This website was last updated on Friday December 11th 2009

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The Gender Centre is proudly supported by the following organisations:

The Gender Centre 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 educating the public and 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 New South Wales. We also act as an education, support, training and referral / resource Centre to other Organizations and Service Providers. We specifically aim to provide a high quality service which acknowledges human rights and ensures respect and confidentiality.

Gender Centre Opening Hours

The Gender Centre is located at 7 Bent Street, Petersham. We are open weekdays from 9:00am to 4:30pm.

Services Provided

Counselling

The Gender Centre provides Counselling to residential clients, community clients, partners, family members and friends of people with gender issues at no cost. The counselling service also provides support and education to school counsellors as well as counsellors in rural areas.

Residential Program

Up to 11 residents (16 years of age or over), can be accommodated in three semi-supported refuge houses. Residents can stay for up to 12 months and are supported to move towards independent living, residents are encouraged to consider a range of options available to meet their needs.

Exit House Program

The Gender Centre provides semi-supported accommodation for 6 clients (16 years of age or over) in partnership with the Woman's Hosing Company in self-contained units. Residents can stay for up to 12 months and are supported to move towards independent living, residents are encouraged to consider a range of options available to meet their needs.

Case Management

Intensive Case Management is provided for those who find themselves in Gender Centre Housing as well as the Gender Centre Exit Housing Program.

Community Case-Management

Intensive case-management is provided to all community clients accessing the Gender Centre within the boarders of New South Wales as well as co/case-management with other service providers.

Advocacy Service

The Gender Centre provides advocacy support for transgender and gender questioning people to help facilitate effective outcomes. The most common advocacy support provided is in dealings with the police when reporting a crime or being questioned in relation to a criminal matter, the Department of Housing to prevent evictions, Centrelink to establish payment of correct entitlements, Aged Care services to provide suitable supported care options and disability support programs to acquire suitable appliances and equipment for independent living.

Training for Service Providers and Others

The Gender Centre offers training, support and workshops to employers, service providers, students and other people interested in gender issues. Topics covered include implications for staff and clients in relation to anti-discrimination legislation and E.E.O. issues, workplace harassment and provision of goods and services as well as many personal aspects of the transgender process. Training is provided 2 times per year to the Centre for Community Welfare Training Centre (C.C.W.T.).

Training and Education for clients

The Gender Centre offers training, support and workshops to residential and non-residential clients of the Gender Centre, workshops include recreational and general interest courses, employment, work skills development training, health, nutrition, cooking and living skills courses as well as stand alone nights when guest speakers present mini forums on current issues relating to the lives of transgender people living in New South Wales.

Outreach

Available to clients confined in their homes and in hospital in the inner and outer city areas from Monday to Friday.

Night Outreach

Available to street based sex workers and private parlours in the inner city and surrounding areas on a Wednesday evening from 8:00pm to midnight.

Gaol Outreach

Available to all Transgender and Gender questioning clients confined in a correctional centre within the boarders of New South Wales (all Gender Centre staff are Authorised visitors).

Court & Cell Outreach:

Available to all Transgender and Gender questioning clients within the inner city and surrounding areas.

Resource Development

The Gender Centre Produces a range of print and online resources on H.I.V./ AIDS, medical and other information relevant to people with gender issues and their service providers. Information packages (Kits) fact-sheets and other printed materials including Polare. As part of the resources provided by the Gender Centre we have a library with an array of books and audio-visual material on the issues pertinent to gender questioning and transgender people available for loan free of charge.

Partners Family Members and Friends

The Gender Centre provides Support, education as well as referrals to a wide range of specialist counselling, health, legal, welfare and other community services that are available to the Transgender community.

Wednesday Night Drop-in

The Gender Centre runs a weekly drop-in on a Wednesday night from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Clients are provided with a meal and Guest speakers are available at most drop-ins.

Social and Support

The Gender Centre Provides social and support groups and outings to people with gender issues

Drug and Alcohol Service

The centre provides counselling support, education and referrals to a broad range of services.

N.S.E.P. Service

The Gender Centre runs a secondary N.E.S.P. service, Needle Exchange, condoms and Lube

Position Vacant

Residential Program Case Worker (R.P.C.W.)

