Strategic Plan of - The Gender Centre INC

Gender Centre Services

The Gender Centre is the peak state-wide specialist multi- purpose service supporting the transgender, gender diverse and gender questioning persons at all stages of transition (pre, mid, and post transition), the service has the required specialist skills, experience and capabilities to respond to this client group providing specialist counselling, outreach, support, case management and referrals. The Gender Centre also undertakes advocacy work, resource development, stakeholder training and corporate education, and operates as a secondary needle & syringe program (NSP) outlet.

The Centre is primarily funded by Sydney Local Health District and the NSW Department of Family and Community Services, Community Services. . The Centre is also supported by The Central and Eastern Primary Health Network & Wentworth Community Housing

The Gender Centre is a community based organization governed by an elected committee of Directors who are committed to developing and providing services and activities which enhance the ability of people with gender issues to make informed choices and access their rights and entitlements.

Our Strategic Planning Processes

The Gender Centre's Board of Directors have primary responsibility for both approving the Gender Centre's Strategic Plan and for ensuring its implementation.

A major review has been undertaken of all the organisation's services, activities, governance and partnerships based on input from N.S.W. Health, Department of Family and Community Services, Government and Non-Government Organisations, the Gender Centre's Board of Directors, Staff, Volunteers, and Service Users.

Method used

The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) method was used to conduct the planning process. A combination of external and internal stakeholders were interviewed by an external consultant.

EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS: SERVICE PROVIDERS

Interviews were conducted with the following stakeholders:

NSW FACS
Metro Housing
Wentworth Community Housing
Headspace in Dubbo
Sydney Local Health District
Primary Health Network
Regional LHD
NSW Police

Stakeholders were asked to respond to a series of questions including:

A description of their service and role.

Their agencies relationship to GC e.g. referral, partner, funding.
What GC services were they aware of?
What additional services they think the agency could provide?
What should be the agencies priorities over the next three years?
What did they see as the overall strengths of the service?
Were there any areas where the service could improve? If so, what were they?
How should GC position itself to achieve long term sustainability?

INTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS: GC CLIENT GROUPS

The consultant met with the following client groups:

two clients in an interview discussion
two clients’ submitted surveys
Parents group – fifteen participants
Young person’s group – 18 participants

The following questions guided discussion:

What activities and services at GC have been helpful to you?
How would you describe your experience of being a client at GC?
What staff support has been helpful to you?
Is there anything additional staff could do to assist you?
How can GC improve its services?
Is there anything you would like to add?

SWOT: Emerging themes from stakeholders consultation

Many of the identified strengths highlighted the GC’s, ability to provide a specialist response. This specialisation included the following: the Centre’s strong relationship with local community, passionate, friendly and skilled staff, strong advocacy skills, excellence in service provision and delivering the client centred approach into case management practice.

External stakeholders identified the GC’s strong relationships with local community positions the service in a leadership role when advocating for the dignity and rights of transgender and gender diverse people. GC’s variety of programs such as, counselling, parents group, young person’s group, case management, access to information and resources supports clients with the skills and knowledge to increase their capacity for independence and self-empowerment.

The young person’s group found access to the group particularly helpful in developing strong relationships and challenging social isolation.

The parent’s group highlighted the staff as supportive, valued the social support aspect of the group and access to information. Parents identified the support from GC as crucial to the ongoing wellbeing of their family, particularly the mental and social wellbeing to their children.

Our Vision Statement

A society that is respectful and inclusive of transgender and gender diverse people, their families and allies

Our Mission Statement

To deliver professional services that are responsive to the needs of transgender and gender diverse people.

The Gender Centre provides services in the following four domains

Health
Advacacy & Support
Education
Homelessness

2018-2021 Strategic priorities

Priority 1:Seek opportunities for sustainable growth that will enhance outcomes for program delivery
Priority 2:Strengthen GC’s Human Resource Management system
Priority3:Increase organisational capacity through public relations and partnership development
Priority 4:Monitor administrative systems and potential risks