Trainings & Workshops

Here at Queer* Support, we offer a range of workshops each year. With the addition and launch of two new workshops last year, there are three to choose from, all free for University of Otago staff. With set dates and times that are subject to change each year throughout the year, we ask that you contact us if you are interested. Please see the details below.

Upcoming Workshops open to staff throughout the Otago University:

More about our Workshops:

Queer101: Understanding and Supporting the LGBTQIA+ Community is a workshop that aims to empower those wanting to gain more knowledge around the rainbow community and some methods of best practice.

With a significant proportion of society being a part of this community, everyone knows of someone in this community, even if you don’t know it, which makes this a relevant topic for all. Knowledge is one of the best ways to combat discrimination, exclusion, and lack of understanding, which is what this workshop aims to do. Focusing on understanding the identities the LGBTQIA+ community encompasses, it will offer practical tips on how to be more mindful and considerate when interacting with, working with, and representing those within the community. By the end of this workshop, you will have had the opportunity to:

• Gain a simple definition of the LGBTQIA+ identities within the community and common terminology
• Interactive activities and discussions to help consolidate the learning
• Discuss some practices to put into place to offer more mindful and empathetic support towards members of the queer* community
  • Recommendations
  • Everyday applications
• Ask questions:
  • Everyone comes with their own knowledge and experiences, so feel free to contribute this to the discussion

Queer102: Cultural Considerations in the New Zealand LGBTQIA+ Community is a workshop that aims to explore the cultural and religious identities and their stance within the rainbow community. We discuss some of the cultural identities common in New Zealand, and the challenges that come with being apart of the intersections of culture, religion, and sex/sexuality/gender, gender expression. Focussing on the three statistically largest cultural groups, and the four statistically most common faiths and/or religions here in Aotearoa. It will offer practical tips on how to be more mindful and considerate when interacting with, working with, and representing those within intersectionalities within the community. By the end of this workshop, you will have had the opportunity to:

• Broaden understanding of cultural and indigenous LGBTQIA+ identities within our community and common terminology
• Explore some of the experiences members of this community have had:
  • Defending their identities to themselves, and others
  • Consider the intersectional identities that exist within our community
• Discuss some practices to put into place to offer more mindful and empathetic support towards members of the queer* community
  • Recommendations
  • Everyday applications
• Ask questions:
  • Everyone comes with their own knowledge and experiences, so feel free to contribute this to the discussion

Queer103: Mental Health in the New Zealand LGBTQIA+ Community is a workshop that aims to empower University staff to offer empathetic support to fellow staff and students alike.

Members of the queer community are known to experience mental health challenges at higher rates than other communities. With a significant proportion of society being a part of this community everyone knows of someone in this community, which makes this a relevant topic for all. Knowledge is one of the best ways to combat discrimination, exclusion, and lack of understanding, which is what this workshop aims to do. Focusing on mental health, on understanding the identities the LGBTQIA+ community encompasses, it will explore the history of those community members’ mental health, reflections from members of what they have experienced and would like changed, and offer some practical tips on how to be conscious of these issues. By the end of this workshop, you will have had the opportunity to:

• Build a simple definition of the LGBTQIA+ identities within our communities and some common terminology
• Understand the history of mental health within the LGBTQIA+ community in New Zealand
• Explore some of the experiences members of this community have had:
  • Defending their identities to themselves, and others
  • Consider the intersectional identities that exist within our community
• Discuss some practices to put into place to offer more mindful and empathetic support towards members of the queer* community
  • Recommendations
  • Everyday applications
• Ask questions:
  • Everyone comes with their own knowledge and experiences, so feel free to contribute this to the discussion

To book in for our 2021 workshops click the workshop you wish to attend. If you would like to arrange for a workshop tailored to you and your team(s) please email us at q.support@ousa.org.nz. Additionally, if you are from outside the university and still interested, please contact us at kelli-anne@ousa.org.nz and we will see what can be arranged for you.