2011 Annual Report | The Gender Centre Inc.

Our core values guide our actions and determine who and what we aspire to be. They are expressed through our interaction with our colleagues, client's service providers and the wider community. These values underpinning our work include: integrity, compassion, respect, vitality, resourcefulness, professionalism and perseverance.

We use our core values to make decisions that will align with our mission statement to build a stronger community and provide solutions for our clients in need.

We make a difference: We are committed to developing and providing services and activities which enhance the abilities of people with gender issues to make informed choices.

We are committed to achieving this with fairness and integrity. We aim to provide a high quality service, which acknowledges human rights and ensures respect, dignity and confidentiality. It is of a particular concern to remove barriers to clients' achievements resulting from their gender, age, cultural and national background, socio-economic background or disability.

We help: We are committed to educating the public and service providers about the needs, concerns and interests of people with gender issues.

We work together: We are committed to treating everyone with respect; our clients, partners and the broader community.

We work as a team, while remembering that we are individually accountable for our actions. We work towards finding solutions for all our clients.

We are part of the community: We are committed to serving and strengthening the transgender community. We aim to work with all partners whether government, private sector, community health and welfare and importantly the general community

Mission Statement

We are committed to developing and providing services which enhance the ability of people with gender issues to make informed choices.

We offer a wide range of services to people with gender issues, their partners, family members and friends in N.S.W.

We are an accommodation, counselling, case management and outreach service and also act as an education, support, training and referral resource centre to other organisations and service providers.

The Gender Centre is committed to educating the public and service providers about the needs of people with gender issues.

We specifically aim to provide a high quality service, which acknowledges human rights and ensures respect and confidentiality.

Goals & Objectives

To provide medium term accommodation, in a safe and supportive environment, to transgender people and people with gender issues who are homeless, distressed or otherwise in need.

To provide a high quality, professional psychological / counselling service to the transgender and gender questioning community.

To provide accurate information and referrals for people with gender issues in relation to legal, education, health, housing, welfare and employment services.

To liaise closely with other legal, health, housing, welfare and employment services that may be of assistance to people with gender issues.

To encourage community understanding of the interests, concerns and needs of people with gender issues. To provide medium term accommodation, in a safe and supportive environment to people with gender issues who are homeless, distressed or otherwise in need.

President's Report

During 2010/2011 the Management Committee has continued to oversee the Gender Centre with a stable board membership consisting of the people from 2009/2010.

In June 2011 the Management Committee underwent a day of training for boards conducted by a professional trainer which was extremely beneficial and opened up a wide range of ideas for us to consider. It is hoped these can be run on a regular basis in the future so as to better fit the Board to be aware of and compliant with the many requirements for good governance demanded today.

The Gender Centre Constitution, based on the Model Rules for Associations, continues to be under review by the Board with a view to tailoring it to better suit our organisation and to identify any shortcomings within it. This of necessity is a lengthy process as we have had to consider any changes from all angles and seek professional advice.

At the June Gender Centre Management Committee meeting the regular Wednesday night Drop-In came under discussion and as a result it was decided to discontinue Drop-In whilst it was being reviewed.

The board of The Gender Centre will continue to review all forms of services as appropriate through the strategic planning process.

1.0 Manager's Report

Overview

I take pleasure in providing the following report outlining the events that have occurred over the last financial year and the endeavours and contributions of the Centre and its staff in promoting the health, well-being and human rights of all members of the community.

The good reputation of The Gender Centre has continued to grow and it is held in high regard by the many agencies and organisations that we deal with. My commendations to all the staff of the centre for their efforts in promoting the Gender Centre's positive and committed approach to the transgender and gender diverse community, and for promoting a positive image of the Centre to the wider community.

It is important to comment upon the recent discontinuance of the Wednesday Night Drop-In.

All services provided by the Centre need to be monitored and reviewed periodically and after many years of provision of the drop-in, it was considered that its format, attendance, attraction to new members and appropriate support available for all attendees needed to be reviewed.

This process is under way and will form part of the upcoming review of the Centre's Strategic Plan for the forthcoming three year period.

This Strategic Plan review will involve input from Management Committee, Centre Management and staff and, most importantly, stakeholders, organisations and individuals.

The Strategic Review will be conducted by a thoroughly independent professionally competent and accredited organisation, and the process is being anticipated by everyone with a positive and constructive interest in the important work of the Centre for the future, and a reflection of all its many, many notable achievements of the more than 29 years of attention and assistance to the transgender community and the community at large.

From July 2010 to June 2011 the Gender Centre provided 4,323 occasions of service provision to the transgender and gender-questioning community their partners, family members and friends in a variety of ways.

All visitors entering the Gender Centre are entered onto our database, which enables us to accurately reflect the numbers of episodes of service provision delivered to each client accessing the service for support, counselling, case management resources information and so on.

