Tabby Besley

In a podcast recorded at Tapu te Ranga Marae in Wellington, Tabby Besley, the national coordinator for InsideOUT, details their experience organizing a significant event called the "Shift hui". The term "Shift" was purposefully chosen to symbolize the aim of challenging and changing dominant societal norms, particularly those related to heteronormativity, and to empower youth to support and celebrate diversity within their communities.

One of the greatest challenges Besley discusses is the struggle of managing such a substantial event with minimal funding and resources, as InsideOUT operates with only one part-time staff member. Despite this, the favorite moments highlighted by Besley include witnessing the growth of former participants who have become volunteers, facilitating workshops and taking on leadership roles. Seeing the diverse young people from different parts of the country engage, learn from each other, and have fun is also especially rewarding for them.

Besley is particularly excited about the rest of the event, anticipating the talent show where participants will be showcasing their skills and the continuation of valuable workshops. The transformation of participants from the start to the end of the hui is notable, as they often arrive anxious but leave with newfound friendships and insights into themselves and their capabilities.

The podcast also addresses the importance of creating a safe space for attendees, particularly those who are attending for the first time or who are young, given that individuals from the LGBTQ+ community often face significant mental health challenges. InsideOUT fosters this safe environment through a robust support system that includes assigning each participant a "tuakana" (similar to an elder sibling or group leader) for mentorship, as well as having an "asteroid" (a supporting figure) and professional counselors and social workers available for additional assistance.

Looking ahead, Besley expresses the desire to make the hui more accessible by potentially organizing it in multiple regions to alleviate travel barriers, ensuring that even more individuals can benefit from the event. They encourage those interested to reach out with any questions and reassure potential attendees of the ample support that will be provided.

This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.

Tabby Besley

2010s, counselling, funding, heteronormativity, hui, insideout kōaro, mental health, rowan moulder, safe space, shift hui, shift hui (2015), shift hui (2016), support, tabby besley, tuakana

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