True Relationships & Reproductive Health

22/12/2025

Trigger warning: this post contains references to sexual and family violence.

Christmas can be a joyous and happy time, unfortunately many women also face increased risk of domestic and sexual violence at this time of year.

If you feel unsafe or need support call:

000 (emergency services)
1800 RESPECT: 1800 737 732
Lifeline: 13 11 14
There are also apps developed by 1800RESPECT that provide safe, discreet access to support.

Daisy app provides information about support services in your local area and includes safety features to help protect the privacy of people using it. You can visit service websites from within the app, which means these sites won't show up in your browser history. This can help protect your privacy, especially if another person has access to your phone.

Sunny app is for people with disability who have experienced violence and abuse. Sunny has been co-designed with women with disability to make sure it provides the very best support for the people who use it. If someone is making you feel scared or unsafe Sunny can help you find support.

Everyone has the right to feel safe. Support is available.

19/12/2025

True clinics and counselling services will be closed over the holidays.

Brisbane, Cairns, Ipswich clinics will be closed: 1pm Tuesday 23 December, reopening Monday 5 January
Rockhampton clinic will be closed: 2.30pm 23 December, reopening Monday 5 January
Toowoomba clinic will be closed: 3pm 22 December, reopening Monday 5 January
Our Cairns Sexual Assault Counselling Service office will be closed: 24 December 2025, reopening Monday 5 January. Our 24/7 On-Call Support Worker is available if you need urgent support in Cairns during this time, contact:

Emergency 000
Queensland Police Service (local station in Cairns) – (07) 4030 7000
Policelink – 131 444
Cairns Hospital Accident and Emergency Department – 000 (Ambulance)
These services can contact our on-call support worker directly for immediate response.

For clinic contacts: https://www.true.org.au/our-services/sexual-health-clinics

For Cairns counselling: https://www.true.org.au/our-services/counselling

18/12/2025

Today we celebrate International Migrants Day and our wonderful diverse community!

This year we have connected with many people from diverse and migrant backgrounds, learning from them and sharing our health knowledge and opening doors to services. From July 2024 to June 2025 our Health in My Language team worked with 323 community organisations and provided health information sessions for 2,531 people in 12 languages. We enjoyed hearing everyone’s personal story and strengthening out communities, together.

True provides free health information sessions for migrants and refugee women, visit our website and contact us for more information.

03/12/2025

International Day of People with Disability
Supporting equitable inclusion of people with disability in all aspects of life.

Today, we celebrate the 5.5 million Australians living with disability – that’s 1 in 5 people in our community! 💙

We are committed to supporting people with disabilities, as well as their families and caregivers. Our programs are thoughtfully designed to offer guidance on building healthy relationships and understanding sexuality, tailored to each individual's learning needs, helping everyone feel empowered and supported on their journey.

Our dedicated training programs and resources include:

All Schools Disability Program – offering comprehensive, sexuality education, tailored for students with disabilities.

Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) in a Disability Context – for people to provide quality relationships and sexuality education to people with disability.

Everybody Needs to Know – a thoughtfully designed resource to help professionals teach core concepts of relationships and sexuality education (RSE) to children and adults with disabilities.

Looking After Me Program (LAMP) – offers engaging education packages on relationships and sexuality, designed specifically for people with disabilities. Using visual resources and interactive activities, LAMP creates an inclusive learning experience.

Happy and Healthy Relationships – a resource on friendships, dating and consent for people with intellectual disability and their parents, carers and support workers.

Did you know? 1 in 10 people with disability in Australia have experienced discrimination. That’s why days like today matter – they raise awareness and promote acceptance.

Let’s work together to build a community where everyone belongs.

Learn more about True Courses and resources: true.org.au

28/11/2025

Strengthening connections for women across regional, rural, and remote Queensland

Last week, True CEO Donna Bonney, and team members Sonya Megram, Lorna Lavaring, and Lisa Harrison attended the Queensland Rural, Regional and Remote Women's Network 2025 State Parliament Delegation Luncheon, a wonderful opportunity to network directly with Queensland’s decision makers.

At True, we believe in the power of strong networks and are committed to supporting initiatives that uplift women across Queensland.

True’s partnership with RRR Women helps support personal and professional growth, leadership, and community engagement among women in rural, regional, and remote areas, strengthening advocacy work on issues that matter to these communities.

