Registrations open for the 2026 Carswell Forum in October

Brisbane Pride and the Queensland LGBTQIA+ Alliance proudly announce that the 2026 Carswell Forum will take place on October 30, elevating LGBTQIA+SB voices across the state.

The Carswell Forum brings together community leaders, activists, advocates, service providers, researchers and government representatives to consider the issues shaping the lives of LGBTQIA+SB Queenslanders.

It provides an important annual opportunity for the community to come together, take stock of the progress made, confront the challenges that remain and consider what needs to happen next.

The forum is a space for informed discussion, honest conversation and, most importantly, turning community experience and expertise into practical action.

“The Carswell Forum is about bringing our community together to look honestly at where we are, what we have achieved and what still needs to change,” Brisbane Pride President James McCarthy said.

“Queensland has come a long way, but progress cannot be taken for granted. There are still Queenslanders who face discrimination, barriers to services, isolation and uncertainty about their future.”

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“We also need to be honest about where governments have got things wrong, where decisions have made life harder for our communities and where more needs to be done. We need to be prepared to challenge when we disagree, and to engage constructively where doing so can deliver better outcomes for our communities.”

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The forum is named in honour of the late Phil Carswell

Phil Carswell’s lifelong commitment to LGBTQIA+SB Queenslanders, human rights and social justice helped lay the foundations for many of the advances our communities enjoy today.

He understood that meaningful change requires both courage and persistence, as well as a community prepared to work together to achieve it.

The Carswell Forum carries that legacy forward by creating a space where different perspectives can be heard and where community organisations, advocates and government can engage constructively on the priorities facing LGBTQIA+SB Queenslanders.

“Phil Carswell understood the importance of community, advocacy and standing together,” McCarthy said.

“He also understood that lasting change requires people to keep turning up, keep making the case and keep looking for opportunities to make a difference.

The Carswell Forum gives us a chance to have those difficult conversations, recognise the progress we have made and build a practical agenda for the year ahead. We may not always agree, but we should always be prepared to work together where we can.”

Australian HIV/AIDS activist Phil Carswell at a podium — Image: courtesy of Thorne Harbour Health

Community orgs, service providers and activists invited to register

This year’s forum will examine both longstanding and emerging challenges, including access to appropriate services and support, the experiences of LGBTQIA+SB people in regional and rural Queensland, community safety, discrimination and the changing policy environment.

It will also provide an opportunity to recognise the work being done across Queensland and to identify opportunities for stronger collaboration.

“The 2026 Carswell Forum will elevate the leadership, expertise and lived experience of Queensland’s LGBTQIA+ member services, showcasing work led by and for LGBTQIA+ Sistergirl and Brotherboy communities,” Rebecca Johnson, CEO of the Queensland LGBTIQA+ Alliance, said.

“The Forum will demonstrate the impact, innovation and stewardship of Queensland-led projects and services strengthening safety and wellbeing across metropolitan, rural, regional and remote communities.”

“Phil Carswell OAM’s legacy calls us to listen, connect and act. We are proud to support Brisbane Pride in delivering the Forum and encourage government, industry and the community-controlled sector to hear directly from Queensland’s LGBTQIA+ sector leaders.”