Episodes of service are defined as; "A period of time during which a client receives assistance from an agency" A client may have a number of concurrent open service episodes each of which requires data collection and reporting. One client may receive multiple episodes of service provision at any given time. It's the episodes of service that get counted on the data base. (i.e. one client attends case management every week, for 50 weeks in the year that means the client has received 50 episodes of service within a twelve month period.) So the client will be counted once and only once, and the episodes of service will be added on to the data base each time a service has been provided to that client.

Occasions of service provided to clients accessing the Gender Centre during 2009/2010:

Clients accessing the Centre for support appointments and information via the telephone:

Transgender Anti-Violence Project

This year the Gender Centre started the process to undertake a major project "The Transgender Anti-Violence Project" with the help of the N.S.W. Police force, the City of Sydney and the Inner City Legal Centre. The mission of the Transgender Anti-Violence Project is to provide education, support, referrals and advocacy in relation to violence and oppression based on gender identity. The Transgender Anti-Violence Project addresses all forms of violence that impact on the transgender and gender-questioning community, including (but not limited to) domestic violence, sexual violence, anti-transgender harassment and hate crimes.

A steering committee was formed from representatives of organisations directly concerned with supporting the project and the victims of violence within the transgender community. The committee oversees and provides guidance to the Transgender Anti-Violence Project, the roles and responsibilities of the committee are to:

define approaches and priorities of the Transgender Anti-Violence Project;

provide advice to the Gender Centre on the operation of the Transgender Anti-Violence Project;

identify significant issues and areas of risk for the Transgender Anti-Violence Project;

provide support to the Transgender Anti-Violence Project;

provide increased reporting of violence by transgender and gender-questioning people;

provide support and referrals to transgender and gender-diverse people;

creating improved awareness among transgender and gender-questioning people about the nature of bias-motivated crimes and suggest options available for reporting;

provide increased capacity of police and support services to assist transgender and gender-questioning people who have experienced violence because they are transgendered;

provide increased data on the nature and extent of violence against transgender and gender-questioning people

Improve relationships between the transgender and gender-questioning communities, the N.S.W. Police Force and the criminal justice system; and

Increase awareness in the general community about violence against the transgender and gender-questioning communities.

The steering committee met every month during the development of the project in formulating the reporting forms, developing specific training for the implementation of the project to the N.S.W. Police Force, supporting the support staff involved in the project, developing the Transgender Anti-Violence Project website approving and or not approving the Transgender Anti-Violence Project poster, organising press releases and organising the launch which took place on the 5th of May.

This project goes beyond just assisting people in reporting incidents. It also covers what needs to be done by police to support transgender and gender diverse people in reporting crimes it's about going to the police station with clients and being there while the reporting process is happening; it's also about supporting clients from the start of the reporting process to the finish, and for the first time about the collection of data on the nature and extent of incidents affecting the community.

This year The Gender Centre started two new support groups, one for Parents of Transgender and or gender-questioning children from the ages of 5 and up and a support group for parents who are transgender, both of these groups have been well attended. The parents of transgender and or gender-questioning children are co-presented with guest speakers and Gaye Stubbs the Gender Centre's former counsellor is in attendance for this group.

It is important to comment upon the recent discontinuance of the Wednesday Night Drop-In.

This process is under way and will form part of the upcoming review of the Centre's Strategic Plan for the forthcoming three year period.

This Strategic Plan review will involve input from Management Committee, Centre Management and staff and, most importantly, stakeholders, organisations and individuals.

Presenters also reported that they enjoyed their roles in the retreat leaving not only with the experience of involvement but also having learned many new things about the needs and issues faced by the trans community. They reported that the participants had a wealth of knowledge that was utilised in the sessions to develop keen insight into and understanding of the aging and ageism in the trans population.

1.1 Funding Bodies

The Gender Centre would like to thank our funding bodies, Department of Family and Community Services (S.H.S. program), and Sydney South West Area Health Service for their financial and ongoing support during the past year. We look forward to continuing these partnerships to enhance and improve service delivery to the transgender community in the future.

1.2 Management Committee

The Gender Centre is a community based organization governed by an elected committee of management who are committed to developing and providing services and activities which enhance the ability of people with gender issues to make informed choices. No service can function well without an effective and committed management committee. I would like to thank all our current members that served on the committee in 2010/2011 who freely volunteered their time, for the support they have given to the staff of the serv ice and the service itself.

Members of the Committee during the 2010-2011 Financial year: President, Col Eglington; Treasurer, Kimmi Everson; Secretary, Maggie Smith; Vice President Leslie Findlay and Committee Members Joanne Holden and Elizabeth Riley.

As Manager of the Gender Centre I wish to record my gratitude to all members of the 2010/2011 board for their commitment to the aims of the organisation. Board members give freely their time and expertise; I would also like to thank the board for the support they have demonstrated towards the manager, to the staff and the centre itself. I look forward to many more years of committed and dedicated Management Committee members assisting the service to function effectively.

