Manager's Report

by Elizabeth Riley

(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.)

A.D.B. Transgender Consultation

From time to time I am contacted by members of the transgender community wanting to be involved in lobbying to address the many issues facing us. A good starting point for anyone who is keen to take on such a role is to attend the transgender consultations run through the Anti-Discrimination Board of N.S.W.. These consultations are run six monthly or by special request where urgent issues are pressing.

Unfortunately, at the last consultation, held on March 21, only two transgender people were present. It is difficult for two people to adequately represent the concerns of the whole community. Small attendances may also send a message to the ADB that we are content with our circumstances and raise questions about the need to continue such consultations.

In reality the consultations provide an ideal platform to air our issues, generate action and achieve outcomes. They also provide accurate and informative feedback on the current state of play across a wide range of issues affecting our community. That knowledge enables us to act cohesively in campaigning for change where issues affecting us have yet to be resolved.

I would encourage all transgender activists to come along to the next meeting to be held at 5:00pm on Tuesday August 1, 2000

This is a great opportunity to have your say, be heard and achieve results.

The meeting will be held at The Anti-Discrimination Boards new offices at: Pacific Power Building, Level 17, 201 Elizabeth St, Sydney.

Transgender Working Party

Further to the report in the last edition of Polare, I have met with O.D.E.O.P.E. and conducted a review of the Public Sector Personnel Handbook. Changes to the handbook are currently being drafted to include policies acknowledging transgender people and to enhance our opportunities of gaining work in the Public Sector. We remain optimistic that the first of these changes will appear in the next printing of the handbook in August.

The next meeting of the working party was held on 31st May and we concentrated on the employment issues there with a particular emphasis on how O.D.E.O.P.E., the Public Sector Management Office (P.S.M.O.), the A.D.B. and The Gender Centre can work in partnership to achieve desired employment outcomes. It was aimed that the draft changes would be completed by the beginning of July for comment from members of the working party.

I would like to restate the reminder included in my last report in Polare:

For the first time in our history we are beginning to see a commitment from key elements in the non-transgender community to ensuring transgender people have access to equal employment opportunities. This is enormously significant, not only in terms of employment but also in terms of creating a transgender presence in the mainstream workplace, and promises to go a long way towards reducing and eliminating the kinds of discrimination and stereotyping that we have all experienced from the wider community in the past.

Once again I encourage every one seeking employment to review your skills, up skill if necessary, and when the time comes flood the public sector with your applications. When the doors finally open we need to make sure that we are standing there in sufficient numbers to pass through them.

Petersham T.A.F.E.

We have held discussions with Petersham T.A.F.E. who are keen to provide opportunities for transgender people to study in a safe and positive environment.

Anyone wishing to acquire new skills or upgrade their current skills should contact Julie Robinson at Petersham T.A.F.E. on (02) 9335 2568 Monday to Wednesday. I guarantee you will be warmly welcomed.

If you would like to take advantage of these new employment opportunities please contact me at the centre, send me your resume, and I will keep you updated on progress.

If you have access to the internet you can also check out O.D.E.O.P.E.'s website which gives a range of useful information on Job Advertisements, How to find a job, How to apply, At interview etc, as well as information on standard requirements in the public sector including knowledge of O.H.&S., E.E.O., E.A.P.S. and so on.

Visit O.D.E.O.P.E.'s website for more information.

Transphobic Violence

In the last edition of Polare and on page six of the current printed Edition 35 (hard copy) there is an article on a proposed study into transphobic violence. The two facilitators of that study are looking for transgender people who have experienced violence to participate in a focus group to explore the nature and frequency of such violence.

The published finding of these kinds of studies provide a basis for lobbying and can result in funding being made available to run campaigns to overcome the issues, (such as the Anti-Homophobia, What are you scared of?) Poster campaign.

I have received indications that funding might be available from the Attorney General's Department to help address the issues of violence against transgender people. Attorney Generals acknowledge there to be a serious service gap within their department in this area.

In conjunction with the Attorney General's Department and the Anti-Violence project we are also keen to run a community forum to look at the issues of violence in our community and to develop strategies to try and combat this. I urge members of the transgender community who have been victims of violence or who have ideas on how we might address violence to participate in the focus group and/or the community forum.

Please contact Elizabeth on (02) 9569 2366 to register your interest.

Annual General Meeting

The Gender Centre Constitution requires that the AGM be held on or by the 30th September following the close of the financial year. Due to the anticipated chaos and probable restriction on venues likely to occur as a result of the Olympic Games we are proposing to delay the A.G.M. for year 2000 until mid October. We hope that by doing so we will optimise the opportunity for members to attend without having to endure traffic, transport and venue difficulties.

If any members are opposed to this proposal could they please contact me in the near future and let me know of their concerns.

Staff Member Moving On

Our Social and Support Worker, Sean Taylor, who began at The Gender Centre in 1996, has tendered his resignation. Sean and his partner Lisa have bought a house in Newcastle and are seeking new horizons.

On behalf of all the staff and Management Committee I would personally like to thank Sean for his invaluable efforts over the past four years. He has been a committed worker, dedicated to improving conditions for transgender people in every area of his work. He will be greatly missed. I wish Sean and Lisa the very best in their future endeavours.

Advance Notice

As a consequence of Sean's departure we will be undergoing some staff restructuring at the centre. The Social and Support position will be vacant and a new position of Community Project Worker will be created. Both positions will be permanent part-time 3 days per week.

Both positions will be advertised in Sydney Star Observer and Capitol Q in the week ending June 17 under the heading of Community Workers. The ads also appear in this edition of Polare.

Transgender persons with the relevant skills are strongly encouraged to apply.

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.