This workshop explores the important basics of providing and improving LGBTQIA+ affirming care. Seemingly small things can have profound impacts and determine whether LGBTQIA+ people find a service helpful or harmful.

We will discuss:
- Pronouns and why they are important (including neo-pronouns).
- LGBTQIA+ affirming language in program development, forms and resources.
- When, where, why and how to ask people about their identity/s considering consent and safety.
- Coming out, inviting in, and supporting people to share safely.
- The impacts of misinformation, microagressions and minority stress for LGBTQIA+ people.
- Real-life case scenarios showing how assumptions and language can be harmful.

Held online - Saturday 22nd June, 10am - 12pm (AEST) the last 30 mins being for questions and discussion.
When you register you will receive pre-reading and resource materials.
If you are currently experiencing financial hardship, please email to discuss the discounted ticket options.

Learning about, listening to, and supporting the people we encounter in our professional practice is a life-long journey. There is no end point to cultural competency training. Those who have knowledge of identities, pronouns and affirming care can still benefit from hearing it again from a different viewpoint or with new language. It may support a wider understanding or grow the confidence to initiate these conversations in one's own workplace or life.

About the facilitators:

Rae Sabine
They / Them
Supervisor, Arts Therapist and Psychotherapist
Creating Wellbeing Melbourne

Rae is non-binary and neurodivergent with a lived experience of chronic illness. They are very passionate about disability rights, the LGBTQIA+ community and mental health. As a supervisor they offer strong knowledge and experience in supporting Neurodivergent and LGBTQIA+ people, especially when working with trans, non-binary and gender diverse folks. When working therapeutically, they use person-centred, strengths-based and peer support approaches to assist individuals to access their internal resources and building their resilience. They are vegan and love animals. They also have a sensory garden outside their therapy studio.
creatingwellbeingmelbourne@gmail.com
https://linktr.ee/creatingwellbeingmelbourne

Lucian Marine
They / Them
Creative Community Worker
Creative Circles Art Therapy

Lucian believes magic happens when people create alongside each other, or together on creative projects; Which is reminiscent of many ancient cultural practices. The LGBTQIA+ and neurodivergent communities (among others) are not always considered in modern creative, collaborative and social landscapes. Lucian facilitates multimodal creative programs to encourage and support diverse ways of relating, creating and socialising. These ‘Rainbow Arts Initiatives’ are LGBTQIA+ and nuerodivergent affirming. They aim to provide a space where people feel seen, accepted, and experience a sense of belonging. Through providing LGBTQIA+ affirming training to health workers, Lucian invites them to take part in deeper conversations about affirming and inclusive care.
https://linktr.ee/creative.circles

Both Rae and Lucian identify as LGBTQIA+ folk and have vast knowledge and experience in supporting LGBTQIA+ and nuerodivergent individuals in therapeutic settings.

Rae and Lucian do not represent all possible intersections of cultural, social or contextual experiences within the LGBTQIA+ communities. They attend supervision, seek out educational content and attend professional development by people with lived experience. Please see the resources provided, which lists wise and generous people who have shaped their respective learning journeys.

Taking care of yourself
Rae and Lucian have created their own personal and professional strategies to help them carry the weight of discussing discriminatory, oppressive and harmful content, that sometimes reflects their own journeys or those of people they support. Please consider how you can take care of yourself when exploring heavy content, or if vulnerability arises when unpacking personal, political, social or cultural views.

Acknowledgement of Country
Creating Wellbeing Melbourne resides on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nations (Melbourne / Glenroy, MLB)
Creative Circles Art Therapy resides on the lands of the Kombumerri Peoples of the Yugambeh language region and runs Rainbow Arts Initiatives from Turbal and Yuggera Country (Brisbane / Logan, QLD) to Bundjalung Country (Northern Rivers, NSW).