“When I returned to Armidale Secondary College as a teacher, the first thing I wanted to do was make a safe space for the Rainbow kids. Because there are times when, even now, I’m exposed to homophobia in this world. But I’m a strong person, I’m determined and I’ll keep going no matter what. But I know what it feels like to be a kid struggling to find their place, so I wanted to give them some power, a voice, a place to be who they were always meant to be.

“I had a meeting with the Principal and that’s how The Rainbow Club began. We meet every fortnight and there’s usually between 20-40 of us, both LGBTQIA+ students and supporters. We have a stall every Harmony Day, where students sell anything from crocheted rainbow hearts and clay pendants, to pronoun badges and fairy bread. We plan to go big for Wear it Purple Day this year and we’re also getting a mascot, Rosie the Rosella, who we’ll feature in videos to teach other school students about homophobia.

“News of The Rainbow Club has even reached Sydney – last year, we hosted NSW Deputy Police Commissioner Gelina Talbot and local police. As they chatted with our members about their experiences, I realised the true impact the club has had on the kids’ lives. One of my seniors had come out as trans when I first formed the club and I overheard him talking with Gelina. He said he’d been kicked out of home at the time and The Rainbow Club was the only place he felt safe, where he felt like he belonged.

“These days, I’ve noticed a real difference in the playground – in terms of the visibility of our Rainbow kids. There’s no hiding in the library, or sitting in corridors. These kids are out there, laughing and smiling in the Plaza and the quad, unashamedly wearing their pronoun badges, or their identity flags, and it all feels right. It’s also been wonderful to see members of the club return each year, and watch them become role models for the younger students. To me, it’s a wonderful thing that these students are looked up to and respected for the strength they have shown in being their true selves.

“The Rainbow kids are confident, resilient and prepared to meet the challenges of their learning journey with fortitude. I couldn’t be more proud of them.”