Gender Centre Project - Kiwi Style

by Debbie Barnes

(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.)

Our work over the last few years has shown us that services to our community are limited. For many reasons we have been marginalized over the last fifty years. Transgendered people wish to contribute positively to the life of our nation, we just need a helping hand to reach our full potential. It has become clear to us that attempting to provide all the services we require everywhere is just not going to happen.

What we need is a place where our issues are taken seriously; access to reliable, quality information; a supportive living environment during transition; a twenty-four hour helpline; access to psychological services; a place for the medical fraternity to access information; post-surgical non-nursing care and monitoring; access to counselling services; safe and accessible medical assistance and help with job seeking skills and relevant employment skills.

An opportunity that could see this as a reality, a one stop shop for all of us, is currently available and we are working hard to realise this dream.

In Wellington on Mt Victoria's Alexandra Rd is the former Fever Hospital. It was built for the influenza epidemic in 1920. It closed in 1953, reopened in 1957 and was upgraded in 1969 with a new ward added in 1973. It finally closed in 1981 and from 1987 till the mid 90's was used as Wellington Polytech's School of Music.

The buildings are on reserve land and have heritage status, they are owned by Wellington City Council, who have asked for expressions of interest in the buildings future use. They are spending nearly three quarters of a million dollars upgrading the exterior and want to see it used for community, health, recreation or education purposes, four categories that a gender centre could encompass.

The main building will be ready later this year, the attached Nurses Home will have a similar amount spent on it and be ready for use next year.

Our proposal has three aspects; a National Gender Centre; a Hostel; and an independent Information Service.

The National Gender Centre would provide endocrine, counselling and psychological services as well as information on surgery.

The Hostel would provide accommodation for those wishing to transition in a safe place; act as a possible half way house for transgendered people coming out of prison or choosing to come out of the street scene; assistance in employment related issues and in living as a transgendered person. Some accommodation may be available for visits from estranged families.

The Independent Information Service would provide information to transgendered people; their parents; partners; family; employers; health providers; researchers and educators.

We are currently meeting with possible supporters and funders. The most critical of these are Annette King as Minister of Health and Steve Maharey as Minister of Social Development, both of whom have indicated that they may be able to assist us with this project.

The Wellington City Council has provided us with the R.F.P. for using the buildings. The close date of the RFP is the nineteenth of November.

It is our belief that the services a gender centre would provide in a co-ordinated manner are long overdue. It is vital that we have support from all of the community to make this a reality so please phone us, email us, or write to us giving your backing. This is a great opportunity, let's do everything we can to make it a reality.

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.