Report From Resource Development

by Craig Andrews

(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.)

It was a busy year at the Centre for resource development in 1998. As Resource Development worker, I was busy producing the in-service magazine - Polare every second month, and the membership newsletter - "The Source" every other month; I maintained the databases for our 900+ addresses; scheduled regular Staff meetings, Case Management meetings and staffing for the Centre; was Acting Coordinator in Elizabeth's absence as well as the usual research for articles of interest for Polare and other resources available at the Centre.

The main project for 1998 was to turn The Gender Centre Inc. information pamphlets into "broadsheets" called "fact sheets" which presents clear, concise information on A4-size paper. This broadsheet format tied in with the production of Gender Centre Kits and allowed for efficient presentation and production of the kit resources.

The second aspect to this project was to plan, research and compile seven kits in order to respond appropriately to a wide range of enquirers to the Gender Centre. These include:

• Student's Kit;
• About the Gender Centre Inc.Inc.;
• General Enquiry;
• Information for M.T.F.s;
• Information for F.T.M.s;
• Surgery Information for M.T.F.s; and
• Surgery Information for F.T.M.s.

Additionally, I created several new pamphlets or brochures for the Gender Centre. These included:

• About the Gender Centre Inc.;
• Rights and Responsibilities brochure;
• Advertising brochure;
• Discrimination;
• Electrolysis;
• Testosterone Implants; and
• Details of commercially-available Herbal Testosterones for F.T.M.s.

During the last few months of 1998 I began to develop a collection of ready resources of small articles and information appropriate to the trans community and enquirers. These include:

• Post-operative F.T.M. care/information;
• Bathurst Transgender-Friendly services/resources;
• Benjamin Standards of Care;
• Model Policy - Transition in the Workplace (Elizabeth Riley - The Gender Centre Inc.);
• Prison's Policy (N.S.W. Department of Corrective Services);
• Anti-Discrimination Legislation (Anti-Discrimination Legislation (A.D.B. of N.S.W.);
• An article re: Transsexual/Transgender Parent Custody;
• Transsexualism: The current medical viewpoint (Press for Change); and
• A list of Internet resources for M.T.F.s and F.T.M.s to include in the appropriate kits (updated and managed by Volunteer Internet-enthusiasts).

This list of resources is posted in Polare and will be updated as they are added to. These resources are constantly being maintained as stock gets low and also gradually increased on a weekly basis.

I also worked on the following resources for the Centre as factsheets:

• Hepatitis C;
• What is Intersexuality?;
• I.S.A. information as well as overseas Intersex groups;
• Other Intersex Information; and
• Kleinfelters Syndrome.

In October 1998 I agreed to take on the role of the After-Hours Telephone Line Coordinator. This meant bringing myself up to speed on the function and action of the line at short notice and included planning and producing an appropriate kit for the Volunteers' use. To facilitate the success of this support-line, it becomes an ongoing process of updating the Volunteers' resources and referrals frequently.

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.