We are grateful to the guest speakers for taking time to share their experiences and explore topics such as:
common experiences of grief and loss amongst LGBTIQ+ people
strategies for dealing with grief and loss amongst LGBTIQ+ community
where and how to seek support
We look forward to welcoming Mx Frances Mulcahy, Ricki Spencer and Abraham Polatkesen to share about their unique experiences. Bios with more details are below.
Mx Frances Mulcahy (she/her) is an out and proud trans woman. She is a retired general practitioner, current researcher, educator, poet, and performer.
Fran is very active in the role of educator/advocate at the interface of health providers and gender diverse health consumers. Her medical practice life included a stint in full-time hospice work. She was the guest facilitator for a community bereavement group for several years. Her transition has included plenty of loss and grief, some expected, some surprising.
The grief of a 67 year long life, both quite ordinary and somewhat less ordinary, combined with a great deal of listening in a therapeutic role inform Fran’s compassion for, and understanding of, loss and grief.
Ricki Spencer (they/her) M.Ed. GDCD, BSW. BA B.Ed. is a qualified teacher, social worker, and Health Sociologist.
They are currently completing Public Health at Federation University. They are a public advocate for people living with a disability, transgender, queerly ageing, mental health stigmatization and forced adoption (stolen generation) who are important identities lived.
Ricki is the current Convenor for Sociology of Teaching in Australia of the Australian Sociological Association, Consumer Advisory Member for CHF Australia, Consumer Panel Member for Royal Melbourne Hospital and Diabetes Victoria. Executive Advisory Committee Member for Breast Screening Victoria St Vincent’s Hospital, Clinical Governance Committee Member and First Nations Health Advisory Committee Member for LGBTQA Health Australia. Consumer Advisory Board Member at Doherty Institute & NCRIS and VMIAC Mental Health Advisory Steering Committee member. Ricki has over 25 years’ experience working in welfare provision as a social worker, teacher, and health promotions facilitator.
Ricki is the current chair for the policy steering committee for AusPATH and Educational mentor for the Pinnacle Foundation. She sits on the Board of Lance TV (regional public media broadcasting) and has been appointed to the Health and Wellbeing Working Group of Department of Equity Victoria, LGBTQA Taskforce Term 5 and 2024 LGBTIQA+ Victoria Leadership program. Ricki is also a member of the Silver Pride Advocacy Network, Living Experience Advocacy Panel.
Abraham Polatkesen (he/him) is the Project Officer at SASH. SASH came to be after Support After Suicide and LGBTQIA+ mental health organisation Switchboard Victoria identified a need for more specialist support spaces for our communities.
SASH was made by, and for LGBTQIA+ people who live with loss by suicide. All aspects guided by the collective wisdom of Support After Suicide’s LGBTQIA+ Advisory Group.