Monthly Archives: October 2013

NICHE HEADS TO BUNBURY WA

As part of the National Institute for Challenging Homophobia Education’s tour of regional, rural and remote Australia, Daniel will travel to Bunbury WA for one week of challenging homophobia.

Thanks to the invitation and ongoing efforts of the Uniting Care West ‘True Colours’ project, Daniel Witthaus will spend the week starting 21st October with locals, working with students in local schools and working with teachers and health professionals.

Bunbury’s Helen Robinson (True Colours): “The Safer Schools Project are really looking forward to NICHE coming to Bunbury as we are well   that homophobia is still experienced by our young people in schools and the wider community of Bunbury. Daniel’s knowledge and expertise would be harnessed through school visits and workshops, several opportunities to ‘have a cuppa’ with the community. We are also working with the Equal Opportunities Commission to host an event in Perth to announce the NICHE Tour. We are hoping that Daniel can provide the extra momentum for our program to really take hold in Bunbury and  create further awareness of the need for safer schools.”

ALBURY: MARRIAGE EQUALITY RALLY

On Saturday 12th October 2013, Daniel Witthaus joined local speakers for Albury’s 2nd Equal Love Rally.

“What I found (on my journey) was regional Australia was saying ‘It’s about bloody time we had these conversations’,” he told the ABC.

“‘We need to have these conversations because either young people are taking their lives or they’re actually leaving for the big smoke’.”

Read and hear more here at the ABC: Albury Equal Love

‘WOBBLY BITS’ LAUNCH: LGBTI INCLUSIVENESS IN HEALTH CARE

During the first half of 2013, Daniel Witthaus would on an LGBTI Inclusiveness Project with Western Region Health Centre (WRHC).  Over 5 months, Daniel looked at what was working well, what barriers staff had to being more inclusive and implementing strategies.  This work takes on extra significance because the organisation is in Melbourne’s west, which has often been subjected to an overestimation of homophobia and an underestimation of local responses to LGBTI communities.

The culmination was the ‘Through The Wobbly Bits’ report, launched by CEO Lyn Morgain and the WRHC LGBTI Working Group, A2Z.  A range of recommendations will see WRHC leading the way in Australian health care that includes, supports and celebrates LGBTI communities across 19 sites and over 330 staff members.

CHANNEL 31: QUEER YOUNG THINGS

A new series focusing on LGBTI young people has been getting a great response.  Channel 31′s Queer Young Things is aimed at younger viewers designed to showcase and support LGBTI young people.

Daniel Witthaus joined the ‘Schools’ episode, playing the role as an ‘elder’ who answered questions from a panel of young people.

Watch more here: Bent TV Channel

Read more about the series in this article from The Age: Queer Young Things

SHEPPARTON DIVERSITY

In early September 2013, Daniel found himself in Shepparton to talk with Diversity, a group for LGBTI young people in the Greater Shepparton region.  Delivered by Uniting Care-Cutting Edge (UCCE), a long-time supporter of LGBTI people in the north-west of Victoria, the night included toasted sandwiches, lots of stories and lots of laughs.

Daniel then joined the young people for a spot of tenpin bowling.

WORLD OUT GAMES: DANIEL TAKES BRONZE

Following his previous tennis playing haul of three gold, one silver and one bronze at Gay Games and World Out Games, Daniel took time to compete in the 3rd World Out Games in Antwerp, Belgium.

After four days of intense competition, he managed to win a bronze medal playoff against a big serving Croatian.