School and Community Engagement

Open Doors can support your school through presentations, workshops, stalls, resources, and professional development training for staff.

Please see below for details of what services and support we can provide to schools. 

If you have a LGBTIQ+ student who is needing support, please fill out our referral form. We are unable to provide impromptu support to students while we are visiting your school for other activities. 

Please note: currently Open Doors is experiencing a high demand for our individual support services which is reducing our capacity to deliver community activities to schools. We will endeavor to make resources available to schools we are unable to visit.

For more support for your school we also recommend True’s Capability, Confidence and Diversity Initiative (CCDI) program and their online self-paced education on establishing LGBTIQ student groups. 

Group or Assembly Presentation

Student Workshops (fee for service)

We can facilitate the following workshops to school students:

1. Introduction to LGBTIQ+ identities and experiences:  Introduce students to LGBTIQ+ identities and experiences. This workshop celebrates diverse identities in an engaging workshop for students.
2. Being an ally to my LGBTIQ+ peers: This workshop develops students’ everyday skills to make their schools more inclusive for all students, including those who may identify as LGBTIQ+. Presentations and workshops are designed to increase student awareness of LGBTIQ+ identities and experiences, while enhancing empathy, problem solving skills, help-seeking behaviours, and communication skills. The sessions assist students in recognising and responding to discriminatory behaviour in-line with school anti-bullying and inclusion policies. This workshop seeks to actively engage students in creating affirming and inclusive school cultures and understanding that they each play a part in shaping change.
3. Pride Program: A series of strengths-based psychosocial workshops for LGBTIQAP+ Sistergirl students and ally group members aiming to affirm, empower and increase students’ sense of identity and belonging in the school community in a supportive peer group environment. 

School Staff Training (fee for service)

Open Doors Youth Service has developed training to support organisations and individual practitioners provide affirming and culturally safer services for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex, Queer, Asexual, Pansexual, Sistergirl and Brotherboy (LGBTIQAP+ Sistergirl & Brotherboy) young people, communities, and their families (chosen, or otherwise). 

Please Note: All school-based professional development and student workshops are fee-for-service as this work is currently unfunded. Fees vary depending on several factors; however, ODYS try to ensure that our work is accessible and affordable. Please contact ODYS and a member of the team can discuss the school context and create an education package that reflects the needs and in the school community.

True’s Capability, Confidence and Diversity Initiative (CCDI) provides support for school staff in Queensland to maintain educational environments inclusive of all students, including those who may be Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex and Queer (LGBTIQ+). For further information from True, please contact them directly at diversity@true.org.au or phone 07 3250 0257.

Stalls

We can facilitate a stall at your school health, wellbeing or LGBTIQ event. Please fill out the form below to request Open Doors to have a stall at our school event. 

Please note: Certain days are highly requested (i.e. IDAHOBIT, Mental Health Week, Wear It Purple Day) and we do have limited capacity to facilitate stalls around these dates, so please plan and register early to avoid disappointment. 

Resources and Merchandise

Open Doors can post out resources for you to share with your staff and students, including posters, postcards, pens and merchandise. Please provide your postage details in the form below to receive a resource pack. 

Community of Practice

ODYS provides consultation and support to school communities that seeks to offer a sense of purposeful direction that is strategic, adaptable, and deliberate. This may include, developing or reviewing the school inclusion statement and strategies, diversity policies and opportunities to review existing school policies more broadly to identify areas to enhance education equity and inclusion for all students, including those who identify as LGBTIQAP+ Sistergirl and Brotherboy

Please Note: All school-based professional development and student workshops are fee-for-service as this work is currently unfunded. Fees vary depending on several factors; however, ODYS try to ensure that our work is accessible and affordable. Please contact ODYS and a member of the team can discuss the school context and create an education package that reflects the needs and in the school community.

Request School or Community Engagement

If you have troubles with completing the online form, please contact us