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				Going Fulltime in the workplace

Well,the decision has been made,the date set and hopefully all is in place for my next step. On the 20th Oct 2003 ,I start work as Monique in my workplace. Albeit I have sought and been given a secondment to another location. The reasoning behind this was I had found a location that seems more supportive and the staff more accomadating towards having me on board. So with all this it should help me transition in the workplace and give me a more secure and steady base to start this journey in the workplace. I have been supplied the uniforms appropriate to my gender and other documentation to hopefully fit into my role within the dept. There is no manual for transitioning,no procedure or policy in place to assist anyone on this path. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Now its the 1st January(2004) and I have been working fulltime for 2 and half months. So far its been fantastic. I have been readily accepted by most of the staff at work and I feel I have fitted in very well. I had a few hiccups in the begininng ,from my "clients".But generally I get on with my job and work has run very smoothly. I must say that my bosses have shown great faith in my abilities as I have at times been put in charge of the complex. There is still some murmurs from others outside my workplace about me which has annoyed me. Lots of gossip about my future in the job...?????? I am keeping my position to myself over my future within the department. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Its now the 26th July(2004) and I have been working 9 months fulltime. Although I have had no problems assimilating into my role as a female prison officer I have found that my department has caused me problems. Problems including lack of support for certain procedural issues that are relevant to my position i.e strip searching of inmates. This area is an integral part of our procedures and no one is willing to make a decision on whom I can strip search. Yes,I am regarded as a female prison officer,but morally and legally the dept has problems with me searching inmates. I still continue to press for someone in authority to make a decision on this ,because my work ethics dont sit well with me because I cant search anyone. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A new year (2005) shows more promise. Besides my own personal development(surgery later this year),professionally things are improving. My battle with my department with my ability to search inmates continues......Sloooowly. Their first attempt to put in writing a legal document covering my position was well below par(putting it midly). By the time they write the policy it maybe too late anyway if my surgery comes through this year. Maybe their attitude is too wait until then,then they dont have to worry about it. I tried for some months to get a change to the search policy on searching transgender inmates. I researched locally and overseas on other organisations policies and working with our procedures came up with a reasonable procedure that our department can work with. I submitted it and it looks? like they may intergrate it. Although whose name it will have on it,is anyones guess. If it is good someone else will steal your thunder...............typical government policy.........But then who cares,I am making a name for myself without showing off........ My push for a better education for new recruits on the subject of transgender inmates looks promising as well. Speaking with someone who had input on the current training I found they (the department) has no idea on the differences in the transgender community. I have now to sit down and write a training package on instructing recruits. Where do you start......?? :-)

	I always wondered if taking the medications that I am taking that I would not have the conflict managment skill I once had.My tolerance levels have changed and my sympathy attitude has varied as well. I saw when playing soccer in my first year on hormones that my competitive edge had changed which led me to retire. That and the fact that playing goalkeeper and getting hit in the breasts by a soccer ball is a new pain experience and running without a support bra is different.. Dealing with many fresh custodies who come into our cell complex(6000 plus a year),we see many drug affected,alcohol affected,mental health issues custodies along with the depressed,sucidial and generally aggressive criminals.Each one has to be dealt with differently,a quiet word of understanding or a sharp rebuke for attitude or behavoural and physical indiscretions. Once though a fresh custody can get out of hand and I have had to personally wrestle an inmate to the ground when he threatened me with violence. So I havent changed that much when it comes to dealing with aggressive inmates.I am sure those of you in our line of work can relate to many of the incidents I have made.

		Some incidents of note over the last 16 months for me has been that the worst offenders for prejudice directed at me hasnt been the inmates,or fellow officers,but the Police. Young officers who stand there staring and whispering to each other.Not just rude but very unprofessional. I wonder if they need some education on how to deal with transgendered people. Like everyone in our line of business when they have contact with a TG person ithey dont know how to react or where to turn.

			I have become a strong advocate for my community. I dont preach but I edcuate those I come into contact with. I try so hard to maintain a professionalism,not only in my job but in who I am.I will never get away from the fact I am a transsexual even after my operation as too many people know me now to forget that fact. So in the years to come I may move away from my community on a social level,but I will be still standing up for our rights in the workplace.......

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