GROWING UP GAY LIFE AS A BLIND WOMAN CHILD ABUSE & DOMESTIC VIOLENCE A LESBIAN FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A MUSLIM WOMEN A SUDANESE WOMAN BUILDS A NEW LIFE JOURNEY OF A REFUGEE STORY OF A DOUBLE AMPUTEE BEING AN ABORIGINAL MAN AN ADULT’S STORY SURVIVING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THE STOLEN GENERATION MUSICIAN IN A WHEELCHAIR SURVIVING BIPOLAR DISORDER A MUSLIM WOMAN’S STORY GROWING UP TIN NAZI GERMANY A YOUNG PERSON SNAPSHO EXPERIMENTING WITH IMAGE LIFE AS A GAY MAN FINDING FEMINISM, BUSTING THE MYTHS SURVIVING AN EATING DISORDER AND DEPRESSION WHEN SOMEONE YOU LOVE HAS A DISABILITY PARENTING A GENIUS LIVING WITH CEREBRAL PALSY LIVING WITH DEPRESSION A YOUNG HIP HOP ARTIST LIFE AS A DOUBLE AMPUTEE LIFE AS A POLICE OFFICER A REFUGEE’S STORY FROM ACCOUNTANT TO BUDDHIST NUN PEOPLE WHO SHARE THEIR LIFE EXPERIENCES THROUGH CONVERSATION. CHALLENGING STEREOTYPES, CONNECTING AND INSPIRING. A program of Wollongong City Council since 2008
GROWING UP GAY LIFE AS A BLIND WOMAN CHILD ABUSE & DOMESTIC VIOLENCE A LESBIAN WollongongPERSPECTIVE City Council launched A DAY IN FEMINIST in 2008,WOMEN inspired by THE Wollongong LIFE OFLiving A Books MUSLIM A the Human Library movement which beganAin NEW SUDANESE WOMAN BUILDS in 2000.OF A REFUGEE STORY LIFE Denmark JOURNEY OF ATheDOUBLE AMPUTEE program brings to the communityBEING a group AN ABORIGINAL ADULT’S STORY of people fromMAN diverseAN backgrounds, known SURVIVING VIOLENCE as ‘books’, whoDOMESTIC share their life experiences. THE STOLEN GENERATION MUSICIAN IN A WHEELCHAIR SURVIVING The program aligns with Council’s Community BIPOLAR Stra DISORDER A MUSLIM tegic Plan: Wollongong 2022 objectives: WOMAN’S STORY GROWING UP IN NAZI GERMANY A YOUNG PERSON EXPERIMENTING WITH IMAGE LIFE AS A GAY MAN FINDING FEMINISM, BUSTING THE MYTHS SURVIVING AN EATING DISORDER AND How does DEPRESSION it work? WHEN SOMEONE YOU LOVE HAS A DISABILITY PARENTING A GENIUS LIVING WITH CEREBRAL PALSY LIVING WITH DEPRESSION A YOUNG HIP HOP ARTIST LIFE AS A DOUBLE AMPUTEE LIFE AS A POLICE OFFICER A REFUGEE’S STORY FROM ACCOUNTANT TO BUDDHIST NUN WOLLONGONG 2022... OUR COMMUNITY STRATEGIC PLAN Comprehensive version
From the mountains to the sea
‘Readers’ choose from a selection of living ‘books’
• The visibility of our cultural diversity is increased. • Our residents feel an increased sense of community. • There is an increase in the mental health and emotional wellbeing of all our residents.
