About Us

The Gay and Lesbian Foundation of Australia (GALFA) is a charitable foundation whose purpose is to provide funds for charitable activities/organisations which have as their sole or chief purpose/outcome, the good and betterment of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex people and allied communities, in Australia.

Why GALFA is Needed

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, same-sex attracted, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) Australians are often marginalised in society through experiencing prejudice and discrimination as a result of their sexual orientation. This occurs though lawful but unfair systems, unlawful and unfair discrimination by individuals and organisations and individually through harassment and even violence. Such social injustice leads to poorer health outcomes, inequitable participation in the workforce and society, and higher levels of isolation from family and the broader community. These issues are heightened for younger, older, socially and geographically isolated, ethnically diverse, disabled and indigenous LGBTI people. 

Viable and proven models of community organisation, consumer education and professional training have already been developed since the early 1980s to combat many of these problems. Sadly, many of these models have not been adopted and promoted as widely as necessary to make a major impact, in large part because of a lack of material resources. Governments and non-government agencies, including philanthropic organisations, have sometimes been too cautious to fund culturally specific gay and lesbian programs for fear that well-organised and well-resourced ideological opponents to gay and lesbian issues might unfairly characterise them as ‘promoting a lifestyle’. Philanthropy Australia report that only 2% of all funds are given to gay and lesbian projects, which is the least amount of funding to any specific group.

Arising directly out of the communities at risk, GALFA dedicates itself solely to making resources available to address the unequal and unjust social experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people and allied communities, in Australia.

How GALFA will achieve our mission

GALFA is a charitable foundation whose purpose is to provide funds for charitable activities that benefit lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and allied communities in Australia. Two funds have been established, the Public Fund and the Charitable Fund. The Public Fund allows donors to obtain tax deductibility of their donations, and the Charitable Fund is designed chiefly to receive bequests (from a will). The Australian Taxation Office has endorsed both funds for charity tax concessions. Together, the funds have as their trustee a company (limited by guarantee) with 5 - 15 directors.  The directors have been appointed to bring skills, experience and credibility to the foundation and are charged with ensuring that the foundation pursues its mission faithfully.

It is intended that the foundation will exist in perpetuity.  Donations and bequests will be added to the capital of the funds.  Income earned from the careful and prudent investment of the capital of the funds, will be used for grant making to organisations and activities, in line with the mission of the fund and relevant grant making priorities as determined by the Board from time to time.

7/10/38 to 3/11/07

Founded by Bruce McNicol

Bruce McNicol was a visionary whose inspiration led to the establishment of GALFA.

He was a counselling and industrial psychologist, entrepreneur, investor, and with Mark, his partner of more than 25 years, a regular world traveller. Bruce owned and ran, Human Learning Pty Ltd, an Australian wide registered private training provider and ran training in team building, personal development, communication skills and leadership.

Bruce made a huge contribution to gay and lesbian life in Melbourne. In 1979, he helped organise Melbourne’s first big gay event “The 5^th National Homosexual Conference”. In 1982 he worked with ALSO as a psychologist and in 1983 was instrumental in establishing the Victorian AIDS Council (VAC).  He continued as a gay affirmative counsellor and educator and set up the carer’s training program (AIDS MATES) with VAC and Fairfield House. He served as a board member of the ALSO Foundation for ten years, and was co-chair of the ALSO Community Development and Services Program. The ALSO Care and Benevolent Fund was a particular passion to ensure gay people were cared for in their twilight years. 

Wanting to encourage post AIDS freedom, fun and travel, he started and published the “G’Day accommodation and travel guides”, and was a part owner of Turtle Cove, a world recognised exclusively Lesbian and Gay resort. He was secretary of AGALTA (the Gay Tourism Association) for 3 years and was a founder of Rainbow Travel. He loved a good party and supported the outrageous costume ball, The Fantasy Ball for more than 6 years. In his multicultural work he was the patron of the Miss Gay Asia Pacific Quest and the Australian Representative of the LGHEI, Lesbian and Gay Hospitality Exchange International.

Bruce was committed to supporting and recognising the achievements of people in the gay and lesbian community.  He was the founder of GLADE (Gay and Lesbian Assoc for Developing Enterprise) and one of the initiators of Melbourne’s unique Rainbow Awards. He also offered advice and support to set up Melbourne’s gay and lesbian radio station JOY 94.9. He continued his volunteer work on a world wide basis by working as a director of the International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA). Its mission was to work globally for the equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

Bruce’s passion for his community and ensured that many organisations came to fruition for the betterment of everyone.  His dedication has helped to create the proud gay and lesbian community that we have today.

