The Year In Perspective

by the Gender Centre

(The Gender Centre advise that this article may not be current and as such certain content, including but not limited to persons, contact details and dates may not apply. Where legal authority or medical related matters are cited, responsibility lies with the reader to obtain the most current relevant legal authority and/or medical publication.)

The financial year 1995-1996 was an exciting and expansive time for The Gender Centre. The New Year is a good time for us to reflect on the services the centre offers, and what changes have been brought about. Statistics reveal welcome growth.

The following are services which the Gender Centre offers for people with gender Issues:

Community Service

Provides counselling, support and referral to a range of specialist counselling, medical, H.I.V. / AIDS, education, training, employment, legal, welfare, housing and other community services to residents and clients living in the community.

Outreach Service

Provides the community services outlined above. Available to clients in the inner city area on Thursday nights from 9am to 1am. Also available to clients confined at home, in hospital or gaol by appointment only.

One of our more valued outreach services, has been in the area of Correctional Services, providing support to tranys living in gaols.

Social and Support Groups and Outings

Services provided last year included assessment for residency, referral, information and advice, crisis support, home care, post-operative care and support, referral for specialist counselling, medical, dental, H.I.V. /infectious diseases education, training, employment, legal, welfare housing and other community services.

Representations to the Departments of Social Security and Housing, Commonwealth Employment Service, character and identity references were provided.

An analysis of last year's statistics show:

• Community client counselling/group sessions = 1299
• Number of client education workshops at other agencies = 26
• Clients attending social events = 1221 [100% increase]
• Number of social events = 164 [300% increase]

Drug and Alcohol Service

Provides support and referral to a broad range of services by appointment only.

Residential Service

Provides semi-supported share accommodation for up to 12 residents who are 16 and over. Residents can stay for up to 12 months and are supported to move towards independent living. During their Stay they are also encouraged to consider a range of options available to meet their needs. A weekly fee is charged to cover household expenses. Assessments for residency are by appointment only and can be arranged by contacting the community worker.

An analysis of last years figures shows that:

• the number of occupied bed days was 3987, with 30 clients admitted.
• occupancy rate was 80%, which was an increase of 4% on the previous year.

Resource Development Service

Produces a range of print resources on H.I.V. / AIDS, medical and other information relevant to people with gender issues and their service providers, including our "Polare" magazine.

Last year's figures show that:

• the number of Polare subscribers has reached 684, which is an increase of 200 names from the previous year.
• the number of copies printed of each edition of Polare has increased to 1500.

For partners, family and friends

Counselling, support and referral to a wide range of specialist counselling, health, legal, welfare and ocher community services are available for partners, families and friends of people with gender issues. There are also social and support groups available.

For service providers and others

Advice, support and workshops are also available to employers, service providers, students and other people interested in gender issues. We also provide information packages and other printed materials, including Polare.

One of The Gender Centre's functions is to provide workshops to other services, and interested bodies. In this way, we provide an important educative role which helps professionals in their dealings with transgender people and the issues involved.

Last year we were asked to present workshops to the following organisations:

• Sydney Sexual Health x 3
• South Sydney Sexual Health x 2
• Salvation Army
• N.S.W. H.I.V. Educators Conference x 2
• Morling College
• Catholic University
• Westmead Hospital
• Sydney Institute of Technology
• Illawarra Health Service
• H.I.V. Rural Workshop, Dubbo
• CTS x 2
• C.E.S./ D.S.S. x 2
• Department of Corrective Services
• Kirketon Road Centre
• Twenty 10
• TAFE
• Hunter Area Health, Service x 3 F.T.M. Workshop
• Northern Sydney Area Health

With a new year ahead of us, much more can be achieved. We are moving closer to having our own website on the internet, have managed to secure another residential house, and will be hosting the first Australian convention on transgender issues. We will also be involved in much more training, as there is an increase in demand for workshops in the area of discrimination and gender, in light of last year's breakthrough legislation.

Polare is published in Australia by The Gender Centre Inc. which is funded by the Department of Community Services under the S.A.A.P. Program and supported by the N.S.W. Health Department through the AIDS and Infectious Diseases Branch. Polare provides a forum for discussion and debate on gender issues. Advertisers are advised that all advertising is their responsibility under the Trade Practices Act. Unsolicited contributions are welcome, though no guarantee is made by the Editor that they will be published, nor any discussion entered into. The editor reserves the right to edit such contributions without notification. Any submission which appears in Polare may be published on our internet site. Opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Editor, The Gender Centre Inc.I, the Department of Community Services or the N.S.W. Department of Health.