from Thu 26th Mar |
| 2 | Workshop (prerequisite) | Work with Pride: LGBTIQ+ Affirmative Interpersonal Skills | Thu 9th Apr |
| 3 | Online module | 0. Making a Strong Start: introduction to How 2, building a change team and planning for LGBTIQ+ affirmative strategy development | Available from Thu 16th Apr |
| 4 | Workshop | 1. Creating Common Purpose: anticipating resistance, understanding motivation and bringing people on board | Thu 23rd Apr |
| 5 | Workshop | 2. Scanning for Hidden Harms 1: leadership, service provision, and the physical environment | Thu 30th Apr |
| 5 | Zoom Drop-in Q&A | Troubleshooting: a drop-in clinic for participants and facilitators to workshop any blocks, challenges or clarify choices | Thu 30th Apr |
| 6 | Workshop | 3. Scanning for Hidden Harms 2: reviewing human resources, data and privacy, and operational health and safety | Thu 7th May |
| 7 | Workshop | 4. Designing solutions: consultation, planning, implementation and monitoring | Thu 14th May |
| - | One-on-one Zoom sessions | Mentoring session: one-to-one session with RHA specialist to support organisations to identify and resolve any barriers to the development or implementation of their strategy | Bookable with facilitators in June |
Subsidy now available
Rainbow Health Australia and the Victorian government are excited to offer funding to eligible Victorian organisations for a range of subsidised activities to help build their capability in LGBTIQ+ inclusion.
These include:
- Free enrollment in RHA’s How2 training program
- Community of practice sessions that providing peer learning, motivation and collaboration.
- Masterclass sessions that offer insights and showcase best practice from experts in LGBTIQ+ inclusion and capability-building
- Implementation support through tools, templates, and discounted training rates
- Subsidised fees for Rainbow Tick assessment and accreditation.
To express interest in any of our subsidised programs, please complete this form. You’ll be asked some screening questions to help us identify the most suitable options for your organisation.
About the program
In this program participants learn to identify hidden harms to LGBTIQ+ staff and service users within their systems and to work towards evidence-informed solutions and good practice to address this.
Using guidance from LGBTIQ+ affirmative change
management and implementation science, participants are supported to identify common pitfalls of ‘diversity and inclusion’ initiatives, and to lead a collaborative development of a meaningful, impactful LGBTIQ+ strategy with their teams.
Many organisations will then progress, as a separate process from this program, to be assessed and accredited with the Rainbow Tick.
Program objectives
- To provide organisations with the foundational knowledge on standards for LGBTIQ+ inclusion as enshrined in the Rainbow Tick framework
- To support organisations to develop an implementation plan for LGBTIQ+ inclusion in their service
- To provide practical support to organisations in the form of tools and templates to support them on their journey to LGBTIQ+ inclusion
- To promote continued learning, motivation and collaboration opportunities for groups of organisations seeking to improve their LGBTIQ+ inclusion practices
Program structure
The program comprises weekly sessions including self paced online learning modules and live online workshops. The main course content will run over 7 weeks, with ongoing support available via communities of practice for an additional 6 months after course completion.
Organisations will receive a variety of supporting materials to guide internal work and will be supported to develop an implementation plan for LGBTIQ+ inclusion for their organisations.
The time commitment to complete this work is a minimum 3 hours per week over 6 months with additional time needed for implementation of the plan from the whole of organisation.
Past Participants
“So far this training has been some of the best I’ve ever attended. The content is thorough, resources are brilliant, there’s a clear logic and ideas relate strategically to each other. It’s really brilliant and I’m very grateful for how much time and energy your team has put into creating/delivering such a quality piece of training”
— Participant feedback 2024
“The webinars were interactive, moving from small group discussions to the larger group and then into didactic mode with powerpoint presentations - it was essentially like being in a training room or as close as you will get!”
— Participant feedback 2024
“You’ve managed to deliver complex content remotely in a way that was engaging and informative. I appreciate all the planning that has gone into the sessions and the extra ways you have made the sessions interactive, such as the polls and break out rooms. Thank you also for all the extra resources and links you provide throughout the sessions”
— Participant feedback 2024