Intersex Human Rights Australia

Intersex Human Rights Australia Ltd is an independent support, education and policy development organisation, by and for people with intersex variations or traits. Our work focuses on human rights, bodily autonomy and self-determination, and on evidence-based, patient-directed healthcare.

Until March 2018, we were known as OII Australia (or, in full, Organisation Intersex International Australia). We registered on 6 May 2010 with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) under the Corporations Act 2001 as a not-for-profit company. We are also registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).

We are recognised by the Australian Taxation Office as a charitable and Public Benevolent Institution with Deductible Gift Recipient status, and with GST, Income Tax and FBT exemptions.

Our ACN is 143 506 594, and our ABN is 73 143 506 594.

Up until December 2016, we were a volunteer-run organisation, but since that date we have two part-time co-executive directors. We receive no public funds.

Intersex Human Rights Australia works closely alongside the other Australian intersex organisation, the AIS Support Group Australia. We are a member of the Australian Child Rights Taskforce, the National LGBTI Health Alliance and ILGA. We are the Australian affiliate of Organisation Internationale des Intersexués (OII), a decentralised global network of intersex organisations.

Governance

Read details of our Annual General Meetings, Annual Information Statements, and key changes to board positions.

Mission statement

Our mission statement was agreed at our 2014 AGM:

We promote human rights and bodily autonomy for intersex people, and provide information, education and peer support.

Our objectives

Our constitution sets out our objects as a not-for-profit company. The objectives underwent minor revision at our 2014 AGM:

• support and empower intersex individuals and their families including through the use of online forums, social activities and face to face meetings;
• provide information, education and advice on issues relating to intersex including through the internet, printed material and face-to-face meetings;
• increase the support, awareness and commitment of individuals, community, business, medicine and government, with respect to the human rights of, and legal protections for, people who are intersex and services appropriate for them;
• lead and contribute to the process of policy-making;
• engage and partner with other organisations that share common goals with the company;
• raise, apply and channel financial and other resources to support the initiatives, programs and priorities of the company; and
• carry out such other functions and purposes which are necessary or incidental to the objects listed above.

Values statement

At the 2014 AGM, members agreed a new values statement:

• Expertise
  We recognise that intersex people are the experts on intersex health and human rights. “Nothing about us, without us.”
• Passion
  We work passionately with a commitment to the pursuit of human rights and improved health outcomes for intersex people and their families.
• Teamwork
  We work respectfully and in collaboration with other communities, including the LGBT, people with disabilities, multicultural, and medical communities.
• Professionalism
  We work with professionalism and excellence in all that we do.
• Accountability
  We work in an open and transparent way, as an organisation and as individuals representing the organisation. We are accountable to our members and operate with good governance.

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the traditional owners of country throughout Australia, their diversity, histories and knowledge and their continuing connections to land and community. We pay our respects to all Australian Indigenous peoples and their cultures, and to elders of past, present and future generations.