Outreach Report

by Phinn Borg

(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 1999 Welfare Expo which was held at the Sydney T.A.F.E. went down very well. This is the second time we have been invited to attend this event.

The week before Expo we started to prepare with a trusty volunteer on hand - thanks to Taragh in helping get 100 information kits together for us.

On the Thursday, I headed off with our banner, posters and pamphlets, all ready to face the day with being bombarded with the student's questions and other Service Providers. My table was placed directly opposite S.W.O.P. and the Forensic Science table which had lots of pictures of dead bodies that were half cut up and bones hanging out of arms. With that much visual stuff to look at, it was time to go off and talk to the people behind the stand and they were absolutely fascinating. I got heaps of information on how certain cases were solved by Forensic Science.

There was lots of interest from other Services that knew nothing of The Gender Centre and the same for me. All this was before the students started to come into the event.

Next we were provided with breakfast, coffee and tea and cakes and more information gathering with other Services. This was a very good networking adventure. Then the students began to arrive, and the questions started flowing.

I will be there next year with more posters, pamphlets and a bigger banner. This is a very important part of educating other Services and Students. I learnt a lot and so did others.

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.