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Parents, Carers and Families
Resources for families with Gender Diverse Children including Schooling
Your child is questioning their gender, maybe you are feeling shocked and overwhelmed by the news or fearful for your child’s future. Maybe you have no idea what you are feeling. You may have a hundred different questions running through your mind. This booklet was initiated and compiled by Lisa Cuda, with the submitted stories from parents of trans and gender diverse children - hoping to help you understand and maybe answer some of those questions. Throughout this booklet are personal stories generously shared by parents and caregivers with lived experience of supporting transgender, gender diverse, non-binary or gender questioning children ranging from very young, through to teens and adult children.
Unexpected disclosures about gender identity and gender expression bring with them a wide array of emotions: confusion, sadness, fear, surprise, disappointment, shock, anger, shame, and even relief or affirmation as family and friends finally understand why children may have been sad and withdrawn until they are allowed to dress and play in a way that feels right to them.
There is a number of youth identifying as transgender and transitioning at school. The Gender Centre has had a significant expansion of services delivered to schools. Our engagement with schools involves supporting the school in providing best practice for the student during transition and right through the course of their schooling. This involves inclusive meetings with a variety of stakeholders including principles, welfare teachers, counsellors, parents, year advisers and where necessary external welfare department consultant. It is essential that planning is thorough to allow for best practice to occur. This involves setting time frames with the provision for flexibility, physical alterations and adjustments made at the school for the dignity and safety of the young person, amendments to formal processes to reflect the students name and gender, and ensuring a strong and sensitive support network is in place.
Australian Parents Group (APG)
Australian Parents Group (APG) is a private and hidden Facebook group for parents and caregivers of transgender, gender diverse and non binary kids of any age. Contact Lisa at parentpeersupport@gendercentre.org.au or call 02 90560838
The Gender Centre is committed to developing and providing services and activities, which enhance the ability of transgender, gender diverse and gender exploring people make informed choices. The Centre is recognised as a centre of excellence in NSW through an ASES Award Accreditation, ( Australian Service Excellence Standards) and nationally in the delivery of front line specialist multi-purpose services aimed at supporting the transgender, gender diverse and gender questioning community across all stages of transition (pre- mid and post transition).
Gender identity is generally developed very early in life. It's about how you experience or perceive your gender, how you show this to others, and how you want others to treat you. The physical features that you were born with (your biological sex) do not necessarily define your gender. Although gender has traditionally been divided into ‘male’ and ‘female’, it is now widely recognised that gender is not that simple. The gender spectrum includes numerous identities including male, female, a mixture of both, no gender, a fluid gender, or another gender. For a more complete list of terms, see AIFS’ Glossary of Common Terms. Some people may not have a label for what they are experiencing and some might be questioning their gender identity. This can be a confusing and stressful time for some young people. Whilst people who experience gender diversity identify with a range of different terms, ‘trans and gender diverse’ is often used as an umbrella term to describe people who identify with a gender that is different to the one assigned to them at birth.
TransParent suppot group
TransParent- a monthly support group for parents at Headspace Wollongong. Contact Headspace on 42207660 for more information
headspace is Australia’s National Youth Mental Health Foundation, providing early intervention mental health services to 12-25 year olds. Each year, headspace helps thousands of young people access vital support through our headspace centres in communities across Australia, our online and phone counselling services, our vocational services, and our presence in schools. headspace can help young people with mental health, physical health (including sexual health), alcohol and other drug services, and work and study support.
Minus18 supports LGBTQIA+ youth all over Australia. Resources, professional training, student workshops, and online campaigns. But there’s one part of the community in particular that we receive a huge amount of questions from, and who come to Minus18 looking for information and support: parents of LGBTQIA+ young people. We’re so glad to reveal these new online resources for parents: four videos and four accompanying articles, all about supporting your child (and the community!).
Having a child that’s part of the LGBTQIA+ community can mean new experiences, learning about new concepts, terminology and, in some cases, entering a new world of medical professionals. You got this though! There are so many resources out there to help you out, along with places to find support if you need it. And of course, parents who have done it before.
