Pair Fly Pink to Mardi Gras With Peer Support

Unique Pair Fly Pink to Mardi Gras Thanks to Peer Support

Sometimes all it takes is a common experience to realise that you are not as unique as you think.

Shaun McKinney and Anna Nelson met in April 2009, at the first design forum to establish Diversityworks Trust's Peer Support Network. Both share the experience of disability, though they prefer to think of it as unique function.

Shaun (24), a member of Rainbow Youth, is openly gay and Anna (30) is exploring her sexual preference. She also co-ordinates the Peer Support Network.

"Towards the end of 2009 I told Anna I'd really like to go to Mardi Gras," said Shaun. "and Anna encouraged me to follow my dream."

Recognising her interest as well as her organisational abilities, he asked her if she would like to join him. "Who was I to say no?" said Anna.

The Peer Support Network uses a mix of online chats, social networking (blogs, forums, Facebook and Twitter), Skype and phone chats, texting and face-to-face meet-ups, to keep disabled people and others in touch with each other. They also run workshops, with topics prioritised by network members. The Network has 40 members and is currently recruiting new members from the disability and wider communities.

"Peer Support gave Shaun and Anna a safe and relaxed place to connect, share and grow together through their commonalities and differences," said Diversityworks Trust's Director, comedian and social entrepreneur Philip Patston. "And now they're benefitting by travelling overseas together. That's exactly the kind of magic we were hoping for when we decided to set up the Network."

Anna and Shaun will fly to Sydney on the Air New Zealand Pink Flight on Friday, see the Parade on Saturday, and go to Harbour '10 (the HarbourSide GLBT party held in the Sydney Botanical Gardens) on Sunday. They will be accompanied by one of Shaun's support workers.

ends.

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