Wheel of Consent® for Queers 2-day Workshop: Naarm/Melbourne, June 2025

WHEEL OF CONSENT® 2-DAY WORKSHOP – FOR QUEERS

10.00am to 6.00pm Saturday 21st June - Sunday 22nd June, 2025.

You are welcome whether you are new to the Wheel or already familiar with it!

I encourage you to read this through workshop description to consider if it is a fit for you - and any questions are welcome.

There's a section on 'Payment Options' at the end - please read before choosing your ticket from the sliding scale. 

WHO IS WELCOME?

THIS workshop is specifically for queer people: if it resonates for you, then you are welcome!

‘Queer’ is self-identifying; relating to sexuality, gender, bodies, and relationships outside of dominant norms: to LGBTIQA+ people's lived experience and expressions, in community, families, intersectionality and activism; it can be a feeling, a label, a way of seeing, a way of being. It's yours to describe.

This will be a queer-only space, timeout from the hetero-dominant world. Gathering with shared ground, and differences too. An opportunity to explore how the practices of the Wheel can support us in how we relate to ourselves, to each other, and within our queer communities.

No knowledge or experience of the Wheel is needed.

Whether you are shy or outgoing, comfortable in groups or less so, you are welcome. You can come along solo, or with partner/s, friend/s, others. You can go at your own pace, and opt in or out of the activities offered. Participation is possible in many different ways. 

ABOUT THE WHEEL OF CONSENT®

The Wheel of Consent® is a model and a practice; it’s a powerful tool to improve the quality of your touch and create clear agreements so you can experience satisfying connection to yourself and others. It is based on, but does not require, exchanges of touch. Touch is an option, you choose.

The Wheel explores consent, boundaries, body-freedom, communication, and touch. It explores and takes apart the dynamics of receiving and giving, so you can feel the difference, and know why that matters.

The Wheel of Consent® was developed by Dr Betty Martin, drawing on her 40+ years hands-on experience, first as a chiropractor, then as a sex worker, and a somatic sex educator. Workshops and professional trainings are run all over the world by Betty and others certified by Betty and the School of Consent.

The practices of the Wheel can influence how you approach and experience so many interactions and dynamics - in friendships, intimate relationships, family, workplaces, in activism and communities. It's seemingly simple yet radically transformative!


GROUP FACILITATION

My facilitating is shaped by the practices of the Wheel, and informed by queerness, trans-affirming feminism, social justice and anti-racist, anti-oppressive practices. I welcome queer diverse bodies, sexualities, genders, ages, and relationship statuses; valuing of First Nation's people, and of cultural diversity; of neurodiversity, disabilities, and multitudes of self-expression and lived experience.

I will interrupt for justice and tend to care and repair when needed. I'd love to hear from you if there's anything you'd like to raise with me before booking, so please do get in touch.

Alongside me in this workshop there will be two assistants in support of me and the group. Each have unique skills, and are experienced in the Wheel, and I will introduce them closer to the workshop.

If you want to know more about my work, my experience and background, and my values, you can read my bio or just ask!

ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP

This workshop guides you through practices to explore the Wheel of Consent®, to feel it in your own skin; it’s learnt best by experiencing. The core practices of the Wheel are based on exchanges of touch - and can also be explored without touch. You choose.

Over the two days you will...

• learn what ‘receiving’ and ‘giving’ really are; and why knowing the difference is crucial for connection and intimacy
• find out where you are clear (or not) in receiving and giving
• notice sensation in your own skin so that you can access this any time you choose
• learn about 'two ways of giving' and 'two ways of receiving' and how these expand the possibilities for pleasure
• become delightfully aware of your desires and limits, and practice how to communicate them
• feel the power of choice and of making clear agreements
• learn the framework of the Wheel of Consent® and experience each of the four quadrants

In this workshop 'touch' is explored as separate from 'sex'. As adults, many of us experience 'sex and touch' as intertwined. This can make it difficult to explore 'touch' free of sexual connotations or expectations. The Wheel can offer great insights on sex and play, but that's a different workshop! This workshop has a non-sexual focus, and clothing stays on.

There are many ways to participate, opting in or out of activities, working solo or with others, with touch, or no touch, taking time to journal, or rest, and changing your mind along the way.

Choosing, and taking care of your own needs and preferences are more important than 'doing'.

PAYMENT OPTIONS

There are three prices for tickets, for different financial circumstances; $500, $375 and $250 (plus booking fee). I rely on a mix across these ticket prices to be able to offer a sliding scale, and $375 is the standard rate. The $250 rate is specifically for you if you have low income/low resources, and $500 is for you if you are well-resourced. Choose what aligns for you.

You can pay in instalments for any ticket: just contact me to arrange!

There are a small number of tickets from $110 - $200 if you are not able to afford the $250 rate. There's an option to help with some light tasks during the workshop days as an exchange, but this is not required (or viable for everyone), so please get in touch either way to discuss.

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If there's anything you'd like to discuss before booking, please do get in touch.

Your questions on any aspects of the workshop are very welcome!

Stella Topaz