1.3 Staff

Our successful funding submissions to the N.S.W. AIDS/Infectious Diseases Branch of the N.S.W. Health Department and Department of Community Services S.H.S. means that we have maintained staffing and service levels during the last year.

I take this opportunity to thank the staff for their continuing commitment to community development and in raising the perceptions of clients and other services regarding the Gender Centre.

Manager: Phinn Borg
Financial Administrator: David Burke
Counsellor: Gaye Stubbs (resigned)
Counsellor: Anthony Carlino
Community Case Manager: Elizabeth Ceissman
Case Worker: Joanne Ball (resigned)
Case Worker: Anna Rico
Outreach Educational Officer: Nicola Slone
Outreach Education Officer: Ekarach Thirapat (Birdie)
Resource & Information Officer: Katherine Cummings
Reception: Rusty Nannup
Website Manager: Nicole Moore (contract)
I.T. Specialist: Russell Cox (contract)
Volunteer: Che Bishop
Volunteer: Belinda Marchesello

1.4 Our Partners

The Gender Centre maintains and fosters partnerships with a wide range of external organisations to further promote the rights of the transgender community. While these are many and varied the ones listed below are just a few of those with whom significant partnerships have been established:

The Hon. Penny Sharpe M.L.C.

The Gender Centre continues to develop a strong and ongoing partnership with the Hon. Penny Sharpe M.L.C. Penny has a strong passion for social justice, within the transgender, gay and lesbian Communities.

N.S.W. Police Department

In May 2011 The Gender Centre launched our first formal partnership project with the N.S.W. Police Force: The Transgender Anti-Violence Project (T.A.V.P.). Other key partners are the Inner City Legal Centre and City of Sydney. The innovative approach to conducting this project brings community and government together to provide much needed information and support to transgender people who have experienced violence. Relationships between members of the transgender community and police continue to improve with ongoing training being provided to the Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officers (G.L.L.O.s) and other police officers in key locations. The Transgender Anti-Violence Project representation of a senior police officer standing alongside members of the transgender community, inviting people to speak out about violence, is extremely powerful. Importantly, the N.S.W. Police Force has also formally included transgender and intersex people in its new policy, also released this year: N.S.W. Police Force Policy on Sexuality and Gender Diversity 2011-2014. Working with gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex people.

The City of Sydney Council

Over the past few years the Gender Centre has developed a very strong and workable partnership with the City of Sydney without their support many programs and workshops that are provided by The Gender Centre would not be possible.

Inner City Legal Centre

The Gender Centre has a very strong and positive relationship with the I.C.L.C. staff. We have a formal Memorandum of Understanding in place in which the Manager of the Gender Centre sits on their Board of Management. The team at I.C.L.C. often provide legal advice clinics at the Gender Centre when needed. We look forward to working together on a number of projects in the coming year.

R.P.A. Sexual Health Clinic

Over the past twelve months the centre has referred a number of clients to this service. As health care providers they have been excellent in creating a safe and non-judgmental environment for our clients. It is so extremely important that there should be a culturally appropriate sexual health service for this client group. Our clients need allies in any clinic, especially those that will advocate on their behalf.

Kirkton Road Centre

The Gender Centre has started working closely with the Kirketon Road Centre on the "L8 clinic" with the introduction of the Gender Centre's Outreach Case-Management service being positioned at the Kirketon Road Centre on the first Thursday of each month from 6:00pm till 10:00pm. We hope to make case management accessible to all transgender and gender diverse people living and working within the inner city area and to link them in with our services and those of the Kirketon Road medical services.

The Women's Housing Company

In the latter part of 2001 we entered into an invaluable partnership with the Women's Housing Company which provider's the Centre with exit housing for our residential clients. In the partnership we gained six additional units and hope that in the not too distant future we will be gaining a few more units to expand the service. The units and tenancies of these properties are managed by the Women's Housing Company with all the support to the residents being provided by the Gender Centre. This arrangement means that eligible residents of our refuge program will be able to enter the units for a further twelve months after they have completed their stay at the Centre.

Redfern Community Health Centre

The Gender Centre has a strong working relationship with the community centre and as a result there have been a number of new workshops and support groups addressing coping with a mental illness and depression workshops.

Bridge Housing

The Gender Centre formed a new housing partnership with bridge Housing which has enabled us to expand the number of exit units within the Gender Centre residential exit program.

Y.W.C.A.

The Gender Centre has developed a very strong and workable relationship with the Y.W.C.A. Over the past twelve months the Y has provided several clients of The Gender Centre with brokerage.

Sex Workers Outreach Project (SWOP)

The Gender Centre has started working closely with S.W.O.P. on extended outreach services after the "L8 Clinic" which also takes place on the first Thursday of each month from 10:00pm until midnight. We hope to make outreach more accessible to all our clients within the inner city and outer metropolitan areas of Sydney.

Womens and Girls' Emergency Day Drop-in Service

We have formed a very strong and positive partnership with the Women’s and Girls' Emergency Service this partnership seems to grow and grow every year, the woman and girl's emergency center has provided several clients of The Gender Centre with brokerage and we hope that this will continue into the future for the benefit of our community.

