LGBT and intersex Australians will be able to get over the phone counseling wherever they are in the country thanks to a new initiative from the country’s existing five state LGBT phone counseling services and the National LGBTI Health Alliance.

Victoria’s Gay and Lesbian Switchboard, the Gay and Lesbian Counseling Service of New South Wales, Gay and Lesbian Community Services in Western Australia, the Gay and Lesbian Counseling Service of South Australia, and Queensland’s Gay and Lesbian Welfare Association (GLWA) will all work together to roll out the nation-wide Q-Life Project.

GLWA’s Rob Collins told Queensland Pride that Q-Life would be a national initiative using communications technologies to improve the health and well-being of LGBT people.

‘Q-Life is a new service that will enhance and coordinate existing phone counseling services and will extend support through web based chat and information support services,’ Collins told Queensland Pride.

‘Each center will linked nationally to ensure that both phone and web based counseling services will be available 7 days a week, 365 days a year between the hours of 5 pm to 10.30 pm. This nationwide linkage is designed to ensure no call is left unanswered.’

The five state based LGBT counseling services will continue to operate but Q-Life will deliver services in a more coordinated way with webchat based counseling and information support services also provided

The Council of Australian Governments will be providing funding for the employment of a Program Support Worker and Volunteer Coordinator to help run the project.

Q-Life volunteer counselors will be able to be reached through a national toll-free number.