Lake and Steph’s story

Lake Majstorovic is passionate about improving the lives of LGBTIQA+ young people. Growing up as a non-binary person in the Frankston area, they experienced first-hand what it’s like when mental health services aren’t designed for you. “There is a real dearth of understanding, and a kind of fear and hesitation from a lot of practitioners about how to work with LGBTIQA+ people.” Lake now works at headspace Frankston,  running programs, developing training and working as an access clinician.

“There’s a real passion and intention in the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula area to support these communities. A lot of the centralised services aren’t accessible, so we’re filling a needed gap.”

 Lake runs a social support program called Peninsula Pride for young people aged between 12 and 25. “We have young people who come into their first session, and they are so withdrawn, so shy, so anxious. Then you see them relax, you see them start to connect with other young people, [and] you hear about the friendships they develop. Just the real difference genuine positive social connection makes for these young people – it’s like night and day.”

headspace Frankston runs a gender clinic where young people can access support and treatment, including hormone replacement therapy. Dr Steph Ryan, who helps run the clinic, says people in the local area had to drive to Melbourne for treatment. “Philosophically it felt wrong that we weren’t able to treat our community of people.”  She says it’s rewarding, “to be part of such an important thing for people, and to have the privilege of that trust. The young people have taught me how to care for them, what their needs are.”                                  

Lake’s goal is for every clinician to feel comfortable working with LGBTIQA+ young people. It’s not about being perfect, but it’s important to acknowledge mistakes, and always centre the young person’s perspective. “They are the ones who spend every minute of every day with themselves, so they know their own story, and their own experience the best.” Steph says many of the issues come from society, not the person. “What often creates the mental health difficulties is that within this person, they feel that this larger community is not going to accept who they are,” she says. “The work needs to be done out there.”

Steph says she loves how fun young people are to work with. “They are pleasure seekers who look for humour and joy in things, irrespective of what can be going on in the world,” she says. “I think that’s a real survival trait.” Lake agrees.

“They’re so intelligent, they’re so creative, they do so much in the face of such difficulty. I wish they didn’t have to be as resilient as they are.”