RESPECT: supporting diversity
Late in 2011, Suzanne Bray from the Bayside Glen Eira Kingston Local Learning and Employment Network and Zorica Djuric from Kingston Council Youth Services identified that there were limited resources for LGBTIQ youth in the Bayside, Kingston and Glen Eira area.
They also noticed there was limited knowledge and awareness of the resources that were available.
Following this, they engaged with the local Victoria Police Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officer (me), and student welfare coordinators from local schools and other welfare agencies.
Out of this a steering committee was born and the name 鈥楻ESPECT鈥� followed. The steering committee was made up of representatives from Victoria Police, Bayside, Glen Eira and Kingston Council
Youth Services, school welfare officers, headspace, Youth Connect, and other services that focus on youth. It was brought together to address issues faced by LGBTIQ young people.
RESPECT鈥檚 aim is to build a strategic network of organisations and schools across the region that will help improve the health, wellbeing and educational success of young people who identify as LGBTIQ.
Recently the committee produced a resource provided to schools and youth services that provides the contact details for local support groups 鈥� Queer in Kingston LGBTIQ support group, Minus 18, Gay and Lesbian Switchboard, Central Bayside Community Health Services, headspace Southern Melbourne, Kids Helpline, Bayside City Council Youth Services, Glen Eira City Council Youth Services, City of Kingston Youth Service, Victoria Police Gay and Lesbian Liaison Officer.
This resource is provided in a poster and a postcard format for young people to refer to or take with them.
The aim of RESPECT is to:
Advocate to and support schools in the region to join the Safe Schools Coalition to stand up against homophobic bullying in schools;
Identify what the issues are for LGBTIQ young people in the region;
Identify what support is available to LGBTIQ young people in the region and where the gaps are;
Provide support for service providers and teachers in the region to better support LGBTIQ young people;
Provide support for parents and families in the region to better support LGBTIQ young people.
The committee has arranged for training to be provided locally by providing professional development workshops for schools and community organisations in collaboration with the Safe Schools
Coalition and the Rainbow Network. The workshops will explore supporting gender and sexual diversity when working with young people (as a broad theme.)
Sessions have been scheduled for Wednesday, May 23 at the Kingston Arts Centre in the Council Chamber. The session times are:
a. 11am-1pm 鈥� Community workers
b. 2.30-4.30pm 鈥� Workers in Sschools
If you are working in the Bayside, Glen Eira and Kingston area and would like to attend, please contact Suzanne Bray [email protected]. Suzanne is also the contact point if you would like to pick up a poster or postcard.
The next stage for RESPECT is engaging with school communities to support all schools in the area becoming participants in the Safe Schools Coalition.
By Leading Senior Constable Peter Jarvis, Moorabbin Police Station