Further to merely “accepting” your child’s LGBTQIA+ identity, it’s important to let them know it’s a part of them that you love and celebrate. Take it from us – seeing a parent show up, stand up, and actively being an ally to the whole LGBTQIA+ community can do wonders for self-esteem, resilience, and all-round good vibes! There are so many ways to support and celebrate your child, no matter their age or your level of knowledge.
We offer peer support to LGBTQIA+ youth through articles, interviews and video content, so young people are able to access free help online no matter what part of Australia they’re from – or the support they have from school or families. Since 2011, more than 2.5 million people, including families, schools and workplaces, have accessed our free online articles.
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Tools to engage with curiosity and celebration of gender expression in young children, recognising the importance of laying foundations of freedom and acceptance in the early years.
This video explores how religious schools can better support LGBTIQA+ students and families within their school communities.
#StrongSafeFabulous was developed by Prosper (Project Australia) in partnership with Rainbow Families NSW as an initiative to support the prevention of domestic & family violence, and child abuse in LGBTIQA+ families. We believe that all families have a right to live a life free from violence and that the whole community can take action to change the attitudes and social norms that lead to violence. #StrongSafeFabulous is informed by Our Watch’s Change the Story, the Australian national prevention of violence against women framework, and Rainbow Health Victoria’s Pride In Prevention.
Children spend a large amount of their time at school. But it can be a challenging place; for you and your child or the child in your care. There may be no policy or procedure in place to support your child’s gender affirmation, and you may find yourself having to help your child deal with bullying and discrimination. You may find yourself having to educate school staff and other parents. This resource is designed to give you, the parent or carer of a trans, gender diverse or non-binary (TGDNB) child some tips on how to support and be an advocate for your child at school to ensure they can participate fully in their education and their school community
Transcend Australia is a national community-led organisation providing family and peer support services, education, resources and advocacy programs. We exist because family support and acceptance are key protective factors that improve health outcomes for trans young people. No matter where you are at in your journey, we can support you. We are non-judgemental, compassionate and informed. Our services are free for families and supported through donations, grants and partnerships. We are here to help!
This fact sheet answers some common questions trans and gender diverse young people, and their families, have about their rights at school in relation to school uniforms, bathrooms, camps and sports teams. By reading this resource you will get a better understanding of your rights at school in New South Wales.
We are committed to taking an impact-focused approach, applying research and design principles to develop our products and services to ensure they make a tangible difference for our clients and sector peers. We deliver services that assist both people and not-for-profit organisations. Those we assist often struggle to navigate the law, are unable to use the law in their daily lives and disproportionately experience the impacts of harsh and unjust laws. We aim to solve legal problems to help prevent the negative impacts on people’s lives and organisations and empower the community to use the law as a force for good.
The Department of Education is committed to providing safe and supportive learning environments that respect and value diversity and are free from violence, discrimination, harassment and vilification. Research shows the supportive environment schools provide can have a lasting impact on both the educational and lifelong outcomes for students.
The search for information and support can feel overwhelming and daunting in the beginning. Or you might find yourself further down the road and just looking to connect with other parents. Whatever your situation, we can help. Parents of Gender Diverse Children offers peer support, information, referrals and advocacy for parents.
We can not take the place of a professional.
Parents of Gender Diverse Children became an Incorporated Association in Victoria as a way to give a voice to parents of trans and gender diverse children. Our goal was to have a platform from which to speak out about the potential elimination of LGBTIQ+ specific support programmes within educational environments. It soon became apparent that we could do so much more, and we have gone from strength to strength.
This guide details the personal stories of trans and gender diverse (TGD) parents, their partners and children. Each story is unique – reflecting a very individual journey – but collectively, these stories provide insights into shared, common experiences
Filmed live at the Rainbow Families #StrongSafeFabulous event, this webinar is panel discussion for LGBTQA+ people and allies on how we can raise #StrongSafeFabulous families and prevent violence in our communities. The discussion will be practical and based on the experiences of parents and young people.
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The discussion will include an overview of the issues facing Rainbow Families, leading to higher rates of domestic and family violence as well as practical examples of ways families can raise #StrongSafeFabulous families.
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