Gender Centre Staff Profile

by the Gender Centre staff

(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 staff of the Gender Centre would like to take this opportunity to introduce ourselves and tell you a little about what we do at the centre.

With all the changes that are going on at the Gender Centre it is important to clarify some key points about our service approach and philosophy.

As part of getting to know one another, the staff of the Gender Centre recently spent some time exploring our philosophy and approach to clients and services. This resulted in a strong commitment to providing a service which we would want to go to ourselves - a high quality service which acknowledges human rights and which ensures respect and confidentiality for all. This includes staff, clients, visitors, other service providers and supporters, families, friends and partners of people with gender issues. This does not mean that we are perfect. What this does mean is that we aim high and are willing to learn.

As a result of this discussion, the Gender Centre has undertaken a commitment to develop and provide services and activities which enhance the ability of people with gender issues to make informed choices. In order to make informed choices about gender issues, people need accurate and up to date information about the available options, their consequences as well as possible outcomes. The many sources for this type of information currently includes academic opinion and findings as well as anecdotal evidence based on personal experience.

A wide range of information is also available in the form of medical opinion and research, psychological findings as well as research findings in related fields. However, this information is diverse, complex and is mostly written in language suitable for medical specialists which means that access is often restricted. The many published biographies and personal testimonies which appear in the media are usually intensely personal. They often perpetrate misleading stereotypes of people with gender issues, either as being highly emotive and in deep crisis - a woman trapped in a man's body - or as a glamorous model envied by all - a bird in a gilded cage. These portrayals often lack a balanced and analytical approach to the key social and personal aspects of gender issues. Although they may sometimes provide fascinating reading, they are rarely useful to people who are in the process of exploring and considering options to resolve their gender issues. This means that accessible information about the key social and personal aspects of gender issues in easily understood language is not readily available to people with gender issues. As technology overtakes our understanding of the social and personal impact of gender issues, people in the 90's with gender issues can no longer rely only on a sister or brother to show them the way. The complexity of the many options now available demands that a wide range of information be made available. And this information needs to be accurate, relevant, easily understood, accessible and up to date with current developments and findings.

As the Gender Centre aims to provide a high quality service which acknowledges human rights and which ensures respect, the information provided will cover a broad range of options to enable people to make informed choices. This philosophy of pro-choice means that staff aim to provide information which is free from their personal biases, preferences and politics.

The Gender Centre aims to provide accurate and up to date information about all options available to people with gender issues. These include medical treatments, cosmetic and other surgery, alternative treatments, lifestyle, peer support, legal, political and spiritual options. The Gender Centre does not consider one client's choice to be better or worse than another's and we provide services to people with gender issues regardless of their race, religion, sexual preference, self-identity or gender.

We look forward to meeting you at the centre.

R.J. Alexander, Projects Manager.

Camille

The H.I.V. Outreach Project took to the streets in June 1993.

This has become a regular event and we appear each Thursday night along William Street. Of course we offer the absolute essential items all smart cookies carry, but as you'd be aware, there's a whole lot more to a girl's life than just the adoring clients.

This is where we hope to offer that "little bit extra". Whether it's for social security, medical or housing concerns, maybe accompanying you to appointments, visiting your home if you're not feeling too mobile, or for those on R & R at the Governor's Pleasure, we'd be only too happy to organise a visit. Hopefully life's been treating you kindly of late, and you may not have a need to utilize this service. Maybe a friend comes to mind, who for whatever reason, might not be having such a good trot. Do a friend a favour and pass our number on.

I can be contacted via the Gender Centre on 569 2366 during weekdays. If I happen to be out and about when you call, just leave a message with the centre and I'll be in touch A.S.A.P.

Lea

Hi, my name is Lea and I'm the part-time Community Worker here at the Gender Centre. It's my job to busy myself making contact with lots of people and to assist with things like housing, visiting, court or just a cuppa and a chat.

You may have already met me through P.J.'s Cafe or Outreach around William Street on Thursday nights. I'm at the Centre on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays, so feel free to contact me about any hassles, to offer suggestions about services or just to have a chat.

Detlev

Hello, my name is Detlev. I joined the Gender Centre in early March as a relief worker, after two years at Badlands, and before that working in other community based organisations and as a volunteer both here and overseas. I am currently employed as one of two Social & Support Workers who are organising support groups, workshops and information sessions.

Personally, I feel that having gender issues is not about having a problem, it is most often other people who create the problem, by not allowing that person to express themselves as they choose, or need to. I believe it is not empowering for people to try and mould themselves according to any social norm, but to feel different, to be different, and to live within the space of that difference, and with an understanding and acceptance of it, is the only way to say to other people that they must let you be as you are. Being different certainly creates difficulties, which is why it is important for us to share each other's burdens, especially in times of doubt and confusion. Only by sharing our strength can we create a social context within a society that will have to begin accepting the true diversity that lies between the extremes of male and female roles, s diversity of desire, behaviour, gender and sexuality.

It took the first tranny in the Stonewall Inn in New York to throw a rock at raiding police in New York in 1969, to create a precedent for people with gender or sexuality issues to question culturally imposed put-downs and begin building a unifying culture of resistance and pride, and in this I'm at one with all my brothers and sisters! Let's work together to write our own agenda, one that will be of benefit to everyone.

Paula

Despite the rumours, let me assure one and all that in the immortal words of Mark Twain "rumours of my demise are grossly exaggerated".

I am alive and as well as could be expected of an old war horse of my vintage. I am very much involved with the Gender Centre as the Residential Support Worker for our two residential projects at Ashfield and Haberfield.

Although this work doesn't allow the time for contact with community based clients, believe me that any clients will be well assisted by our two community workers Lea and Camille. Both are younger and prettier than I am (bitches!) and are able to offer greatly expended assistance from the previous system where residential care and community based client counselling were lumped together on a sometimes hit and miss method.

Craig

Hi, my name is Craig, and I am the Administrative Worker at the Gender Centre. I am responsible for a range of things that are involved with keeping the administration side of the Gender Centre on track. I am also responsible for putting together Polare. You'll probably come into contact with me at some stage, as it's likely that I'll answer the phone if you call, or the door if you drop by. You may also notice me at the Centre manically typing away at the computer or buried in a pile of folders with phone cords twisted around my neck.

However it is that we meet, I look forward to welcoming you to the Gender Centre.

Maxine

Hello, I am one of the new faces working at the Gender Centre. My name is Maxine, some of you may know me, others may have heard of me, when I was working as a social worker in Forbes Street. Getting back to what I do here, I am part of the administration team. I'll be the girly face on the other side of the door or the warm and friendly voice answering the phone. I'm looking forward to meeting you when you call at the Centre.

Please don't hesitate to give me a call if we can assist you in any way.

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.