Yarning: Blak & Queer
Monthly online yarning group for LGBTIQA+ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander First Nations mob. Providing peer education, support and connection, facilitated by queer mob.
Get in touch if you’re interested in joining these monthly sessions.
Our Services
Peer Education Workshops
The Peer Education Program offers educational workshops for LGBTIQA+ people. These workshops provide a confidential and welcoming environment for participants to socialise and engage in a shared learning experience.
Peer workshops are guided by casual discussions and activities about various topics, which can include self-esteem, representation, coming out, relationships, community, homophobia, biphobia, transphobia, HIV stigma, and general sexual health. These workshops are run by volunteer facilitators who are members of our communities, and have been trained to run activities, encourage participation and discussion.
Peer Education Workshops are:
- Free
- Interactive and dynamic
- A safe space for discussion and sharing stories
- Of varying length, from single session workshops to six-week long programs.
- Available online and face-to-face
- Run by a team of dedicated volunteers from relevant LGBTIQA+ communities
- Aged for people 18+
The workshops are not:
- A counselling session
- Group therapy
Take a look at our Calendar of Events for upcoming dates. The workshops are run by volunteers and we try to run each one more than once a year. There are often limited spaces.
To participate in peer workshops, simply register via the link below. The confidential registration form will ask for your contact details and which groups you would like to attend. You will receive an auto reply to confirm we have received your registration. We will follow up with an email with more information about the upcoming workshops.
Register for a Workshop
QUEER ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER PEOPLE
GAY, BI, QUEER, AND SAME-SEX ATTRACTED MEN
Peer workshops for gay, bi, queer and sexually-diverse men (including trans participants) are available to those wanting to explore their identity, make new social connections in a safe and welcoming space, and learn more about themselves and others in the community.
Magnetic - Single Session Workshops
Single session workshops are the perfect opportunity to touch base with peers, participate in facilitated discussions and activities, and take away a one-day learning experience.
Single session workshops are for people who wish to explore a specific topic in depth or cannot attend the six-week workshops. They are open to all ages over 18.
WORKSHOPS ON PAUSE
The six-week workshops are on pause for the moment and we aim to run them later in the year.
Kinetic and Momentum - Six-Week workshops
Six-week long workshops are an opportunity to bond with a group of peers and have a space to meet up each week. The workshops are a chance to learn about weekly topics, engage in important discussions and activities, and learn more about yourself and those in your community.
The issues explored over the six-week workshops include: identity, coming out, sexual health, community, and stigma among other things.
The six-week workshops run in two different age groups:
- Kinetic: age 30 and under
- Momentum: age 30 and over
LESBIAN, BI, QUEER AND SAME-SEX ATTRACTED WOMEN
Peer workshops for lesbian, bi, queer and sexually-diverse women (including trans participants) are available to those wanting to explore their identity, make new social connections in a safe and welcoming space, and learn more about themselves and other women in LGBTIQA+ communities.
Sphere - Single Session Workshops
Single session workshops are the perfect opportunity to touch base with peers, participate in facilitated discussions and activities, and take away a one-day learning experience.
Single session workshops are for people who wish to explore a specific topic in depth or cannot attend the six-week workshops, and they are open all ages over 18.
WORKSHOPS ON PAUSE
The six-week workshops are on pause for the moment and we aim to run them later in the year.
Scope - Six-Week workshop
Six-week long workshops are an opportunity to bond with a group of peers, have a space to meet up each week and learn about weekly topics, engage in important discussions and fun activities, and learn more about yourself and those in your community.
The issues explored over the six-week workshops include identity, coming out, sexual health, community and stigma, among other things.
The Scope six-week workshop is available to people of all ages over 18.
TRANS MEN AND TRANS MASCULINE
Pace - monthly workshops
Note: Pace is currently paused. However, the waitlist is open for expressions of interest.
Pace is a monthly peer workshop for trans men, trans masc, and nonbinary+ participants to connect with each other, have a safe and social space to engage in discussions and activities relevant to their experiences.
Pace workshops are open to all ages over 18.
Participants who feel aligned with any of the other peer workshops are welcome to also attend those groups simultaneously.
TRANS WOMEN AND TRANS FEMININE
Novus - monthly workshops
Novus is a monthly peer workshop for trans women, trans feminine, and nonbinary+ participants to connect with each other, have a safe and social space to engage in discussions and activities relevant to their experiences.
Novus workshops are open to all ages over 18.
Participants who feel aligned with any of the other peer workshops are welcome to also attend those groups simultaneously.
NON-BINARY & GENDER DIVERSE PEOPLE
Rise – monthly workshops
Rise is a monthly peer workshop for nonbinary+ and gender diverse participants to connect with each other and engage in discussions and activities relevant to experiences and identities beyond the binary.
Participants who feel aligned with any of the other peer workshops are welcome to also attend those groups simultaneously.
FEEDBACK FROM PREVIOUS PARTICIPANTS
“I made a few new friends in the workshop. I have also realised that I should be happier with myself. I’m more comfortable with my sexuality now.”
“I gained a sense of community and acceptance with myself as a gay man. The workshop also helped to break down the stigma associated with HIV-positive people.”
“The sexual health session is really helpful to understand how to have safer sex in today’s world.”
“I enjoyed meeting new and exciting people from diverse backgrounds, and now I have a better understanding of myself.”
“The communication and conflict skills provide helpful and positive ways to look at the way we operate, with practical suggestions of ways to communicate.”
“I now have a feeling that the community is a whole lot larger than I previously imagined.”
“I loved being able to meet and learn through everyone. The group dynamic was fantastic. Everyone was easy going.”
“I know I’m not alone facing issues around self-esteem, coming out, and relationships. I feel more confident and have higher self-esteem.”
PEER EDUCATION VOLUNTEERS
Interested in volunteering for the peer education program? Check out the Volunteers section for more information, and get in touch with us via the details below.
Contact us
Phone: (03) 9865 6700
Email: peer.ed@thorneharbour.org