Australia’s first dedicated fertility and IVF service provider for the LGBTIQA+ community, Rainbow Fertility, has formed a major partnership with the Victorian Pride Centre to help break down barriers to family building for communities across Victoria.
The initial one-year partnership brings together Australia’s first purpose-built Pride Centre and Rainbow Fertility’s specialist expertise to deliver meaningful, community-focused initiatives that make family-building more accessible, welcoming and affirming for LGBTIQA+ people.
It reflects a shared belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to build a family in an environment where they feel seen, respected and understood.
Rainbow Fertility, which is part of the City Fertility family, will begin delivering monthly pop-up fertility consultation clinics at the Victorian Pride Centre (VPC) later this year, creating a safe and familiar space where members of the LGBTIQA+ community can begin conversations about family building.
The organisations will also collaborate on the inaugural Pride in Parenting Expo, bringing together fertility services, adoption and fostering organisations, donor services, parenting support groups, mental health organisations and other community services to showcase the many pathways to creating and growing LGBTIQA+ families.
Additional initiatives include educational resources, webinars, community information sessions and a dedicated benefits program providing discounted fertility services for eligible Victorian Pride Centre community members through Rainbow Fertility.
For the Centre, the collaboration fills an important gap in its health and wellbeing offering.
While already providing a range of essential services, including gender-affirming healthcare and sexual health services, the addition of dedicated fertility consultations creates another important pathway supporting LGBTIQA+ people through different stages of life.
According to Brett Hibberd, VPC partnerships lead, this is far more than a traditional sponsorship.
“Inclusive healthcare has always been at the heart of the Victorian Pride Centre, and this partnership with Rainbow Fertility allows us to extend that commitment into family building in a meaningful and practical way,” he said.
“For many LGBTIQA+ people, starting a family can feel overwhelming or inaccessible. By welcoming Rainbow Fertility into the fold, we’re creating a space where people can begin those conversations knowing they are already in an environment that understands and celebrates who they are.
“What excites me most is that this isn’t simply a financial partnership. Rainbow Fertility has demonstrated a genuine commitment to working alongside our community through education, collaboration and accessible services.
“Together, we’re helping reinforce a simple but powerful message that family is for everyone.”
Rainbow Fertility spokesperson Adnan Catakovic said the partnership reflected its long-term commitment to supporting LGBTIQA+ Australians on their pathway to parenthood.
“Rainbow Fertility understands that every individual, couple, and family is unique,” Mr Catakovic said.
“Along with the Victorian Pride Centre, we are pleased to be able to provide more Australian LGBTIQA+ individuals and families fertility education and support them realising their dream of growing their family.”
The team hopes the partnership will see Rainbow Fertility build on its reputation of being an active and trusted presence within Victoria’s LGBTIQA+ community by delivering services, education and support in collaboration with the Victorian Pride Centre.