Adapted from an obituary written by Colin Krycer and Alan Mayberry

Directors

Mark Burgess – Melbourne

Mark Burgess immigrated to Australia in 2003 and became a citizen in 2007 based on his same sex de facto relationship. He is a qualified Chartered Accountant and has worked in Private Equity and Venture Capital for over 20 years. He has served as a director of a number of companies across a wide range of industries, large and small, listed and private. He is now a consultant for the Victorian Govt. Since the mid 1990's Mark has volunteered for a number of UK and Australian GLBTI organisations including Lesbian and Gay Switchboard, the Albert Kennedy Trust (for homeless gay teens), and JOY 94.9 (including as accountant and interim manager).

Damian Douglas-Meyer – Perth

Damian is an IT manager for a web development company in Perth and is also a board member of GLBTI Retirement Association Inc. (GRAI), an advocacy group for GLBTI retirement and aged care issues. Damian was convenor of Gay and Lesbian Equality WA (GALE) from the late 90s to 2004 and was a key public face for the gay community in WA during that time as WA was amending it's laws to remove discrimination for gays and lesbians. He was on the WA Attorney General's Ministerial Advisory Committee into Lesbian and Gay Law Reform. He has also previously been on the boards of Australian Marriage Equality, and of Human Rights WA Inc.

Sarina Jackson – Sydney

Sarina is a partner of a law firm based in Sydney and Melbourne. When living in Melbourne, she was on various boards of the ALSO Foundation including a time as President. She has been involved with Joy 94.9, HIV/AIDS Legal Centre and Victorian AIDS Council. Sarina is aware of the issues relating to same sex attracted individuals and couples in Australia and feels strongly and passionately about changing those issues. Sarina's experience in her legal practice and her knowledge of the community compliment that of the other trustees of GALFA.  

Sue Kentlyn – Brisbane

Sue Kentlyn is a doctoral candidate, lecturer, and researcher in Sociology at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia. Before becoming a lesbian, Sue was married to a Pentecostal minister and pastored churches in Australia and the Philippines. She recently completed a preliminary study of domestic labour in same sex households, and her PhD research concerns parental identities and practices of parenting and domestic labour in post-traditional Australian families. She has published articles and given presentations in Sociology, Psychology, Social Geography, Health, Legal Studies and Women's Studies journals and conferences. Sue has served on the management committees of the Gay and Lesbian Welfare Association and Open Doors Youth Service in Brisbane, and does gender and sexual identity training for professionals working in the community sector on behalf of the Queensland Association for Healthy Communities (QAHC).

Colin Krycer – Melbourne

For that past twenty years, Colin Krycer has been a committed volunteer in the HIV/AIDS field and general Gay and Lesbian community. Colin has been successful in fundraising and served on numerous committees. He is one of the earliest members of JOY 94.9, Australians first Gay and Lesbian radio station.

Ruth McNair – Melbourne

Ruth is a general practitioner specialising in lesbian health and women’s health. She is also a Senior Lecturer at the Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne. She is a member of the Victorian Ministerial Advisory Committee on GLBTI health and wellbeing, and was on Victorian Attorney General’s Advisory Committee on Gay and Lesbian Issues from 2001 to 2006. She was the founding Convener of the Fertility Access Rights Lobby from 1999 to 2004 and was Convener of the Australian Lesbian Medical Association from 2002 to 2005. She is the inaugural treasurer of the Rainbow Families Council. In 2006 she received the Quiet Achiever Rainbow Award, and in 2007 she was made a life member of the Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights lobby.

Carol Wilkinson – Melbourne

Carol Wilkinson has been an active member of the LGBTI community since the early 1990s.  As a small business owner she has over 30 years experience of employee and financial management. Carol’s other managerial experience includes the committees or boards of; The Deafness Foundation (Victoria), Gay & Lesbian Switchboard, Joy Melbourne Inc, and Aids Hepatitis & Sexual Health Line. She is a Life Member of Switchboard and Joy.  In 2001 she was awarded the Centenary of Federation Medal for services to the Gay and Lesbian community.