Starting the intersex conversation

InterLink brings people together to talk about living with innate variations in sex characteristics with the support of trained counsellors and intersex peer workers

About

InterLink is...

InterLink provides mental health and wellbeing services to people with innate variations of sex characteristics and their family members located anywhere in Australia.

We provide short-term, online one-on-one and group counselling for intersex people of any age and parents, carers or guardians of young people with an intersex variation.

InterLink’s group sessions have a brief, short-term format that is easy to engage with and helps people of all ages start having conversations about intersex bodies and any health or interpersonal issues with the support of trained mental health professionals and intersex peer workers.

Our peer navigator can help people get linked in with peer support and appropriate allied health and community-based services, advocacy and peer support groups.

InterLink is about getting safely connected with knowledgeable counsellors, with other people with similar experiences, with peer support, and affirmative services.

Linking In

LINKING IN...

Link in

InterLink provides confidential short-term counselling to all intersex people and the parents or carers of a children with an intersex variation. We use a variety of therapeutic approaches with an emphasis on trauma-informed and solution-focused practices to help work through any challenges associated with having an intersex trait.

InterLink offers one-on-one counselling and InterLink groups, which are condensed programs that run multiple times throughout the year. Our services are available Australia-wide through online video conferencing... MORE

What to expect during groups

InterLink groups consist of 6-sessions, held fortnightly over 11 weeks.

InterLink starts with a 60 minute one-on-one session with a qualified counsellor/mental health worker who will provide you with an opportunity to start talking about your (or your child’s) body and experiences. They will answer any questions you have about the program and help set some individual goals so that you can get the most out of the group work sessions... MORE

Intersex is...

Intersex is a term for innate sex characteristics (sexual anatomy, reproductive organs, hormonal patterns, sex chromosomes) that vary from stereotypes of female or male bodies.

These physical traits can be associated with underlying variations, each with their own characteristics and expression that may be apparent during pre-natal screening or at birth, or may become apparent later in life, such as at puberty or when trying to conceive... MORE

Peer support works because...

Peer support provides opportunities and safe spaces for talking about, and being, intersex. Talking with others with intersex variations, or other parents and carers, about our issues and shared experiences helps builds understanding and self-knowledge whilst providing emotional support.

Seeing people “like us” lets us position ourselves in the world and can make us feel less alone. Having more and different conversations about intersex improves our vocabulary and confidence when speaking about our bodies and personal needs... MORE

What is an affirmative service?

An affirmative service recognises that people are complex and multifaceted, and are always the experts in their own experiences.

Rather than try and change or “fix” something about a person, an affirmative service puts them in the drivers seat by supporting their decisions, respecting the language they use, not making assumptions about bodies, identities, or aspirations and valuing the differences of experiences between each community member... MORE