‘Readers’ participate in 30-40 minute conversations in small groups
Events are held in a safe and open environment
‘Readers’are encouraged to ask questions
Events are held in a school library or community hall
Living ‘Book’: Shadow of a Black Dog
GROWING UP GAY LIFE AS A BLIND WOMAN CHILD ABUSE & DOMESTIC VIOLENCE A LESBIAN FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A MUSLIM WOMEN A SUDANESE WOMAN BUILDS A NEW LIFE JOURNEY OF A REFUGEE STORY OF A DOUBLE AMPUTEE BEING AN ? hyADULT’S WAN ABORIGINAL MAN STORY SURVIVING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THE STOLEN GENERATION MUSICIAN IN A WHEELCHAIR SURVIVING BIPOLAR DISORDER A MUSLIM WOMAN’S STORY GROWING UP IN NAZI GERMANY A YOUNG PERSON EXPERIMENTING WITH IMAGE LIFE AS A GAY MAN FINDING FEMINISM, BUSTING THE MYTHS SURVIVING AN EATING DISORDER AND ’ rs e d a e ‘r What do DEPRESSION WHEN SOMEONE s? YOU k o o B g in iv L t u o b a like LOVE HAS A DISABILITY PARENTING A GENIUS LIVING WITH CEREBRAL PALSY LIVING WITH DEPRESSION A YOUNG HIP HOP ARTIST LIFE AS A DOUBLE AMPUTEE LIFE AS A POLICE OFFICER A REFUGEE’S STORY FROM ACCOUNTANT TO BUDDHIST NUN an opportunity to challenge stereotypes and reduce prejudice
invites a fresh view into the diversity of our community
engage with experiences give that inspire, elop hope and dev resilience
encourages new ways of thinking
an opportunit y for people to en gage in conversatio n with people they w ouldn’t otherwise me et
Illawarra Sports High
ople • Talking to real pe f the ‘books’ o s es nn pe o d an y • Honest ’ tions of the ‘books es qu k as to y lit bi •A new • Learning something the stories • Feeling inspired by
GROWING UP GAY LIFE AS A BLIND WOMAN CHILD ABUSE & DOMESTIC VIOLENCE A LESBIAN FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A MUSLIM WOMEN A SUDANESE WOMAN BUILDS A NEW LIFE JOURNEY OF A REFUGEE STORY OF A DOUBLE AMPUTEE BEING AN ABORIGINAL MAN AN ADULT’S STORY SURVIVING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THE STOLEN GENERATION MUSICIAN Meet SURVIVING IN A WHEELCHAIR BIPOLAR DISORDER our A MUSLIM WOMAN’S STORY GROWING UP IN ’ s k o o ‘b NAZI GERMANY A YOUNG PERSON EXPERIMENTING WITH IMAGE LIFE AS A GAY MAN FINDING FEMINISM, BUSTING THE MYTHS SURVIVING AN EATING DISORDER AND DEPRESSION WHEN SOMEONE YOU LOVE HAS A DISABILITY PARENTING A GENIUS LIVING WITH CEREBRAL PALSY LIVING WITH DEPRESSION A YOUNG HIP HOP ARTIST LIFE AS A DOUBLE AMPUTEE LIFE AS A POLICE OFFICER A REFUGEE’S STORY FROM ACCOUNTANT TO BUDDHIST NUN AN ENLIGHTENED LIFE - life as a vision impaired woman
“Open, honest and personal”
SHADOW OF A BLACK DOG - one man’s story of depression and anxiety
RISING ABOVE - overcoming child sexual abuse and domestic violence
“Fascinating and inspirational”
THE ‘F’ WORD - What feminism has done for me
I HAVE A DREAM - being proud of your culture
“Loads more fun than reading”
MICK ON WHEELS - a wheelchair musician: follow your passion
GONE SURFING - life as a double amputee
TAKE THE POWER BACK - dealing with depression, anxiety and self-harm
WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS - a successful high school dropout
FIND YOURSELF, FIND YOUR PLACE - an Aboriginal man’s story of breaking the cycle.
