Pre-Conference Workshop
Beyond the Rainbow: supporting LGBTIQA+ families, children and young people
This workshop will introduce participants to ways of supporting LGBTIQA+ families, children and young people in affirming and empowering ways. The interactive workshop will draw on Drummond Street’s extensive experience working with LGBTIQA+ people across the lifespan, through the provision of its specialist Queerspace programs as well as the support of LGBTIQA+ people across the organisation’s broad range of programs and services.
Participants will gain knowledge and skills in how to:
- Support LGBTIQA+ people who come into our services, working with them in ways that supports safety and affirms their identity. This will move beyond basic diversity and inclusion and will introduce participants to advanced practice skills.
- Critically reflect on systems and structures that may cause barriers, harm or discrimination against LGBTIQA+ people.
- Reflect on how we can walk alongside clients and families, supporting them in ongoing advocacy within services and systems.
- Learn how to have respectful conversations around gender identity & pronouns, including how to manage privacy and confidentiality in families where children and young people might not be ‘out’ to family members.
- Explore LGBTIQA+ family violence and how we can better identify and support those in LGBTIQA+ relationships and families, who are experiencing harm.
- Advance family law considerations, when working with separating LGBTIQA+ families.
The workshop will be interactive and will feature group discussions, case studies and hands-on activities. Participants will gain practical skills and knowledge to be able to better support LGBTIQA+ people across a broad range of programs, organisations and sectors. We aim to facilitate respectful conversations and overcome service barriers, so that collectively, we can better support the diverse needs of LGBTIQA+ people and their families.
Biography:
Karen Field, CEO of Drummond Street Services since 2005, has 30 years’ experience in developing, managing and delivering evidence-based programs and services.
Karen contributed to Government policy regarding the needs of marginalised communities and families. Championing research and evaluation with an intersectional and social justice lens.
With a rich and varied background in social work, Lola-Mae brings experience in individual and cohort-specific engagement. Her career spans critical areas such as family violence, housing & homelessness, youth services, training & practice development. Lola-Mae has extensive knowledge of intersectional practice frameworks and theory, which they employ in educating organisations and practitioners across Victoria.
Specialising in LGBTIQA+ issues, Lola-Mae is deeply committed to advancing research that informs evidence-based practices within the LGBTIQA+ community, with the goal of driving meaningful improvements and fostering innovative solutions that can be used across the sector. Their interest extends to the continuous development of best practice with marginalised communities, with a drive to see more inclusive and effective approaches to social work that better serves diverse communities.
Jack Khouri (he/him) has worked with young people and families for over 15 years in both schools and the community sector. He has a passion for providing high quality services in regional towns, through funded programs with no cost to clients. Jack is the manager of QHub at Drummond Street Services.