The Victorian Commissioner for LGBTIQ+ Communities

In July 2015, Victoria became the first state in Australia to have a Commissioner for LGBTIQ+ communities, with the appointment of Ro Allen.

The role of the Commissioner is to:

• promote the safety and wellbeing of LGBTIQ+ Victorians
• advocate for the rights of rainbow communities
• work with LGBTIQ+ Victorians to provide advice to the Victorian Government
• service providers about their needs and priorities

Until September 2020, this role had the title Commissioner for Gender and Sexuality. The new title: 

• better reflects the diversity of the state’s LGBTIQ+ communities
• now includes people with an intersex variation

About Ro Allen

Ro has more than 25 years of experience in community services, governance, social justice and LGBTIQ+ advocacy.

Formerly, Ro was:

• Chair of the Victorian Adult, Community and Further Education Board
• Commissioner on the Victorian Skills Commission
• founding Chief Executive Officer of UnitingCare Cutting Edge – a frontline support agency in the Goulburn Valley. They established:
  • Victoria’s first rural support group for LGBTIQ+ young people
  • a state-wide network facilitated through the Youth Affairs Council Victoria for training and worker support
• a member of the Victorian LGBTIQ+ Ministerial Advisory Committee in 2001
  • chaired the second Committee
  • served on the third Committee which concluded in 2014.
• a member and co-chair of the National Working Party for LGBTI Social Reform between 2011 and 2013

Ro was recognised for their community service with a Centenary Medal in 2003. In 2009, they were inducted into the Victorian Government Honour Roll for Women.