Events
Upcoming events
Lesbian Mums Parenting Group - Wednesday evenings in July 2010
Topics might include: Understanding where your kids are at developmentally, how they understand their family – what’s normal and what matters at what age? ; Talking about your Rainbow Family – what’s most helpful for kids? Dealing with bullying if it occurs; Raising happy healthy kids- promoting mental health and a sense of security as kids grow; Preparing for adolescence – or managing if you are already there!
Wednesday nights - 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th of July 2010 from 6-7.30pm at drummond street services, 195 Drummond St, Carlton. Download flyer below.
'How to Tell' Seminar - 28 Aug 2010
“It's all about telling children about their donor origins, openness, honesty, how & when to tell”. The Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority, formerly ITA, will be offering a seminar in conjunction with the Donor Conception Support Group and Rainbow Families Council. It will be conducted on Saturday August 28 2010 at Northcote High School. Registration starts at 09:45am for a 10:00am start, finishing around 3:30pm. Speakers will provide insights and advice on all aspects of talking to children about their donor origins. Important new changes to the legislation this year will be discussed. Speakers will include counsellors, parents, donors and donor-conceived young people. Download the details of the seminar and registration form from www.varta.org.au Phone 03 8601-5250 or email varta@varta.org.au for any enquiries. The cost will be $25 per person. This will include refreshments and a light lunch. ** Register early to secure a place.
Gay Dads Through Surrogacy - 5th Annual Father's Day picnic
The Gay Dads through surrogacy group will be holding their 5th annual "Father's Day" picnic in the Melbourne Botanical Gardens in September. Sunday 5 September 2010 from 10.30 to 3.00pm. Each year we get a large group of Dads with their children and guys who are just starting on the surrogacy journey. It is a relaxing day in the gardens with plenty of space for the kids to play. It is a great opportunity for those guys who are just starting the surrogacy journey to come and meet the dads and their kids. For further information send an email to info@gaydadsaustralia.com or keep your eye on the Gay Dads Australia website (www.gaydadsaustralia.com.au).
Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority presents; Twilight Seminar 2: Surrogacy in Victoria – Issues to Consider.
The next seminar in the Authority’s Twilight Seminar Series focuses on Surrogacy in Victoria – Issues to Consider and will be held on Wednesday 8 September 2010 from 5.30pm at Russell Kennedy in La Trobe Street, Melbourne. It promises to be an interesting and informative evening. We will hear about the surrogacy journey from two different personal perspectives and an experienced family lawyer will discuss the legal implications of pursuing surrogacy in Victoria. The psychological aspects of surrogacy including essential ingredients for success and pitfalls to avoid will also be presented.
More information about the seminar including a registration form is
available on the Authority’s website at www.varta.org.au
Gay Dads National Conference -18th and 19th September 2010 in Melbourne.
The conference will be covering topics for gay dads in surrogacy, co-parenting, gay dads from a straight relationship, fostering and adoption, step gay dads (partners) and of course gay guys wanting to be dads. More information from Drummond Street Services on 03 9663 6733 or download flyer below.
Prospective Lesbian Parents - Monthly Meetings
Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month, at the Victorian Aids Council, 6 Claremont St, South Yarra. For details of upcoming meetings, see our event calendar, or Prospective Lesbian Parents.
Maybe Baby Melbourne
is a group for prospective gay & lesbian parents. Meetings are an informal get together for a meal/drinks with other lesbians and gay men contemplating parenthood. Networking, guest speakers and more. For details see the Maybe Baby website.
DOWNLOADS
Forms and files from current and previous events
 Gay Dads Conference Sept 2010 - flyer | downloads: 20 | type: pdf | size: 1 MB |
| Lesbian Mums Parenting Group (Drummond Street Services) | downloads: 52 | type: pdf | size: 178 kB |
Wednesdays in July 2010 |
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| Symposium proceedings | downloads: 571 | type: pdf | size: 739 kB |
Download proceedings from our Interdisciplinary Symposium, including summaries of keynote speeches on the law, conceptions of kinship and children's rights and rainbow families. |
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 Legal Workshop presentation slides (PPT) | downloads: 107 | type: ppt | size: 691 kB |
Previous events
Surrogacy for Gay Men - Community Forum Sat 22 May 2010
Forum presented by Gay Dads Victoria, 22 May 2010 in Prahan. Altruistic Surrogacy is now legal in Victoria and some other states of Australia. This forum was the fifth held in Melbourne. For info contact Rodney at info@gaydadsaustralia.com
Rainbow Families Conference 13 Feb 2010: Celebrating our past and future journeys
Rainbow Families Council fourth community conference for same-sex parents, prospective parents, rainbow families and our supporters. Find out about the new federal and state legal reforms. Join workshops and community discussions on creating families, parenting, raising children and new research. Meet other parents and make new friends!