GROWING UP GAY LIFE AS A BLIND WOMAN CHILD ABUSE & DOMESTIC VIOLENCE A LESBIAN FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A MUSLIM WOMEN A SUDANESE WOMAN BUILDS A NEW LIFE JOURNEY OF A REFUGEE STORY OF A DOUBLE AMPUTEE BEING AN ABORIGINAL MAN AN ADULT’S STORY SURVIVING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THE STOLEN GENERATION MUSICIAN IN A WHEELCHAIR SURVIVING BIPOLAR DISORDER A MUSLIM WOMAN’S STORY GROWING UP IN NAZI GERMANY A YOUNG PERSON EXPERIMENTING WITH IMAGE LIFE AS A GAY MAN FINDING FEMINISM, BUSTING THE MYTHS SURVIVING AN EATING DISORDER AND DEPRESSION WHEN SOMEONE YOU LOVE HAS A DISABILITY PARENTING A GENIUS LIVING WITH CEREBRAL PALSY LIVING WITH DEPRESSION A YOUNG HIP HOP ARTIST LIFE AS A DOUBLE AMPUTEE LIFE AS A POLICE OFFICER A REFUGEE’S STORY FROM ACCOUNTANT TO BUDDHIST NUN “Storytelling… an effective learning strategy”
THINGS CAN CHANGE - growing up in a family with mental illness: overcoming stigma and fear
THINGS WE DO FOR LOVE - journey of a Burmese Muslim woman
“Able to ask questions without feeling awkward”
FINDING THE WARRIOR WOMAN WITHIN - proud lesbian activist, homelessness, DV, mental illness
THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE - the chaos and confusion of being gay
“Real life experiences”
“Opened up my choices, expanded my mind”
I HAVE ADHD - An adult story
DANCING IN THE RAIN - living with cerebral palsy
ELIZABETH’S STORY - journey of a Sudanese refugee
FINDING THE STRAIGHT PATH - being a Muslim woman in Australia
WHEN WILL I GROW UP - growing up with domestic violence, discovering my sexuality, lesbian parenting
GROWING UP GAY LIFE AS A BLINDWhaWOMAN CHILD ABUSE & t DOMESTIC VIOLENCE A LESBIAN ’ rs e d a ‘re FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE A DAY IN . .. k hin THE tLIFE OF A MUSLIM WOMEN A SUDANESE WOMAN BUILDS A NEW LIFE JOURNEY OF A REFUGEE STORY OF A DOUBLE AMPUTEE BEING AN ABORIGINAL MAN AN ADULT’S STORY SURVIVING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THE STOLEN GENERATION MUSICIAN IN A WHEELCHAIR SURVIVING BIPOLAR DISORDER A MUSLIM WOMAN’S STORY GROWING UP IN NAZI GERMANY A YOUNG PERSON EXPERIMENTING WITH IMAGE LIFE AS A GAY MAN FINDING FEMINISM, BUSTING THE MYTHS SURVIVING AN EATING DISORDER AND DEPRESSION WHEN SOMEONE YOU LOVE HAS A DISABILITY PARENTING A GENIUS LIVING WITH CEREBRAL PALSY LIVING WITH DEPRESSION A YOUNG HIP HOP ARTIST LIFE AS A DOUBLE AMPUTEE LIFE AS A POLICE OFFICER A REFUGEE’S STORY FROM ACCOUNTANT TO BUDDHIST NUN
GROWING UP GAY LIFE AS A BLIND WOMAN CHILD ABUSE & DOMESTIC VIOLENCE A LESBIAN FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A MUSLIM WOMEN A SUDANESE WOMAN BUILDS A NEW LIFE JOURNEY OF A REFUGEE STORY OF A DOUBLE AMPUTEE BEING AN ABORIGINAL MAN AN ADULT’S STORY SURVIVING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THE STOLEN GENERATION MUSICIAN IN A WHEELCHAIR SURVIVING BIPOLAR DISORDER A MUSLIM WOMAN’S STORY GROWING UP IN NAZI GERMANY A YOUNG PERSON EXPERIMENTING WITH IMAGE LIFE AS A GAY MAN FINDING FEMINISM, BUSTING THE MYTHS SURVIVING AN EATING DISORDER AND DEPRESSION WHEN SOMEONE YOU LOVE HAS A DISABILITY PARENTING A GENIUS LIVING WITH CEREBRAL PALSY LIVING WITH DEPRESSION A YOUNG HIP HOP ARTIST LIFE AS A DOUBLE AMPUTEE LIFE AS A POLICE Summary of feedback from 67 Year 9 students, 2013 OFFICER A REFUGEE’S STORY FROM ACCOUNTANT TO BUDDHIST NUN
