President's Report

A Management Committee Perspective

by Jean Noble

(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.)

As you may already know, Tiresias House Inc. has changed its name. Since the Special General Meeting of our Association Members on 18th April 1993 we are now known as The Gender Centre. This is more than just a name change, it is a major expansion of the services offered by the organisation.

These major changes are the result of an intensive service review which has been ongoing for the last two years. The new service is a response to the needs identified that review process which included feedback from our clients as well as their service providers.

Although Tiresias House was funded to provide semi-supported accommodation for transsexual people, it had always provided services to a wider range of people with gender issues. The service has always responded to an overwhelming number and range of requests for support from people at varying stages of exploring and resolving their gender issues. However, these efforts were never supported by adequate government funding and the needs of clients greatly outweighed the resources of the service.

As part of the review process, the staff and management committee acknowledged that people with gender issues had always been the client group. The priority was identified as a need for increased funding to be able to meet their diverse needs. Successful submissions have now made an expanded service possible.

The Gender Centre now provides a broad range of services to people with gender issues which includes community, social and support, outreach, drug and alcohol, resource development and residential services.

The Gender Centre welcomes all people with gender issues, their partners, families and friends and is committed to developing and providing services and activities which enhance the ability of people with gender issues to make informed choices.

The Gender Centre is also committed to education the public and service providers about the needs of people with gender issues. We offer a wide range of services to people with gender issues, their partners, families and friends in N.S.W. We also act as an education, support and referral centre to other organisations and service providers. We specifically aim to provide a high quality service which acknowledges human rights and ensures respect and confidentiality.

The demands on staff time have been at a maximum throughout 1993 as these types of organisational changes demand a high level of focused staff activity and a cohesive team effort. For their great personal effort I wish to extend a heartfelt thanks on behalf of the management committee to our Projects Manager, Rachelle Alexander, Community Worker Deidre Yates, Administration Worker Craig Skinner, and our Residential Support Worker Paula Hartigan. I also wish to formally welcome the newcomers to our staff team our part-time Community Worker Lea Westin, Outreach Worker and part-time Community Worker Camille Singleton, Resource Development Worker Catherine Collier and our Social and Support Workers Detlev Jackson, Wayne Powter and Maxine Ohlmus-Joseph.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Association Members for their ongoing support for these exciting new initiatives and for their inspiring attendance at our Special General Meetings. On behalf of the staff and management committee wish to extend an invitation to the members and others to attend our barbecue lunches which are held at the Gender Centre on a regular basis and which provide an opportunity for you to call in, meet the staff and find out what is happening at the Centre.

Which brings me to my last point, the Annual General Meeting. This will be held on the 20th of September 1993, 7:30pm at the Gender Centre, 75 Morgan Street Petersham. Membership closes on the 1st of September. To be eligible to vote at the Annual General Meeting you must be a current member and you may not apply for membership after close of business on the 1st of September.

If you wish to nominate as a candidate for the management committee your application must be in writing and should be accompanied by a Nomination For The Management Committee Form. Candidates election statements will be posted to all current financial members in the second week of September for your consideration. Voting will be by optional preference and secret ballot of the current financial members present at the A.G.M. and will be supervised by an Electoral Officer.

Membership Application Forms, Nomination for Management Committee Forms, a copy of the Annual Report and any additional information which you may require can be obtained by phoning Craig on 569 2366 Monday to Friday 10:00am - 5:30pm.

In conclusion, I would like to express appreciation for the service magazine Polare, which has been made possible by the sheer hard work of the Editor Rachelle Alexander and Editorial Assistant Craig Skinner and one of the management committee members, Faye Raye, who gave both her time and design knowledge freely.

This has been an exciting year and the time has flown by, I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as President and on behalf of the Management Committee I wish the Gender Centre all the best for the future and look forward to your attendance at the Annual General Meeting.

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.