Queer Community Building - Gladstone

Come and join us for this transformative two-day community building workshop. Discover how to create the conditions to empower individuals, organisations, and businesses in the LGBTQIA+ community.

This workshop will run from 10:00am to 3:00 on the 27th of September at Maxine Brushe Community Place, Philip Street Communities and Families Precinct & 28th of September at Headspace, Level 1, 147 Goondoon Street, Gladstone, presented by hosts from the Jeder Institute.

Together we’ll explore how we can collectively build stronger, more resilient communities by leveraging our unique strengths, talents, and experiences. Rather than focusing on needs and deficits, we’ll explore ways of mobilising local wisdom and community assets to address complex, intergenerational challenges.

Facilitated by LGBTQIA+ community members Dee, Lee & Harley with a deep care for queer community building. We will deep dive into foundational concepts like Asset-Based Community Development, Trauma-Informed Community Building, Community Conversations, Power and Privilege, Conscious Co-design, shared decision making all tailored to the unique dynamics of queer communities.

Whether you're a community member, pride organiser, or part of an LGBTQIA+ organization, this session will offer a fresh perspective of what's possible in our diverse communities. At the end of the two days you will come away with practical tools, frameworks and processes that can be put into practice right away, to foster sustainable, inclusive change.

For ANYONE wanting to explore and gain further understanding of Queer Community Building:

* Queer Leaders

* LGBTQIA+ Not for Profit organisations

* Individual community members and change-makers

* Queer social connection and social groups

* Public sector Advisors and Policy Officers

* Pride/event organisers

This will be a two-day participatory event, with plenty of space to stretch out, and grab a coffee or tea. 

To keep the cost of coming together to a minimum, we will be asking participants to bring a lunch plate to share. 

We want you to be comfortable as we gather and learn together, feel free to wear your
most comfortable clothes and kick-off-able shoes.

This event will have no cost to attend for individual community members, however, participants will be invited to offer a donation to contribute to event costs based on their means and the value they experienced at the end of the two days.

Tickets for Not for Profit organisations as well Government and Corporate are via set price.

Please contact us if contribution is a barrier to your participation.

Note: if you have specific dietary requirements, please feel free to cater for yourself only.

A little about your hosts:

Lee Griffiths - Lee has a passion for community and always has, this it is why he does the work he does, facilitating ABDC training, workshops and strategic planning. Lee has spent the last 20 years working in local government and the not for profit sector creating the conditions for government and organisations to walk along side community to strengthen outcomes across Australia and the UK.

Lee has been active in Queer spaces in the UK and Australia for many years, being involved in formation of new community-led organisations as well as the development of the Queensland Government’s first whole of Government LGBTQIA+ Strategy.

Dee Brooks - Through her down-to-earth style, Dee Brooks brings people together in dynamic ways to realise and engage the full potential of their networks and communities. Dee is an Intentional Nomad who has traveled and worked in over 20 countries. Based on two decades of grassroots work, her work has inspired people at hundreds of events and workshops worldwide where she offers community engagement and development training and also provides professional co-design, facilitation and keynote addresses for conferences, forums and events.

Harley Ames - Harley is a Community Builder and Facilitator on the Board of Directors at Jeder, with a diverse background spanning dance, high-end hairdressing, and medical governance. Now based in Perth, he brings creativity, leadership, and strategic thinking to his work in coaching and Asset Based Community Development (ABCD), with a focus on asset mapping and project design. He believes meaningful change emerges from within communities and that community development thrives in the “wibbly wobbliness” rather than in straight lines.

Deeply involved in the LGBTQIA+ sector, Harley serves on several boards and committees, advocating for equity, inclusion, and law reform. Committed to continuous learning, he sees every facilitation and coaching opportunity as a chance to grow and adapt. Embracing the Four Fold Practice helps him stay grounded and intentional, supporting his belief that strong communities are built through collaboration, reflection, and tapping into shared strengths.