Qtopia Sydney, the home of Queer history and storytelling, is launching its first ever regional education roadtrip, bringing vital lessons on inclusion, advocacy and self-expression to students across NSW. This inaugural journey will see Qtopia Sydney engage with up to 20 schools from Sydney to Broken Hill in April 2025, ensuring that students in regional and rural areas have access to meaningful, curriculum-aligned education.
At the heart of Qtopia Sydney’s mission is the belief that education saves lives. By fostering understanding, compassion and belonging, this initiative aims to equip students with the tools to challenge harmful behaviours, embrace self-expression and become advocates for positive change.
“Our goal is to build a better future through engagement with students and young people, fostering empathy and understanding for generations to come. By educating the next generation of leaders, we aim to cultivate more compassionate, inclusive and accepting communities,” said Greg Fisher, CEO of Qtopia Sydney.
While Qtopia Sydney tells LGBTQIA+ stories, the education programs it delivers are designed to resonate with all students, exploring universal experiences of marginalised and minority groups. The regional and rural roadtrip programs focus on advocacy, activism and self-expression, encouraging students to turn their passions into action for the benefit of their own communities. These programs remind students that no voice is too small to create positive change – whether through acts of kindness, allyship or advocacy.
Recognising that regional students often lack access to inclusive educational resources, this program brings structures, real-world learning opportunities directly to schools, empowering students to challenge harmful behaviours, explore their own identity and find ways to turn passion into action for their communities.
“This will bring a message of hope and belonging that is desperately needed in our schools,” said John Southon, the principal of Trundle School, an early partner in the initiative. “I can’t lose one more child to suicide because of shame relating to their identity, and I am proud to endorse Qtopia Sydney’s programs knowing first hand the value it will have to my students.”
Qtopia Sydney’s education team has worked closely with the Department of Education to ensure these programs meet curriculum standards and provide practical, engaging learning experiences. The regional incursions include:
- Advocacy & activism: Examining how young people throughout history have used their voices to create social change, inspiring students to do the same.
- Self-expression & identity: Helping students explore what makes them unique and how their personal experiences shape their perspective.
- Legacy activities: Encouraging students to create ripples of change in their own communities through small but meaningful actions.
“We are proud of our partnership with Qtopia Sydney,” said NSW Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar. “Every student, no matter where they live in NSW, should feel like they can be themselves in a safe and inclusive environment.”
In addition to its multi-stop journey, Qtopia Sydney will host Town Hall Days, bringing together students from the local community to collaborate on inclusive projects. These large scale events are designed to amplify the impact, showing students how collective efforts can create lasting change.
Qtopia Sydney is committed to expanding this initiative annually, reaching new towns and communities with every iteration. Stay tuned for updates on the program’s process and the profound impact it will have on students across regional Australia.
For more information about all of Qtopia’s education programs and Qtopia Sydney’s mission, visit https://qtopiasydney.com.au/.
