Community: The Changing Nature of Our Relationships

Perspectives on Ageing

Friday 14:00-15:30 VAL'S CAFÉ - A FORUM TO PROMOTE THE HEALTH AND WELLBEING OF OLDER GAY, LESBIAN, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER AND INTERSEX PEOPLE

Catherine Barrett, Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria
Jude Comfort, Curtin University
Jo Harrison, University of South Australia
Peter Dickson, Linton Estate Retirement Village
Sue Kentlyn, The University of Queensland
Russell Westacott, ACON
Sally Goldner, Transgender Victoria
Meg Gulbin, Victorian Department of Health

PRESENTERS’ BIO:

Dr Catherine Barrett is a research fellow and community liaison officer at  the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society at La Trobe University and an aged care consultant at Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria;   Jude Comfort is a researcher with Curtin University of Technology in Western Australia;   Dr Jo Harrison is a gerontologist with the University of South Australia;   Mr Peter Dickson is the proprietor of Linton Estate, gay and lesbian retirement village;   Sue Kentlyn is a researcher for Diversity & Older People's Care Networks School of Social Work and Human Services in the University of Queensland;   Russell Westacott is the Director, Client Services for ACON, the AIDS Council of NSW:   Sally Goldner is a cofounder of Transgender Victoria;   Meg Gulbin is a Senior Policy Advisor/Executive Officer GLBTI Ministerial Advisory Committee, Victorian Department of Health

ABSTRACT:

Val’s Café is a project undertaken by Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria and the {also} Foundation. The Café runs four times a year to bring together people working in aged care services who wish to promote the health and wellbeing of older gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex clients. The Café is modelled on Val’s Coffee Lounge – a coffee shop that was popular with the gay community in 1950s Melbourne, when homosexuality was illegal. The café operates to support champions in the care of GLBTI clients by providing coffee, snacks and the opportunity to share ideas, challenges, resources and innovations. Val’s café will open its doors for the Health in Difference Conference in 2010 to enable patrons from around the country to share ideas and network. The café will include: formal presentations from a range of guest speakers; the opportunity for interaction at ‘themed’ tables; and the development of strategies for collaboration across researchers, advocates, policy makers and service providers