Regional WA Pride events struggle to survive amid volunteer shortage
Queer festivals in regional Western Australia are struggling to survive due to a lack of volunteers, with two Pride parades recently cancelled. However, a Pride festival in the Pilbara has grown to attract 1,500 people, with organisers crediting support from the wider community for its success.
Organisers of queer festivals in regional Western Australia say their events are at risk of vanishing due to a lack of people willing to help coordinate every year, as another Pride parade bites the dust.
In Carnarvon, about 900 kilometres north of Perth, those pressures have brought the town's 2026 parade to an end after three years, despite being well supported in the community. Most of the committee behind Queernarvon has stepped down or moved away, leaving the group without enough volunteers.
More than 300 people attended the first year of Queernarvon events. In the state's south, Busselton's long-running Pride parade has also been cancelled, with organisers instead directing their limited resources towards education and wellbeing events.
But in the Pilbara, a Pride festival that began as a small games night among friends has grown to attract about 1,500 people, with organisers crediting support from the wider community for its success.
Changing views
Queernarvon chair Carmen Reilly said Pride events played an important role in regional communities. In her view, there had been a shift in public perception towards trans, gender diverse and young LGBTQI+ people.