Saturday 13 February 2010
Northcote Town Hall, For the conference program go to our Conference Page.
Midsumma Rainbow Families Picnic - 31 Jan 2010
Sunday 31 January 2010 from 11-2pm at Yarraville Gardens. Enjoy the shady trees and fun playground at Yarraville Gardens with other rainbow families of all shapes and sizes. Bring your own picnic basket and rugs and join us for some relaxed family fun. Bring balls and games. All families welcome.
Pride March - 7 Feb 2010
Pride March Victoria 2010 Sunday the 7th of February. The International Theme is One Heart One World One Pride.
Rainbow Families Picnic and Love Makes A Family lets pARTy celebration 8 Feb 2009: Our 4th annual family picnic day for all families, prospective parents and friends. We also celebrated the fact that the Victorian Parliament passed the Assisted Reproductive Technology Bill (see below). Sunday 8th Feb 2009, North Fitzroy.
The Rainbow Cha Cha with Cha Cha Sam 2009 - Sat 24 and 31 January 2009 an upbeat and interactive musical cha cha journey over the rainbow. A Rainbow Families Council (RFC) event in partnership with Northcote Town Hall
Kids Zone at Midsumma Carnival - Sun 18 Jan 2009, Alexandra Gardens. Proudly supported by the Rainbow Families Council.
Midsumma Pride March 2009 - 1 Feb 2009, St Kilda
Annual General Meeting 2008: The 2008 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Rainbow Families Council washeld on Saturday 29th November from 2-4pm, at the Clyde Street Community Centre. A new committee was elected for 2009. The formal meeting was followed by an engaging presentation and discussion by Helen Rimington, a renowned expert on building childrens' resilience. Helen spoke on the many strengths of lesbian and gay parented families, the important elements that result in healthy happy kids, the common challenges in rainbow families and some strategies to ensure the family unit stays strong.
Community Workshop A community legal workshop was held on Saturday 13th September 2008 at the Northcote Town Hall. Over thirty people attended to hear a panel of speakers outline the current legislation before Victorian Parliament and explain some of its potential impacts on same-sex parented families. Areas of discussion included recognition of non-biological parents; surrogacy arrangements; birth certificates; access to fertility treatment (ART/IVF) and use of gametes. The presentation is available for viewing in the Downloads section above.
Midsumma 2008 FAIRYTALES WITH A TWIST theatre show The show, targeted towards 3-8 year olds, is produced by Caroline & Philip who are famous for their fairytale shows at the Fitzroy Gardens each Summer.
Free Public Lecture and Interdiscplinary Symposium 2007: These events featured Professor Charlotte Patterson from the University of Virginia, USA, and were held in June 2007. The public lecture provided an opportunity for the community, parents, children, extended family members, professionals and academics to hear from a world leader in research with lesbian and gay parents and their children.
Professor Patterson presented an overview of 25 years of empirical research about children growing up with lesbian and gay parents. This research debunks common myths that children need one mother and one father and that children are somehow disadvantaged growing up in lesbian and gay parented families. It presents the real outcomes for children in our families, bringing into focus the fundamental and critical needs of healthy child development. The Interdisciplinary Symposium addressed important legal, social and health issues affecting rainbow families. Justice Sally Brown from the Family Court of Australia opened the symposium, followed by keynote addresses from Dr Deborah Dempsey, Associate Professor Kristen Walker and Dr John Tobin. A number of roundtable discussions gave participants an opportunity to engage in discussion about key social, legal, health and community issues affecting rainbow families. The event attracted lesbian and gay parents and their families, health and community practitioners, educators and teachers, policy makers, professionals from health, education, legal and welfare sectors, researchers and sociologists. Proceedings of the Symposium can be downloaded above.