N.S.W. T.A.F.E. (MeadowbBank, Nirimba & Petersham)

A number of T.A.F.E. campuses have shown a commitment to providing an appropriate range of services to our community in employment courses. These courses have been very successful in client participation.

Oz Harvest

Oz Harvest is a non-denominational charity that rescues excess high quality food which would otherwise be discarded, it is through oz harvest's help that our events are always successful and well attended; good food is always a great motivator.

1.5 Committees & Consultation

Staff have maintained their representation on or liaised with a number of committees, interagency groups and working parties that address issues of priority to the client group of the Gender Centre these include:

Inner West S.A.A.P. Interagency meetings;
N.S.W. Police Committee;
G.L.B.T. Carers' Support Group;
ACON G.L.B.T. Ageing Forum;
Transgender Day of Remembrance;
Inner City Legal Centre;
Safe Relationships Project (Inner City Legal Centre);
Inner City S.A.A.P. Interagency meetings;
Sydney South West Area Health Interagency meetings;
Attorney General's Crime Prevention Unit (N.O.G.A.);
G.L.L.A.M. Committee (Marrickville Council); and
Kirketon Road Centre.

1.6 Agency Networking

Gender Centre staff are continuing to network with a wide range of services and service providers. The following services are a few of the services we have worked with over the past year:

The Anti-Discrimination Board of N.S.W.;
City of Sydney Council;
Marrickville Council;
Aurora Group;
Street Smart;
Oz Harvest;
Hepatitis C Council of N.S.W.;
Inner City Legal;
Marrickville Legal;
Womens and Girls' Day Drop-in Emergency Centre;
City Women's Hostel;
B Miles
Twenty Ten
Samaritan House
Foster House
C.R.C. Broadway;
Marrickville Youth Centre;
Vincillian Village;
Stepping Out;
Redfern Community Health;
Ashfield Mental Health;
Marrickville Mental Health;
The Missenden Unit;
R.P.A. Sexual Health;
Sydney Sexual Health;
Kirketon Road Centre;
Community Health Clinics;
Langton Centre
Albion Street Clinic
Schools & School Counsellors;
Social Workers at the following hospitals - St Vincent's Hospital, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Prince of Wales Hospital, Concord Hospital and Liverpool Hospital Brain Injury Unit;
Marrickville Youth Centre;
Vincillian Village;
Metropolitan Community Church;
Y.W.C.A.;
P.F.L.A.G.;
T.A.F.E. at Meadowbank, Nirimba, Ultimo and Petersham;
G.P.s, Physiatrists, Counsellors and Endocrinologists;
ACON;
Sex Workers' Outreach project;
Bobby Goldsmith Foundation;
Probation and Parole;
Positive Living Centre;
Office of Community Housing;
N.S.W. Police Force;
Redfern N.E.S.P.;
Homelessness N.S.W.;
Correctional Institutions at M.R.R.C., Mulawa, Silverwater, Long Bay, Junee, Kirconnel and Bathurst; and
Department of Housing at Broadway, Surry Hills and Burwood.

1.7 Media Liaison

The Gender Centre has enjoyed a good presence in the media and in public resources with the following contributions:

Print media

SX
Sydney Star Observer
City Voice
City Hub
The Big Issue

Radio

A.B.C. Radio National

Television

A.B.C. Hungry Beast

2.0 Service Report

I would like to begin the service report by commending the staff of the centre for their hard work and commitment to quality service provision for our clients. The Gender Centre has developed a very solid reputation for the work it carries out and is held in high regard by the majority of our clients, our funding bodies and external agencies and organisations with whom we deal.

We have maintained our normal programmes over the year in the residential service and in harm minimisation and education, details of which appear throughout this report. We have also:

Continued our strong and positive relationships with a wide range of agencies and organisations including local councils;

Worked in close collaboration with our funding bodies to improve services and maintain strong standards in service delivery;

Continued our strong and positive relationships with a wide range of agencies and organisations including local councils;

Worked in close collaboration with our funding bodies to improve services and maintain strong standards in service delivery;

Conducted extensive training sessions to a variety of external organisations;

Continued to examine the ways in which services are delivered to ensure the relevance of the programs and publications to our community;

Continued to advocate on behalf of the community across a wide range of issues and with a special emphasis on issues facing transgender people in prison;

Continued to promote the issue of equity in employment for transgender people particularly with the N.S.W. Public Sector;

Continued to promote policy development in external agencies with regard to transgender access and equity;

Continued to update our range of resources;

Significantly improved the presentation and content of Polare;

Redesigned and continued to improve our website;

Continued to provide placements for students;

Worked closely with the Management Committee and through Polare to ensure every opportunity for community input; and

The Centre is constantly striving to improve service delivery with the implementation of Quality Management Services to ensure ongoing quality improvement in the provision of all services provided by the Centre.

