HEY! Want to share your LGBTQIA+ story?

Healthy Equal Youth (HEY) Wellington is a project designed to provide an opportunity for LGBTQIA+ young people to structure and share their life stories in a safe and supported environment, with mentoring from professional storytellers. It helps young LGBTQIA+ locals feel safe and empowered and gives them a voice.

This year, four notable people – writer Nevo Zisin, educator Daniel Witthaus, transgender actress Georgie Stone and her mother, Rebekah Robertson – have been chosen to share online their stories of experiences and issues faced as a part of the LGBTQIA+ community.  

Their inspiring videos will be shared on the Wellington Shire YouTube page (www.wellington.vic.gov.au/HEY) and via the Wellington Shire Council Facebook page as part of Social Inclusion Week, which runs from 21 to 29 November. And stay tuned for quick-cut Q&As that address questions from local Wellington youth.

A series of workshops, to be facilitated by ABC Gippsland producer and presenter Amber Irving-Guthrie, will be held via Zoom on Wednesday 2 December, Wednesday 16 December, Wednesday 27 January and Wednesday 3 February, to give young people a better opportunity to develop and tell their personal narratives.  

Participants will then have an opportunity to share their stories in a safe environment at a local school, where wellbeing and year-level staff will be invited to attend.

In the final week of February 2021, a Family & Friends event will be held, where these new youth storytellers will be able to share their experiences with peers, friends and family in a safe public space.

Young people under the age of 25 who would like build their storytelling skills and share an experience they have had as part of the LGBTQIA+ community are invited to register their interest in the upcoming workshops at bit.ly/HEYWellington.

The HEY Grant is funded and supported by the Victorian Government.