Permanent Part-Time: 21 hours per week (days to be negotiated)

The R.P.C.W. is a key staff member within The Gender Centre and is responsible for establishing and providing a comprehensive range of case management initiatives to transgender clients and clients with gender issues housed in The Gender Centre Residential Program in accordance with case management guidelines developed through our funding body, S.A.A.P.. As the primary in-house case-manager the S.A.A.P. will network widely to facilitate access for clients to the necessary range of available services relevant in assisting them to meet their needs. The S.A.A.P. should have extensive knowledge of a range of community organisations, N.G.O.s, government departments and community groups, and processes for advocacy and community support. This position requires experience in case-plan development as well as sound organisational and communication skills. Knowledge of community resources and a broad knowledge of the issues for marginalised communities and a willingness to learn the specific needs of the transgender community is essential. This position requires regular contact with potential and present residents of The Gender Centre residential program to establish and maintain a healthy, positive living environment, offer referrals and assistance in housing, health services, advocacy and living skills, the S.A.A.P. is also responsible for providing individualised, client driven, intensive, consensual case plans to transgender clients to achieve their identified goals and to maximise positive client outcomes. Applicants will have relevant tertiary qualifications in a Social work, welfare or related discipline and demonstrated experience or work history in a case management focussed field. The S.A.A.P. arranges and/or participates in community events, programs and initiatives as determined by the Gender Centre from time to time. The S.A.A.P. needs to be able to work flexible hours from time to time. The position is covered by the Social and Community Services Employees (State) Award, Grade 3 Year 2. This position is permanent part time (subject to satisfactory 6 month trial period) successful applicants must undergo a criminal record check with a commencing salary of $38,039 per annum pro rata (plus superannuation). Please contact The Gender Centre on telephone 9569 2366 for a copy of the Job Descriptions and Selection Criteria. The Gender Centre is an Equal Opportunity Employer and suitably qualified transgender applicants are encouraged to apply.

Polare 81 Out Now!

Feature articles include . . .
Adventures of a Watjarri Nyungar Traveller • The Story of "R" • Bad Language • Counsellor's Column
. . . and all your favourite regular articles.
Email: resources@gendercentre.org.au to subscribe.

Latest News

Volunteers Needed

Volunteers are needed to help staff the Gender Centre's stall at the 2010 Mardi Gras Fair Day. We are also seeking volunteers to help out with the 2010 Transgender Film Festival in February. If you are interested, please contact the centre for more information.

2008-2009 Annual Report

The 2008-2009 Annual Report presented at the Annual General Meeting in September is now available online.

2009 Annual Report

Television Medical Series is looking for Your Story!

Are you aged between 13-19? Are you a good talker who would be comfortable sharing your story and being filmed? We are one of Australia's major networks and are currently casting for a television medical show about young people's health issues, from common adolescent complaints, to youth experiencing transsexualism. We are looking for young people with health concerns to put before our show doctor and specialists for diagnosis, treatment and recovery. If you think you fit the bill, please email us a photo, a blurb about yourself and our "story". (Please indicate if you have had any past television experience)

Policy & Procedure Document for Services Working With Transgender Clients

The Gender Centre has produced the above mentioned publication to assist other services providers who work with transgender clients. The document is particularly aimed at accommodation services and can be viewed as a web page, downloaded as a P.D.F. file (162kb) or downloaded as a Microsoft Word document (149kb).

Request for Information

Freelance Journalist Elizabeth Murray writes for a national indigenous newspaper with a readership of approximately 100,000 each fortnight. Her articles often address issues that are not often looked at in the mainstream media about deaths in custody. She is currently writing an article on Veronica Baxter who died in the M.R.R.C. three days after being arrested and detained at the Mardi Gras. Veronica, an Indigenous transgender lady living in Surry Hills, had a number of friends through the Gender Centre. Elizabeth would like to hear from any of these friends, who may be able to assist her with her article. If you wish to make contact with Elizabeth, please contact the Gender Centre on (02) 9569 2366 and we will put you in touch with her.

F.T.M. & Partners' Monthly Drop In

The Gender Centre will be hosting monthly drop-ins on a Friday evening from 6:00pm to 8:00pm exclusively for F.T.M.'s. Partners of F.T.M.'s are more than welcome as this will be a chance to meet and possibly form a support group. Guest speakers will be in attendance with a different topic each month, participants are strongly encouraged to inform the staff of suitable topics. Food will be included

Gender Centre Barbecues

Please note that the 2009 Christmas Barbecue will be held on Sunday 13th December 2009, both at the Joseph Sargeant Community Centre, 60 Prospect Street, Erskineville. Please contact the Gender Centre closer to these dates to confirm date and venue details are still current.

Thank You

The Gender Centre wish to thank the Aurora Group, Marrickville City Council, City of Sydney Council and The Street Smart Project for their contributions towards the refurbishment of the Gender Centre refuge houses.

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