This in-person workshop will support school nurses, professional support staff and interested teachers to gain the understanding of affirmation planning and the role it plays in addressing challenges and barriers faced by LGBTIQ+ young people.
Affirmation plans (gender or sexuality or bodies) are developed together with the young person and where appropriate engage their families and allow for the school leadership to be informed as to the unique needs of a specific student in their school.
Program participants will:
- Appreciate the history and development of affirmation plans in Tasmanian schools.
- Appreciate the role of Gender Affirmation Plans as part of a whole school approach and the limitations of a focus on an individual student.
- Appreciate the guiding principles that set the context for the Affirmation plan
- Work through an Affirmation Plan in order to understand its use in addressing supportive and dignifying conversations with LGBTIQ+ members of staff, or students, through focusing on social, legal, educational concerns.
- Understand the limits of a plan in relation to medical issues.
- Develop strategies for including families in the development of Affirmation Plans.
- Ground the plan as a tool for advocacy and not as a therapy tool.
- Understand considerations of confidentiality and disclosures.
Xris Reardon has been supporting LGBTIQ+ students, families, schools and communities in Tasmania for 6 years. They have a Bachelor of Arts and Social Science, a Masters in Community Cultural Development and a Masters in Narrative Therapy and Community Work.
Teachers
- Standard 4 – Create and maintain supportive and safe learning environments
- Standard 7 – Engage professionally with colleagues, parents/carers and the community
Principals
- Leading improvement, innovation and change
- Engaging and working with the community
1 Day session – 10:00 am – 3:30 pm
South – Professional Learning Institute – Glenorchy
- Wednesday 24 August 2022
North-West – Devonport Library – Devonport
- Friday 26 August 2022