2.1 Residential Service

The Database for the residential service has been analysed as follows:

Residential Service Statistics 2009-2010
Event	2008/2009	2009/2009	2009/2011
Total Bed Days Available	4,015	4,026	4,017
Total Bed Days Utilised	3,763	3,835	3,740
Occupancy Rates	93.7%	95.6%	93.1%

Over the course of 2010/2011 there were 17 admissions to the residential program and 16 discharges. A total of 9 clients were continuing their residence as at 1st of July 2011. The occupancy rate of 93.1% for a yearly total represents a high overall occupancy rate for a Specialist Homelessness Service (S.H.S.).

Clients in residence receive a high degree of support in applying for public housing and several of our ex-residents have been successful in securing long-term public housing.

The service is divided into three separate parts, each with its own level of support and responsibility. Clients entering the residential service are inducted at the first level and progress to the third level during their stay. The first level offers the highest level of support, the second level is medium support and the third level, in our exit units, is the lowest level of support. The third level of the program is the level that most reflects independent living and assists clients to make a smooth adjustment into independent living when they exit the program. All residents attend case-management as part of their residence with the Gender Centre and develop individual support and case-management plans. Residents are also encouraged to attend workshops designed to facilitate their progress.

2.2 Case Management

Case Management is provided to all clients who access the Gender Centre, whether they are residing in accommodation provided by the Centre or living in the wider community.

The role of case management is to assist and empower people to resolve issues that impact on their quality of life.

In case management, a comprehensive client assessment is used to develop a case plan which encompasses seven key aspects to an individual's life. The case plan may involve referrals to other service providers with the Case Manager coordinating and monitoring the process. The seven aspects cover a diverse range of areas including independent living skills, employment/training, accommodation, health, self-esteem/identity, recreation/leisure and social supports.

Case management involves assessment/risk management, planning and the implementation of service arrangements, and co-ordination of supports both formal and informal.

With the addition of the new case worker, we are able to provide added support to the Gender Centre's growing number of community clients which has increased over the past year.

Following are the statistics for the in-house case worker (for all residential clients of the Gender Centre and all Gender Centre clients in our exit housing program):

205 Case management sessions with residential clients;
114 Case management sessions with exit housing clients;
129 Telephone case management sessions with residential clients;
99 Telephone case management sessions with exit housing clients; and
102 house visits; for a total of
649 episodes of service provision for 2020-2011

Following are the statistics for the Case Manager (all community clients within the borders of New South Wales):

245 Community Case Management Appointments;
37 Community Awareness;
150 Homelessness Prevention;
139 Early Intervention; and
93 Post-Crisis Contacts.
268 sustaining housing support to maintain their tenancy; for a total of
895 episodes of case management service provision.

The case-management team will continue over the coming year to network with a wider variety of service providers, so that the issues of people who access the Gender Centre are better understood. In this way a greater variety of quality resources can be made available to anyone who seeks help at the Gender Centre.

2.3 Service Magazine - Polare

The 88th edition of Polare was published in June of 2011 and this marks Katherine Cummings 52nd edition as editor of the magazine.

Polare is now entering its nineteenth year of publication.

245 copies of Polare are delivered to thirty-three outlets across Sydney, posted to subscribers through our mailing list and is available online in P.D.F. on our website.

2.4 Resources

Library

Thirty-eight books were added to the collection in 2010/2011 periods, five were purchased and thirty-three were donated. The library collection will continue to be selected in order to maintain a balance between fiction and non-fiction lay writing such as autobiographies, and professional books relating to gender studies.

Information Kits

The addition of information kits to the Gender Centre's website has greatly improved access and many enquires are now satisfied by referral to the website from which kits and individual handouts can be downloaded, as can selected items from all issues of Polare.

The following kits are available specifically targeting individual needs:

Training Kits;
Transition in the Workplace Employee Kit;
Transition in the Workplace Employer Kit;
M.T.F. Information Kits;
F.T.M. Information Kits;
M.T.F. Surgery Kits;
F.T.M. Surgery Kits;
Student Kits;
Intersex Information Kit; and
Professionals Kit.

2.4 Resources

Website

The website continues to be a very valuable source of information, as it is available to the wider community and provides information that might not otherwise be available in hard copy form. It contains much of the current information relevant to the Centre including articles from Polare, kits and fact sheets, what's on and what's happening at the Gender Centre on a week to week basis. This information has been invaluable in providing assistance and support by reducing the sense of isolation felt by those with gender issues.

Over the course of 2010/2011 the website had over 6 million hits and shows that a large proportion of the visitors to it each year are located within Australia and a large proportion of them are from New South Wales. The site also serves as an essential way to promote events and workshops to clients who access the Centre. As is the case with all websites the Gender Centre website creates the capacity for a number of Gender Centre resources to be available worldwide.

2.5 Counselling

The Counselling service had another very busy year on the counselling front from clients and service providers. Clients and potential clients access the service via the phone or in person.

