Kaete Walker

…

Hunter Centre for Sex and Gender Diversity Inc (HCSGD)

**NB: the new HCSGD website is now located at:

http://huntergenderalliance.org/

(an older one also being at: http://www.huntercentreforsexandgenderdiversity.com.au/  )

(NSW Dept of Fair Trading Incorporation Number 1600026.   ABN 14 303 735 103)

In mid 2015 a small special interest group was established with the aim of attempting to improve services for gender variant and transgender persons residing within the Hunter region of New South Wales, Australia. This initial group, meeting at my home, then in Maitland, NSW, comprised myself, Associate Professor Rachel Heath, the late psychiatrist Dr Larry Brash, now Staff Specialist Psychiatrist, Dr Yolandie Goodyear, the then Northern NSW Manager at ACON, Glenn Ferroes, and Dr Sharon Crabbe, the Director of Psychiatry, Hunter Valley Mental Health Service. Subsequently, for a short period, Rachel Wallbank, of Wallbanks Legal. 

From this special interest group was later elected a management committee.

The founding, inaugural, president was myself, a member, and former past executive member, 2015-2017, Australian and New Zealand Professional Association for Transgender Health (ANZPATH), and, later, a member of its education sub- committee.

Gratitude also expressed, for past assistance given, to Rachael Wallbank, of Wallbanks Legal, to Associate Professor Rachel Heath, to Mr Liam Mortimer, social work student, Univ of Newcastle, to Dr Sharon Crabbe, Clinical Director, Hunter Valley Mental Health Service, and to more.

The aims of the group were, within the Hunter region of NSW, and according the HCSGD Constitution:

1. To promote the subjects of the health, rights and well-being of people who experience difference in sexual formation and/or gender expression, within professional training programs.
2. To serve as a forum for and promote communication and collaboration amongst professionals involved in the health, rights and well-being of people who experience difference in sexual formation and/or gender expression
3. To encourage, promote and share research in the fields of the health, rights and well-being of people who experience difference in sexual formation and/or gender expression.
4. To develop best practices and supportive policies which promote the health, rights and well-being of people who experience difference in sexual formation and/or gender expression.
5. To establish a known network of professional service providers in the fields of the health, rights and well-being of people who experience difference in sexual formation and/or gender expression.

The name, Hunter Centre for Sex and Gender Diversity Inc (HSCSGD), was accepted by the NSW Dept of Fair Trading, 12th Jan 2016, as was its Constitution, and the body was officially incorporated.

A bank account (BSB 650000. Acct No 522540100) was set up under the Hunter Centre for Sex and Gender Diversity Inc name.

Since inception, members of HCSGD have given educational presentations, many, to, and for example, variously: a Newcastle held conference of Hunter area GPs; Univ of Newcastle medical students (twice); an Australian medical students annual convention; a meeting of Hunter Central Coast Dept of Education senior psychologists; Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, Newcastle; Hunter Valley Mental Health Service, Maitland; Hunter New England Mental Health Service (Mater Hospital campus, relayed via video conference to sites elsewhere); contributions to local and international conferences; and more. Additionally, members have contributed to the development of the Hunter Primary Care ‘Gender Diversity and Transgender’ HealthPathway (a resource for GPs and other health workers in primary health care); the Transgender Gender Diversity’ Collaborative Space (a website containing research, and other articles of interest, for use by Hunter New England Health staff); and, a not yet fully operational HCSGD website.

As well as its successes, HCSGD, perhaps similar other small organisations reliant on volunteer labour, and without high community profile, has also had its various challenges.

Some presentations given by its members over the last few years, and as reported by members, though there have been more, include:

• ANZPATH (Brisbane Conference, March 2015)
• WPATH (Amstedam, June 2016)
• Hunter Postgraduate Medical Institute (August 2016)
• Australian Medical Students Association National Convention  (Newcastle, NSW, August 2016)
• Dementia Alliance (October 2016)
• University of Newcastle Medical Students (University of Newcastle, February 2017)
• General Practitioners Fertility Meeting (February 2017)
• Lake Macquarie Mental Health Service (March 2017)

• Heath, R.A., & Walker, K. (December, 2015). Gender diversity issues in the school classroom. Invited address to the Executive Committee of the NSW School Guidance Officers, Hunter New England Region.
• Walker, K., & Heath, R.A. (May, 2015). Transgender care and mental health: Some ideas for consideration. Talk given to Hunter New England Mental Health Grand Rounds. Calvary Mater Hospital, Waratah, NSW, Australia.
• Walker, K., & Heath, R.A. (April, 2015). Transgendered youth in the NSW Hunter region: On the dire need for a designated gender clinic. Talk to the Newcastle Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
• Walker, K. (Sept, 2017). Invited presenter and session chair, ANZPATH Clinical Day, ACON, Sydney.

…….

Clinical providers, an incomplete listing (and more to be added, as time goes by), in the Hunter area of NSW who are said to have an interest and/or expertise in matters transgender (NB. Disclaimer: HCSGD Inc cannot necessarily vouch for any provider):

1. Dr Steve Kelly. GP. Warrabrook, Newcastle.
2. Dr Jon Pauley. GP. Lorn. Maitland area.
3. Dr Katie-Jane Wynne PhD. Endocronologist, John Hunter Hospital.
   
4. Dr Carolyn Croft, Clinical Psychologist, Armidale. NSW.
5. Ms Paula Machin, Manager of Speech Pathology. | Rankin Park Centre.
   Locked Bag No. 1. Hunter Region Mail Centre. Newcastle. 2310
6. Counselors at ACON, Newcastle.
7. Dr David Burton, a psychiatrist at Procare, Newcastle
   
8.  Psychologists Ben Fletcher and Emma Gallagher at
   Newpsych, Newcastle
   
9. GP Dr Cathy McIntrye Darby St, Cooks Hill, Newcastle.
10. Kim Hopkirk & William Vorobioff who both work out of the EastWest Centre in
    Newcastle on 4965 3434.
11.  Tanya Davis and Sue Ferguson see adult clients at NewPsych.
    Daniel Wendt is at Oracle Psychology.

The late Dr Larry Brash, previously a psychiatrist in private practice, is very sadly missed.

Since my resignation as president, due ill health, my former deputy president, Dr Katie-Jane Wynne PhD, has since taken over as the president. Under her helm the organization, now more commonly known as Hunter Gender Alliance, has gone forward leaps and bounds. Katie and her team have gained more than I ever had. I sincerely congratulate them all. Tis good.

Kaete.