Rural youth worker honoured

Kat Ettwell, like others growing up in a rural town, often found her sexuality the subject of derision.
Unlike many who make a beeline to the nearest city, Ettwell stuck to her roots and set out to tackle the problem head on.
In recognition of her work, the 24-year-old has been given one of the local council’s top honours, the Macedon Ranges Council’s Youth Citizen of the Year.
Handed out last month during Australia Day celebrations, Ettwell said she was shocked to receive the award, not realising she’d been nominated.
A Lancefield local, Ettwell has been involved with projects in the region for around 10 years, including chairing the Out There Rural Victoria Youth Council for Sexual Diversity and rural same-sex attracted and transgender youth initiative, WayOut.
Both projects work with rural communities to help combat homophobia and seek to provide a welcoming environment for same-sex attracted and transgender youth.
Much of WayOut’s work involves going to rural schools to discuss issues of sexuality.
Ettwell said WayOut is generally well received but she finds the going tough when people aren’t receptive to discussing concerns about young people and homophobia.
-œSome schools are very accepting and the students are very accepting, but some high schools need more work, she told Southern Star.
Ettwell said WayOut does not rule out approaching any local school, including religious schools.
She said the local Catholic school was receptive to having the group speak to the school, even inviting them to a special diversity day.
Ettwell said her involvement in the groups came from an isolation she felt growing up in a rural place.
-œI didn’t have anyone I could talk to around issues of sexuality and sexual diversity, it was just all my own experience, my own thoughts and my own feelings.
-œThen [WayOut] came along and there were other young people I could talk to about this and share experiences of discrimination and work out ways that we may be able to tackle the issues.
During the seven years Ettwell has been involved in WayOut, she has noticed a change in the region towards sexual diversity.
-œI think my community now is a more welcoming place for young people than some areas I’ve visited, and it’s made me feel more comfortable in my own community, she said.
-œNow when I walk down the street I see young people holding hands and they probably wouldn’t have done that before -” they’re happy and they’re proud to do that.
-œI would never have done that when I was growing up because I experienced, not physical attacks, but verbal attacks and homophobic abuse.
-œI’ve also seen other older gay couples experience homophobic physical attacks while I was growing up and I now hear less and less of that.
Ettwell said the most rewarding part of her work is being able to help those questioning or uncomfortable with their sexuality.
-œI’ve seen a lot of people’s confidence grow through their involvement with these projects. They’ve felt included and supported in their community.