Throughout the year the counselling service receives multiple enquiries from other service providers requesting information, consultation and referrals in order to better assist their clients. Supervision, consultation and information are provided on a regular basis to school counsellors who are working with young transgender children and their families as well as counsellors working in the community.

Clients of the Gender Centre come for counselling on a regular basis, for gender counselling but also for more generalised assistance in reforming their lives and bringing their social and emotional conflicts into harmony.

Many clients feel alienated from society and from their families and this can lead to depression and even despair.

Many clients attending our counselling service have multiple issues and are in need of access to more than just our counselling service.

When necessary and with agreement from the client concerned, clients are linked up with other services, provided by the Gender Centre and services provided in the wider community.

Below are the counselling statistics for 2010/2011:

487 face-to-face counselling sessions;
50 telephone counselling sessions;
373 telephone enquiries;
54 new clients;

Clients who most commonly access the counsellor are those in the process of exploring their own gender issues, through a range of presenting issues. The more critical issues including suicide ideation, family rejection, transition depression, isolation, and sex reassignment surgery.

The following table indicates some of the issues that were addressed in the counselling sessions for the period of 2010/2011:

Cross-dressing;
Harassment / violence;
Transition;
Financial;
Passing;
Accommodation;
S.R.S.;
Relationships;
Drug & Alcohol/Gambling;
Family;
Suicide;
Health;
Sexual assault;
Anxiety / fear / depression;
Sexual issues;
Mental Health;
Isolation;
Religion;
Employment; and
Information.

By issues addressed, we mean that the client actually discussed the issue directly or the issue was the reason behind the client accessing the counselling service even though they may not have discussed the details in that session. It is obvious from both observation and client feedback forms, that clients gain enormous benefit from the Gender Centre's counselling program.

The educational role of the Gender Centre's counselling service in providing information, supervision and assistance to other service providers is enormous. Listed below are some of the service providers that accessed the counselling service throughout the year for information support and supervision:

Better Life Solutions;
Brain Injury Unit, Liverpool Hospital;
Brisbane Gender Clinic;
Psychologist (outside of Sydney metropolitan area);
Community Nurses;
Counsellors - High Schools;
Counsellors - Primary Schools;
Counsellors/Therapists;
Resident Doctors (rural hospitals in New South Wales);
Seahorse Society (Cross-Dressing organisation);
Sexual Health Clinics;
Social Workers at various hospitals;
Youth Services;
Various Community Health Services;
Wellbeing Clinic;
Accommodation Services;
Childcare Centres;
Mission Australia;
Department of Ageing, Disability & Homecare;
General Practitioners;
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Centres;
Mental Health Workers;
Probation & Parole Officers; and
Psychiatrists.

In June of 2010 Gaye Stubbs our counsellor for the past 5 years resigned and Anthony Carlino became the centre's new counsellor. Anthony has quickly become an asset to the centre.

2.6 Outreach Services

The outreach education services are an important avenue for the Gender Centre to take its services out into the wider community. Outreach is delivered to sex workers working on the streets or in parlours, to prison inmates and to transgender people confined in hospital or in their homes.

Outreach services to prison inmates and those confined to their homes play a major role in reducing the levels of isolation experienced by these individuals. At other times they may involve accompanying an individual to a medical appointment or advocating for inmates who feel they are being unfairly treated.

Gaols

During 2010-2011 there were 45 prison visits to a number of correctional facilities throughout New South Wales.

Street

Our Thai speaking Outreach Worker has enabled the service to effectively communicate with Thai street-based transgender sex workers. The outreach team has delivered a number of educational programmes on safe sex and harm minimisation in Thai. The Thai community in the past have had minimal contact with the Centre because of language difficulties.

Outreach to sex workers, while delivered in a casual manner, has a more practical motive. Over the course of 2010/11 the Outreach Workers and front-of-house distributed 8,888 condoms and 950 tubes of lubricant to sex workers and clients to help minimise the risk H.I.V. / AIDS, B.B.V. and S.T.I.s.

The outreach team see ten to fifteen street-based workers per outreach shift. The team knows most of these workers and offers a range of services, as well as providing information on services offered by the Gender Centre on health, accommodation, counselling and case management. Private Transgender sex workers also contact the outreach team for safe sex supplies and information and all requests are answered.

This year the outreach team has had a total of 497 face to face contacts with the Transgender Street based sex worker community, and delivered education and information to over 341 clients on a range of topics including safe sex, safe injecting, H.I.V., Hepatitis C, mental health, alcohol and other drugs and also dealt with housing and health, discrimination and legal issues.

Outreach is an integral part of the Gender Centre's service plan. It continues to provide services to a wide range of clients who may have difficulty in accessing the service.

410 episodes of service provision to night outreach clients;
240 general support, referral information, health information, accommodation information given;
66 outreach to private clients;
47 outreach case management;
113 outreach telephone case management;
11 outreach to hospital / home;
17 outreach to Kirketon Road Centre; and
27 outreach to Sex Workers Outreach Project; for a total of
931 episodes of outreach service provision.