GROWING UP GAY LIFE AS A BLIND WOMAN CHILD ABUSE & Event VIOLENCE DOMESTIC A LESBIAN Summary FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A MUSLIM WOMEN A SUDANESE WOMAN BUILDS A NEW LIFE JOURNEY OF A REFUGEE STORY OF14 High A Schools DOUBLE AMPUTEE BEING AN Youth Programs ABORIGINAL MAN AN ADULT’S STORY SURVIVING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THE STOLEN GENERATION MUSICIAN IN A WHEELCHAIR SURVIVING BIPOLAR DISORDER MUSLIM Special EventsA WOMAN’S STORY GROWING UP IN NAZI GERMANY A YOUNG PERSON EXPERIMENTING WITH IMAGE LIFE ASOpenACommunity GAY Events MAN FINDING FEMINISM, Corporate Training BUSTING THE MYTHS SURVIVING AN EATING DISORDER AND DEPRESSION WHEN SOMEONE YOU LOVE A DISABILITY PARENTING DisabilityHAS Organisations Themes A GENIUS LIVING Event WITH CEREBRAL PALSY LIVING WITH DEPRESSION A YOUNG HIP HOP ARTIST LIFE AS A Participation and Support DOUBLE AMPUTEE LIFE AS A POLICE OFFICER A REFUGEE’S STORY FROM ACCOUNTANT TO BUDDHIST NUN 60 Living Books since inception. 32 active.
87 events: 14 high schools, 20 organisations
Bulli High (x2) Corrimal High (x2) Dapto High School (x4) Warrawong High Edmund Rice College Figtree High Kanahooka High Holy Spirit College Illawarra Sports High Berkeley (x3) Keira High (x2) Smith’s Hill High (x4) Woonona High (x3) St Mary’s College Warrawong High Wollongong High (x4)
Wollongong Library Dapto Library Corrimal Library Wollongong City Council Seniors Week Expo New Outlook
Essential Personnel Vision Australia Northcott Disability Services New Outlook
Wollongong & Shellharbour TAFE Living Books 2009, 2011, 2012, 2016 St Bridget’s Primary School
8262 conversations: Average length 35min
4134 Readers
Wollongong Links to Learning: Kanahooka High, Dapto High, Illawarra Sports High, Illawarra Multicultural Youth Project – Keira, Illawarra Youth Housing, Southern Youth and Family Services, (SYFS,), Chain Youth Health Centre, Links to Learning SYFS, Wollongong Youth Services GLBTQI Support Group, Bellambi Links to Learning
World AIDS Day 2010 - Wollongong City Council Seniors Week 2009 - University of the Third Age International Women’s Day x 2 Lake Illawarra Sergeants workshop - Aboriginal Living Books Refugee Living Books – Wollongong City Gallery Refugee Education – Dapto High School
Wollongong City Council (housing, community services sector) Dapto Careways Inc, staff Keira High teachers Social Support
Compassion – Smiths Hill High Belonging, Stories of growing up - Keira High Social Justice – Edmund Rice College HIV/AIDS Refugee Education – Dapto High School Community & Family Studies – Illawarra Sports High Cross Roads (transition) – Woonona High Mental Health – New Outlook
GROWING UP GAY LIFE AS A BLIND WOMAN CHILD ABUSE & DOMESTIC VIOLENCE A LESBIAN Event Summary PERSPECTIVE A DAY IN FEMINIST THE 2008-2016 LIFE OF A MUSLIM WOMEN A SUDANESE WOMAN BUILDS A NEW LIFE JOURNEY OF A REFUGEE STORY OF A DOUBLE AMPUTEE BEING AN ABORIGINAL MAN AN ADULT’S STORY SURVIVING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THE STOLEN GENERATION MUSICIAN IN A WHEELCHAIR SURVIVING BIPOLAR DISORDER A MUSLIM WOMAN’S STORY GROWING UP IN NAZI GERMANY A YOUNG PERSON EXPERIMENTING WITH IMAGE LIFE AS A GAY MAN FINDING FEMINISM, BUSTING THE MYTHS SURVIVING AN EATING DISORDER AND DEPRESSION WHEN SOMEONE YOU LOVE HAS A DISABILITY PARENTING A GENIUS LIVING WITH CEREBRAL PALSY LIVING WITH DEPRESSION A YOUNG HIP HOP ARTIST LIFE AS A DOUBLE AMPUTEE LIFE AS A POLICE OFFICER A REFUGEE’S STORY FROM ACCOUNTANT TO BUDDHIST NUN Event Themes
