REPRESENTATIVES from Qtopia Sydney, a centre in Darlinghurst celebrating Queer history and culture, visited Broken Hill this week seeking expressions of interest from local schools to facilitate their education programs.
CEO Greg Fisher and artistic and programs directory Carly Fisher spent time meeting with educators to discuss their regional education program, which explores Queer history and teaches students about identity and inclusion, as well as instilling skills required of advocates and leaders.
Mr Fisher said the centre, which is in the former Darlinghurst Police Station, opened almost a year ago to the day, and is the largest centre for Queer history and culture in the world.
“It was launched by the Prime Minister, Premier and Lord Mayor,” Mr Fisher said.
“Which is to say that three levels of government said that Queer stories and Queer people matter.”
Mr Fisher said the centre shares stories of Queer history through exhibitions and haa had 19 exhibitions in their first year.
Ms Fisher said Qtopia have specially written programs for regionals, after the success of metro-based education programs for school students.
“So we will send facilitators out from our organisation,” she said.
“The program is two and a half hours, and then the schools become a part of the family, and we have ongoing partnerships with them.”
Ms Fisher said the program begins by exploring history, before looking at the meaning of activism and what it’s meant for the community, and lastly exploring what can be done locally in the way of activism.
“The program is designed to empower and embolden students with the vocabulary to call on change, to find what they’re passionate about and turn it into positive action,” she said.
“And to give them those initial tools, but also a community knowing that adults really believe in what they say.”
Mr Fisher said the program is adaptable and responsive based on what teachers want to place focus on.
“One of the biggest pieces of feedback we get from teachers is, a lot of them are so well intentioned and really want to be having these conversations with their students, but they’re scared of using the wrong words,” he said.
“So the other day one of the teachers said, while you’re here, could we also talk about pronouns?”
Mr Fisher said he encourages schools to engage with Qtopia to deliver a program best suited to the school and students.
She added the programs are designed to foster collaboration and connectivity, and aren’t over at the end of the workshop but form ongoing relationships.
“We aren’t just talking about coming in, running a quick program and never seeing them again,” she said.
“We’re talking about establishing relationships with schools in different regions and metro and creating programs to link everyone up.”
Ms Fisher said the program isn’t solely focused on Queer culture but teaches life lessons about inclusivity and identity that can be applied more generally.
“The programs we run in schools speak to identity and inclusion, advocacy and leadership, through the LGBT lens,” she said.
“But we invite people to look through their own lens, their own affinity group. There are some lessons that go across everything that are worth remembering if you want to become the best possible leader in future.”
Qtopia plan to return to Broken Hill along with Parkes, Dubbo, Orange, Wilcannia, Cobar and Trundle to deliver their education program in April.
