The Midsumma Festival is Victoria’s premier LGBTI cultural festival, made for and by communities who live with shared experiences around diverse gender and sexuality. Held annually since 1988 it is the largest celebration of gay and lesbian culture and art; including performing arts to music, sports to film.

The Midsumma Community Day on January 14th kicked off the 3-week festival and Kara House team joined in the fun manning our stall in the community hub. The team handed out gift bags containing pens, badges and wristbands and information brochures. By talking and fielding questions with the community the team was able to spread awareness of family violence within the LGBTI community and the support that Kara House provides to those who are experiencing family violence.

Kara House is a specialist family/domestic violence service which provides crisis accommodation and outreach support for women and children who have been impacted by family/domestic violence. Kara House clients are allocated an individual skilled and experienced family/domestic violence support worker to assist them to identify their needs and to move towards a more positive future. This includes emotional support, risk assessment and safety planning, advice and information, advocacy, referral, Court support and liaison with schools and child protection. Kara House welcomes all clients – young and aged, with a multicultural background, single, LGBTI, women with disabilities, and women with children. Clients can contact Kara House directly or can be referred from another service.