Disability Organisations
Corporate Training
Living Book events held at High Schools
Open Community Events
Special Events
Youth Programs
ADHD - An Adult Story
Community event
I Have a Dream - being proud of your culture
GROWING UP GAY LIFE AS A BLIND WOMAN CHILD ABUSE & DOMESTIC VIOLENCE A LESBIAN FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE A DAY IN t A MUSLIM WOMEN A ImpacOF THE LIFE SUDANESE WOMAN BUILDS A NEW e h t f o LIFE JOURNEY OF A REFUGEE STORY rogram AMPUTEE BEING AN OF APDOUBLE ABORIGINAL MAN AN ADULT’S STORY SURVIVING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THE STOLEN GENERATION MUSICIAN IN A WHEELCHAIR SURVIVING BIPOLAR DISORDER A MUSLIM WOMAN’S STORY GROWING UP IN NAZI92%GERMANY A YOUNG PERSON of students surveyed said they had learned something new. EXPERIMENTING WITH IMAGE LIFE AS A GAY MAN FINDING FEMINISM, BUSTING THE MYTHS SURVIVING AN In a recent EATING DISORDER AND survey 90% of students said that the conversations DEPRESSION WHEN SOMEONE YOU had changed their behaviour. LOVE HAS A DISABILITY PARENTING A GENIUS LIVING WITH CEREBRAL PALSY LIVING WITH DEPRESSION A YOUNG HIP HOP ARTIST LIFE AS A DOUBLE AMPUTEE LIFE AS A POLICE OFFICER A REFUGEE’S STORY FROM ACCOUNTANT TO BUDDHIST NUN Gone Surfing - life as a double amputee
An Enlightened Life - life as a vision impaired woman
• ‘Respect yourself and who you are and also seek help if you need it’.
• ‘Not to judge people based on what they look like because they have feelings just like us and the importance of treating everyone the same’. 2015 School Event
• “Yes, ‘Sticks and Stones’ is remembered today and continues to come up in conversation”. • ‘More accepting, particularly around sexuality’. • “I learnt strategies to overcome anxiety and depression I still use them today”. (2 years after the conversation) • “Sometimes I still judge people, but at least now I am aware I am doing it, I try not to”. • “Living Books has left more of a mark on me than any other program”. 2015 Focus Group Year 9 Students
GROWING UP GAY LIFE AS A BLIND WOMAN CHILD ABUSE & Schools use the program to complement existing DOMESTIC VIOLENCE A LESBIAN school curriculum including topics that deal with School FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE DAY journeys and crossroads. It’s aA powerful tool IN Program belonging, promoting and inclusiveness and often THE LIFEinsuccessful OF inAdifference MUSLIM WOMEN A motivating and engaging ‘hard to reach’ SUDANESE WOMAN BUILDS A NEW students. LIFE JOURNEY OF A REFUGEE STORY OF A DOUBLE AMPUTEE BEING AN ABORIGINAL MAN AN ADULT’S STORY SURVIVING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THE STOLEN GENERATION MUSICIAN IN A WHEELCHAIR SURVIVING BIPOLAROrganisations DISORDER Aworkplace MUSLIM use the program in their WOMAN’S GROWING to raise awareness of specific community UP IN Corporate trainingSTORY g and social issues including disability awareness and NAZITraininGERMANY A YOUNG