The outreach team see on average ten to fifteen street-based workers per outreach shift. The team know most of these workers and offers a range of services, as well as providing information on services offered by the Gender Centre on health, accommodation, counselling and case management. Private Transgender sex workers also contact the outreach team for safe sex supplies and information and all requests are answered.

This year the outreach team had a total of 410 recurrent episodes of service provision (face to face contacts) with transgender street based sex workers, delivered 240 education and information sessions while on outreach on a range of topics including safe sex, safe injecting, H.I.V., Hepatitis C, mental health, alcohol and other drugs as well as housing and health, discrimination and legal issues.

Outreach is an integral part of the Gender Centre's service plan. It continues to provide services to a wide range of clients who may have difficulty in accessing the service.

Great Western Highway and Canterbury Road Outreach

The Gender Centre provided services to 21 individual clients in and around the Canterbury Road region and 12 along Huntingwood Drive off the Great Western Highway. Needs were identified through regular engagement with these clients.

A number of their requests ranged from meals, bottles of water, various condoms and bulk injecting equipment. There have been further requests for on-going support which is continued, these requests were in relation to housing and ongoing long term homelessness. Medical referrals were made to relevant services and further support has been provided to the clients from the sexual health clinics.

The outreach team services the streets and when permitted the local brothels in the area. There are regular client bases working in these areas to which they are now familiar with the services the Gender Centre offers and express their appreciation of the support.

Outreach to Kirketon Road Centre

There has been a steady increase in Thai clients accessing the Gender Centre through the Kirketon Road Centre. Clients are accessing us for support with employment, education, sexual health advice, immigration and laws in relation to working on a student visa and homelessness support. There is now an ongoing regular clientele who meet with the outreach team at Kirketon Road once a month as it is more accessible for them and their routines. A number of private clients are now also accessing us via Kirketon Road as a result of the outreach service being provided on the Wednesday nights. These clients have identified the need for further supports from the Gender Centre and are now scheduling in the Thursday evening as part of their contact and follow up on information requests.

Outreach partnership with S.W.O.P.

The Gender Centre partnered with S.W.O.P. for a combined outreach on the first Thursday of each month from 10:00pm – 12:00am in the Kings Cross and Darlinghurst areas. Thus far the outreach has been a success in working together as two out three of the main outreach teams servicing the area. There has been a good rapport built between the two services with the clients. In total there have been 27 clients accessed in partnership with S.W.O.P. on the Thursday evenings.

2.7 Social Support Services

City of Sydney Funded - Transgender Anti-Violence Project

In May 2011, the Gender Centre along with partners the City of Sydney (Major Funders of this project) the N.S.W. Police Force and ihe Inner City Legal Centre launched the inaugural Transgender Anti-Violence Project, the first of its kind anywhere in the world specifically for the transgender and gender questioning community.

The mission of the Transgender Anti-Violence Project is to provide education, support, referrals and advocacy in relation to violence and oppression based on gender identity. This project addresses all forms of violence that impact on the transgender and gender-questioning community, including (but not limited to) domestic violence, sexual violence, anti-transgender harassment and hate crimes.

The Objectives of the project are to:

increase reporting of violence by transgender and gender-questioning people;
provide support and referrals to transgender and gender-diverse people;
create improved awareness among transgender and gender-questioning people about the nature of bias-motivated crimes and suggesting options available for reporting;
increase the capacity of police and support services to assist transgender and gender-questioning people who have experienced violence because they are transgendered;
increase data on the nature and extent of violence against transgender and gender-questioning people;
improve the relationship between the transgender and gender-questioning communities, the N.S.W. Police Force and the criminal justice system; and
increase the awareness in the general community about violence against the transgender and gender-questioning communities.

To report or to find out more about the project go to the Transgender Anti-Violence Project website.

Safety Workshops / Self Defence

Three self-defence workshops were provided in 2010/2011, with "Fight Like a Girl" which were held at the Gender Centre all on Saturday afternoons and were funded and supported by the City of Sydney with a mixture of regular and new clients and an average of twenty people attending.

Parents of Gender Questioning Children

This support group has steadily been on the increase in numbers with concerned parents of gender questioning children. Each month a special guest facilitates the group with a trained counsellor special guests have been Rachel Wallbank, Attorney at Law and mentor of True Colours (a group of young Australians who experience transsexualism, their parents, loved ones and supporters), Dr. Matthew Lynch specialist transgender, child Psychiatrist and Superintendent Donna Adney N.S.W. Police Force.

F.T.M. Connect Group

F.T.M. Connect meets once a month on a Friday night. The group is growing in numbers and participants dictate what the theme for the next get together will focus on. It's a mix of guys just starting out and those more experienced. F.T.M. Connect is an open support group run monthly by the Gender Centre of one and a half hours duration. It is facilitated by the Gender Centre Counsellor Anthony Carlino.

