Hey - does anyone remember this great course which used to operate across the country? It used to be under the banner of Boystown and Kids Help Line.It still exists, in QLD(with Lifeline), WA and some other small pockets in the eastern states.
It's a fantastic program - I did the facilitators training many years ago and have seen it in action - very powerful - very useful. Brilliant for exploring relationships.
Here is a quick blurb on it, more can be found here;
The Peer Skills Workshop is a two day interactive learning experience designed to acknowledge and build on the natural listening, helping and problem solving skills of young people. The workshop helps young people develop their relationship skills and increases their confidence in safely assisting a friend or peer who is experiencing a problem.
The Peer Skills Program uses a problem prevention, youth development and community development framework to support its peer work with young people. The Peer Skills Workshop and Peer Skills Facilitator Training Program use an experiential style of learning, underpinned by the principles of empowerment and child centred practice.
I rang the coordinator yesterday and she is keen to get it into SA - many possibilities here but she was also wondering if there would be an agency or organisation that may be interested in being the overseeing body of the program in SA. Any thoughts? I will ring another lady in SA who is working with QLD to get it re-established and let you know what her thoughts are.
Chris.
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I dont know this program but I would want to ensure that this program supports diversity and acceptance for all people including gay and lesbian people.They dont make a clear statement on this that I can see .. but this is what they do say.
ReplyDelete" As an agency of the Uniting Church Queensland Synod, Lifeline Community Care’s mission and values are strongly founded on:
The teachings of Jesus Christ
As an agency of the Uniting Church, Queensland Synod, Lifeline Community Care acts as part of God’s loving transformation of people and the world through care, compassion and commitment of its staff, the quality of its services to people and its voice for a fair and just society."
Yeah - that's an interesting point you make. Now that the program is under the banner of a Christian Organisation, has that effected its delivery in regards to the conversations etc - would facilitators be required to abide by a set of beliefs / attitudes. Having facilitated the program myself years ago this certainly wasn't an issue in fact discussing homophobia was a common talking point (as it commonly is in matters concerning sexual health). The impression I got while talking with the coordinator was her organisation isn't precious about the program - they don't wish to control it, they just want to see it out there infact the coordinator is one of the people who wrote the training when it "belonged" to boystown. It's refreshing to meet attitudes like this - more interested in the greater good!!. I'll sus it out though - it would be interesting hear if the coordinator has ever come up against these kinds of disturbing attitudes regarding the content of peer skills.
ReplyDeleteGreat points Chris: Yes it is refreshing to meet attitudes that are interested in the greater good.Regardless of culture/religion/orientation etc etc.
ReplyDeleteOf course my greater good is not necessarily your greater good and vice versa.Hence problems in the world.
There is a fantastic acemdemic ( and practioner named Dr Marsella who outlines how oppression and power imbalance (or diversity)creates so much misery YET it is exactly this diversity that the world also needs to survive - in real terms)
I heard this guy speak at the world 'Diversity in Health' conference - brilliant
This guy sounds really interesting - does he have any on-line info on his work? I'll google him!
ReplyDeleteGood point about the "greater good" view - your right! There's a fair chance a majority of us do go around applying their greater good! Observing the history of the relationship between Indigenous and white Australians is a classic example really. White people thinking they are doing the right thing....Hey have you watched Rabbit Proof Fence? You probably have, it's an old movie but great.
PS I spoke with the lady in SA wo was injecting a bit of energy into Peer Skils, she isn't going to pursue it so I might talk with a few facilitators over here on the Eyre Peninsula - there seems to be heaps of them over here (including 2 teachers from Streaky Area School).
Yes he has stuff online. His first name is Anthony ( I think). I have a great article of his that I will email you.
ReplyDeleteRe the greater good stuff! Jaquiline Riviere and I just ran an Understanding sexual health for CALD new arrivals and refugee course. 1 of the participants refused to hear a young african girl tell her story about prejudice in SA. The girl was telling a story about how she was promptly put into an 'English as Second language ( ESL)' class at high school - instead of in the standard 'english' class. The girl already had a high level of English language and didnt want to waste her time redoing basic grammer, abc's etc etc. She was told by the High School that she needed to do the ESL anyway ( no assessment was done on her ability and knowledge)
Anyway - One of the participants (a white woman who was anh ESL teacher) said they put her in the ESL class ' for her own good'
ARGGGHHHH
Hi all
ReplyDeleteI also have facilitated Peer Skills Workshops in SA with a school who is committed to running them every year for their Yr 8 cohort (separate male/female groups). Homophobia has come up in 'issues for young people' and as opportunities to challenge discrimninatory language during the sessions.
I think it really depends on the facilitator to be clear about challenging homophobia as soon as it happens and opening up the discussion for the young people.
I take along resources for young people who may be GLBTIQ or questioning and display a poster: "some girls like other girls, some guys like other guys, some are straight, we welcome you all!" to try and set up an environment supporting diversity.
The initial training run by presenters contracted by KHL was open and upfront about the realities that young people in the groups may be gay, lesbian, questioning or unsure so it was important to be 1) aware and 2) comfortable to talk about it in ways that would be helpful for all group members ie Peer Skills is all about helping your peers and friends when they face tricky situations. Coming out, dealing with a society that privileges heterosexuality can be tricky to say the least!
As a worker in a conservative community, Peer Skills is an inclusive program which has been embraced by the school. It has been one way of reaching young people and it has been a start to building relationships. Sometimes you just need that start and things can follow from that.
Cheers and all the best to other workers out there!