NurseWatch sponsored Becoming Colleen recently – a film about a person called Colin who waited a lifetime to transition and become the woman she always wanted to be. The film sees her at 82, living in an aged care facility in Coffs Harbour, once she has made the move to becoming a transgender woman, happy at last.
With the sub title, Finding the Shoe that Fits, the film shows us Colleen candidly recounting her life as ‘Col’, with all its ups and downs. She lived out many years as ‘Col’, as a husband, father, policeman, projectionist and self-declared shoe fetishist. All of these years were lived in the conservative coastal community of Coffs Harbour on the NSW mid-north coast.
As we watch the film, we see how Colleen starts to negotiate her gender transition later in life. She takes her first steps towards living openly as a transgender woman and quite soon after this, she moves into full-time residential aged care.
As many older LGBT&I people would be, Colleen is apprehensive and fearful about moving into residential aged care as a transgender woman. We watch as she goes on this journey and we see her gain acceptance and finally arrive at a place where she is at peace with who she is, in her new home. Unfortunately, Colleen passed away 6 months before the film’s release but we still find joy in her brave journey.
Becoming Colleen featured at The 4th National LGBTI Ageing and Aged Care Conference in Melbourne in early 2019. In Sydney, the film premiered at Event Cinemas in George Street. Helen Samphier from NurseWatch attended, contributing to the panel discussion after the screening on diversity in aged care. Others at the discussion included the director of the film, Ian Thomson, Brenda Appleton from TGV, Jayne Cummings from Hall & Pryor and a representative from ACON.
NutseWatch is accredited by the Rainbow Tick for LGBTI inclusivity
NurseWatch is a premium home care service provider, accredited with the Rainbow Tick for LGBTI inlusive practice and service delivery. At NurseWatch, we value LGBTI clients and provide customised care which respects the individual and their right to determine their own continuum of care journey.
NurseWatch offers premium quality wellness and personalised care services in the home and in the office for all members of our wonderfully diverse community. Inclusive care is at the heart of every area of our business.
To access our LGBTIQ+ Concierge Service and book a complimentary Health Assessment with a tailored Health Care Plan, book here.
To explore the type of tailored Wellness and Care Program we can offer yourself, your employees or your loved ones, so that you can all live your best life at any stage of your health journey, contact Kate Alexander directly on 0417 276 572 or email kate@nursewatch.com.au.
If you’d like Kate Alexander to present at one of your events on inclusive care, email kate@nursewatch.com.au.
To stay in touch with the latest insights from Kate Alexander and NurseWatch, feel free to connect with Kate Alexander on LinkedIn here, follow NurseWatch on Facebook here or follow NurseWatch on Instagram here.
To understand more about the importance of Rainbow Tick accreditation as a benchmark for inclusive care & business, visit their website here.
To enquire about joining us as a member of Pride in Health + Wellbeing, visit their website here or contact Claire Allen directly on 0419 583 034 or email callen@acon.org.au.
You can view our Foundation Member profile here.
You’re always welcome at www.nursewatch.com.au
