A film about same sex families that was once controversially banned from NSW schools will be shown at Griffith City Library on Thursday night.
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Intereach Ability Links, which provides support and linking services to vulnerable groups, will be hosting a screening of Australian documentary Gayby Baby on Thursday 23 November.
Gayby Baby is a film following the lives of children raised by same-sex parents from an observational perspective, telling the stories of these kids and their experiences. It is rated PG.
In 2015, former NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli banned every public school in the state from screening the documentary during school hours.
At the time, it was reported Mr Piccoli did not object to the content of the largely crowd-funded film, but the decision was taken to avoid students missing out on class time.
The film itself is not political.
The screening is being held to mark Social Inclusion Week, which runs from November 25 to December 3.
Social Inclusion Week aims to help all Australians feel included and valued, giving everyone the opportunity to participate fully in society.
Olivia Maier Gee, a linking coordinator at Ability Links, said her organisation aims to be as inclusive as possible.
“We have a welcome everyone approach”.
“If you can’t provide the right service, we can assist people to connect with those who can help”.
Linker Simone Murphy is known for helping to assist Griffith poet Mary Catanzariti achieving her goals.
Ability Links NSW work was recognised recently, when it was awarded a 2017 Premier’s Award for improving government services at a special ceremony in Sydney.
Intereach CEO Keryn Fox said the award recognised people who have worked on programs, initiatives, innovations or improvements that contribute to improving customer satisfaction with government services.
“This is an acknowledgment of the great support that is being provided for people with a disability in the community by Ability Links staff both at a state, and local level within the Riverina Murray region which is delivered by Intereach.”
To date, Ability Links providers across New South Wales have supported more than 80,000 participants across NSW.
“The program model is a winner” according to Urbis Director of Economic and Social Advisory Alison Wallace, who was responsible for the three-year evaluation of the Ability Links NSW program.
“In 25 years of evaluating government initiatives, I have rarely come across a program that has achieved so much in such a short space of time,” said program evaluator Alison Wallace.
The film Gayby Baby will be shown at Griffith City Library on Thursday at 530pm