Attendance is open to anyone identifying as a Transman and their partners. The aim of the group is multifaceted and includes providing a safe, non-judgmental space for Transmen to discuss with others their transition. To give those considering or just beginning transition an opportunity to talk to other Transmen and ask questions, education through guest speakers, and providing alternative means of self-expression and support through different modalities. As an example, one group in the past financial year has been co-facilitated by an art therapist.

Women's Group

The Women's group meets on the last Monday of each month at the Gender Centre. The Group is moderated by the Information Worker and usually functions as a support group and a means of sharing experience. Those who have questions or problems can come together and talk out their problems in an atmosphere of equality and without any suggestion that a "party line" is being imposed.

Guests have come to talk to the group on two occasions since the Group started meeting. On the first occasion this was Raewyn Connell, Professor of Sociology at the University of Sydney, and author of a number of books on gender. Professor Connell is, herself, transgendered. The second guest was Dr. Cornelis Greenway, a Psychiatrist who has been consulted by many of the Gender Centre clientele. He preferred a discussion mode to that of lecturing and lively discussion followed. Both guests were much appreciated and the group looks forward to inviting more guests in the future.

Transgender Parents Group

The transgender parents group was started to provide information and support to parents who are transgender and are grappling with parenting issues from an unique perspective. The groups aim is to explore issues ranging from legal to psychological with the aim of developing and printing a resource for others transgender parents to use.

Over 55 Group

This group has recently started at the Centre, the Over 55 Group aims at offering a social outlet participants come to the Centre for a coffee and a chat, the group meets once a month.

Social

There were two barbecues held this year at the Sargent Joseph Community Hall at Erskinville. 71 meals were provided to community members at both gatherings and again a Christmas lunch was provided for residential clients of the Gender Centre Housing program most of the clients in our housing program attended the lunch.

Transgender Day of Remembrance

In November 2010 the Gender Centre held the Transgender Day of Remembrance with a small memorial service at the Centre in Petersham with over 60 people in attendance.

The Transgender Day of Remembrance serves several purposes. In contrast with the public media it raises public awareness of hate crimes against transgendered people, and publicly mourns and honors the lives of our brothers and sisters who might otherwise be overlooked. The Day of Remembrance reminds non-transgendered people that we are their sons, daughters, parents, friends and lovers, and gives our allies a chance to step forward with us and stand in vigil, memorializing those who have died by transphobic violence.

Fair Day

Again this year the Gender Centre had a stall at the 2011 Mardi Gras Fair Day at Victoria Park with the staff and board members of the Inner City Legal Centre.

3.0 Service Evaluation

All staff of the Gender Centre have continued with the aims of providing optimum service to our clients, and in developing a strong and positive relationship with other agencies and our funding bodies. The success in achieving the service's objectives has been monitored throughout the year by a range of processes including:

Residential data collection and analysis with particular reference to occupancy rates;

Strengthening focus on case management practices;

Analysis of reasons for discharge;

Monitoring data relating to attendance at in-house groups, resident meetings, number of clients contacted and referrals through outreach;

Monitoring of circulation levels of print publications and resources;

Collateral feedback from other agencies and service providers;

Data collection relating to referral patterns;

Level of demand for participation in key national, state and local mechanisms, strategies and activities;

Increased awareness and focus on O.H.&S. issues; and

Ongoing commitment to engaging in Quality Improvement across all programs.

transgender transsexual Sydney

2010 - 2011 Annual Report

Core Values

Mission Statement

Goals & Objectives

President's Report

1.0 Manager's Report

Overview

Transgender Anti-Violence Project

1.1 Funding Bodies

1.2 Management Committee

1.3 Staff

1.4 Our Partners

The Hon. Penny Sharpe M.L.C.

N.S.W. Police Department

The City of Sydney Council

Inner City Legal Centre

R.P.A. Sexual Health Clinic

Kirkton Road Centre

The Women's Housing Company

Redfern Community Health Centre

Bridge Housing

Y.W.C.A.

Sex Workers Outreach Project (SWOP)

Womens and Girls' Emergency Day Drop-in Service

N.S.W. T.A.F.E. (MeadowbBank, Nirimba & Petersham)

Oz Harvest

1.5 Committees & Consultation

1.6 Agency Networking

1.7 Media Liaison

2.0 Service Report

2.1 Residential Service

2.2 Case Management

2.3 Service Magazine - Polare

2.4 Resources

Library

Information Kits

2.4 Resources

Website

2.5 Counselling

2.6 Outreach Services

Gaols

Street

Great Western Highway and Canterbury Road Outreach

Outreach to Kirketon Road Centre

Outreach partnership with S.W.O.P.

2.7 Social Support Services

City of Sydney Funded - Transgender Anti-Violence Project

Safety Workshops / Self Defence

Parents of Gender Questioning Children

F.T.M. Connect Group

Women's Group

Transgender Parents Group

Over 55 Group

Social

Transgender Day of Remembrance

Fair Day

3.0 Service Evaluation