PERSON Aboriginal issues. EXPERIMENTING WITH IMAGE LIFE AS A GAY MAN FINDING FEMINISM, BUSTING THE MYTHS SURVIVING AN EATING DISORDER AND Organisations and community use the program to raise DEPRESSION SOMEONE social issues such as Refugee Week, YOU Themed awareness of WHEN EventsHAS WorldA AIDS Day, International Day ofPARENTING People with LOVE DISABILITY Disability, International Women’s Day. A GENIUS LIVING WITH CEREBRAL PALSY LIVING WITH DEPRESSION A YOUNG HIP HOP ARTIST LIFE AS A DOUBLE AMPUTEE LIFE AS A POLICE OFFICER A REFUGEE’S STORY FROM ACCOUNTANT TO BUDDHIST NUN • “Today I did an analysis of last year’s student evaluation of the entire Crossroads Programme, the Living Books event was by far the most positively valued. 91% of those who returned the evaluation forms rated Living ‘Books’ as ‘Excellent’. I am very keen to make this happen again”. Bulli High School Teacher • “An really integral part of my education. Two years later our group of friends still talk about gay ‘book’ moments”. Wollongong High Performing Art Yr 9 • “One student we had not been able to engage said it was the best day of his life”. Woonona High Teacher • “Cleared up so much about a Muslim woman’s life here in Australia particularly with what the media portrays”. Holy Spirit College Yrs 11-12
• “Good to interact with (Aboriginal Living Books) and get their perspective on life in the Illawarra from an Aboriginal point of view”. Police Sergeant, Lake Illawarra • “Valuable ‘life lessons’ to take beyond the classroom”. Berkeley Illawarra Sports High Teacher
• “Hearing stories of diversity and adversity …shed some light on managing difficult, challenging, unique and individual experiences”. Staff member New Outlook, Mental Health Month Event • “This is the first time I had ever seen the girls engage in a positive way with each other. The topics were so relatable to the girls, they have all experienced similar experiences. It allowed them to open up and for the first time share information with other girls”. Youth Worker, Young Mums Event.
GROWING UP GAY LIFE AS A BLIND WOMAN CHILD ABUSE & DOMESTIC VIOLENCE A LESBIAN FEMINIST PERSPECTIVE A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A MUSLIM WOMEN A SUDANESE WOMAN BUILDS A NEW LIFE JOURNEY OF A REFUGEE STORY OF A DOUBLE AMPUTEE BEING AN Get MAN AN ADULT’S STORY ABORIGINAL involvedDOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVING THE STOLEN GENERATION MUSICIAN IN A WHEELCHAIR SURVIVING BIPOLAR DISORDER A MUSLIM WOMAN’S STORY GROWING UP IN NAZI GERMANY A YOUNG PERSON EXPERIMENTING WITH IMAGE LIFE AS A GAY MAN FINDING FEMINISM, BUSTING THE MYTHS SURVIVING AN EATING DISORDER AND DEPRESSION WHEN SOMEONE YOU LOVE HAS A DISABILITY PARENTING A GENIUS LIVING WITH CEREBRAL PALSY LIVING WITH DEPRESSION A YOUNG HIP HOP ARTIST LIFE AS A DOUBLE AMPUTEE LIFE AS A POLICE OFFICER A REFUGEE’S STORY FROM ACCOUNTANT TO BUDDHIST NUN Web: www.wollongong.nsw.gov.au Phone: (02) 4227 7111 Email: livinglibrary@wollongong.nsw.gov.au
Please contact us if you would like become a Living ‘Book’.
We welcome enquiries from organisations and schools interested in hosting a Living Books event. Event fees may apply.
WCC acknowledges the invaluable contribution of our living ‘book’ volunteers who make this program possible.