True Colours

Promoting safe and inclusive communitiesfor young people with

diverse sexuality and/or gender

Changing Trends

Increase in the number of clients who identify as transgender and transsexual

age range 12 to 60

• 2013 Federal anti-discrimination legislation

• Permission from Family Court no longer required for young people to access hormone blockers

Recent Changes to Legislation

Collection of Information

M F X

The Big Issues…

• Sexuality, sex and gender diverse people have disproportionately poor mental health

Discrimination / stigma Barriers to support Lack of policy and protection

Discrimination and Barriers to Support

• Lack of information and understanding amongst service providers

• Gaps in research and evidence on diverse sex and gender people

• Gaps in policies and procedures within services

• Fear or reluctance to seek medical help based on own and others’ experience of discrimination and stigma

• Results in increased risk taking behaviour – AOD, self medicating, self harm, completed and attempted suicide

Action

• Development of a trans* friendly health service providers list for the south west

• Training and professional development for health service providers on all levels (first point of contact, nurses, doctors, allied professionals)

For more information contact:

True Colours

Helen Robinson

0407212045