The Hon Fiona Simpson MP, Minister for Women and Women’s Economic Security, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships and Minister for Multiculturalism, and Jonty Bush MP, Assistant Shadow Treasurer and Assistant Shadow Minister for Women, hosted this important event.

28/11/2025

27/11/2025

We love a good team-up 💥
True + The Female Co = empowering young women to take charge of their goals, their game, and their health. 💪

True is a proud sponsor of The Female Co, a First Nations-led organisation using sport as the launchpad for leadership, wellbeing, education, and employment in Far North Queensland.

We value the opportunity to bring respectful relationships and reproductive health education into conversations that matter. 💛

🎥 See how, together, we’re making a real difference for young women https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2EZOgqaUYs

17/11/2025

We’re incredibly proud to share that True Relationships and Reproductive Health have been selected to deliver two new Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Clinics in regional Queensland. These clinics will serve communities in Rockhampton, Moura, Mount Morgan, Discovery Coast (Agnes Water), Blackall, and Norman Gardens through Country to Coast PHN and Western Queensland PHN partnerships. Since October 2023, we’ve been delivering dedicated endometriosis and pelvic pain services in Cairns, and we’re thrilled to expand this vital work to support even more women and girls across Queensland. These clinics are part of the Australian Government’s landmark Women’s Health Package, bringing the national total to 33 clinics nationwide. Opening by early 2026, our multidisciplinary teams will provide expert care for endometriosis, pelvic pain, and perimenopause and menopause support, helping women access the specialist care they need closer to home. We’re honoured to be part of this important initiative to improve women’s healthcare across Australia.

14/11/2025

Let’s take the conversation online 🌟

Going through menopause can feel different for everyone, but you don’t have to navigate it alone.

Join our online meetup... a supportive and welcoming space to share experiences, ask questions, and connect with others who truly understand.

Hosted in collaboration between True's Menopause Network and Women’s Health and Equality Queensland (WHEQ), this session offers a chance to pause, connect, and find community, no matter your postcode.

✨ Free event | Registration essential
✨Hosted through Zoom
✨Thursday 20 November -12:30 to 13:30

Everyone is welcome 💜
Register through the Network: https://menopause.true.org.au

12/11/2025

Supporting child survivors: Expert insights shared

TRUE Cairns Sexual Assault Service therapist, Sarah Ayache, presented a professional development session focused on supporting young survivors of childhood sexual abuse for Victim Assist Queensland Cairns (VACQ) staff on Tuesday as part of their 2025 Sexual Violence Awareness Month campaign.

Sarah, a psychotherapist with 20 years of experience working with adults and children affected by complex trauma, shared her expertise on supporting young survivors. Her background includes specialised training in sexual offending and harmful sexualised behaviours in young people, and she formerly lectured at the University of Leeds UK.

The session explored critical topics including barriers faced by child victim survivors, the impact of childhood sexual abuse, attachment challenges, how children adapt to survive, and the psychological impact of grooming.

CSAS provides safe, inclusive support for anyone 12+ affected by sexual violence, regardless of background.

Learn more: https://www.true.org.au/our-services/counselling/cairns-counselling

10/11/2025

🌟 Strengthening Connections for Young People 🌟

Our team members Alisa and Joy attended the 2025 Collaborative Professional Development Day at Broadbeach Cultural Centre on Wednesday, October 15th. This incredible free event brought schools and youth services together to help strengthen connections, share knowledge, and build brighter futures for young people.

Throughout the day, they engaged with valuable sessions focused on youth support services and resources, training and development, ASD diagnostic challenges and management strategies, gender diversity and building capacity for affirmative care, and understanding how domestic and family violence shapes children’s school attendance.

The event provided exceptional opportunities for professional growth and collaboration.

https://www.true.org.au/get-help

06/11/2025

On Tuesday we celebrated 50 years of pioneering work in sexual and reproductive health with the opening of a new exhibit at the State Library of Queensland!

Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM, Governor of Queensland and True Patron joined us to acknowledge the impact of our founders and pioneers and visit the Extraordinary Stories exhibit. It showcases the legacy of breaking barriers and leading the way in reproductive health across Queensland since the early 1970s.

Over afternoon tea, inspiring pioneers and current industry leaders and advocates shared reflections, laughs, and powerful stories of courage and advocacy that continue to shape our sector.

The exhibition is open at the State Library of Queensland until May 2026, it’s worth a visit to see these extraordinary stories firsthand.

Find out more about the event: https://shorturl.at/OS0GA