New resources to support trans and gender diverse students at school

The Queensland Human Rights Commission has this week launched their new Trans@School resources.

The guides aim to educate and better support both schools and students in regards to discrimination and human rights law, gender identity, and education.

The resources were developed in partnership with the LGBTI Legal Service and Legal Aid Queensland after consultation with schools, students, and parents of trans and gender diverse young people. Work on the guides began in 2017 following increasing enquiries and requests for advice from school principals and transgender students to the LGBTI Legal Service and to the Queensland Human Rights Commission.

“The human rights of trans and gender diverse people in education is an emerging and rapidly expanding area of anti-discrimination and human rights law,” says Scott McDougall, Queensland Human Rights Commissioner. “With increasing numbers of students identifying as LGBTI and coming out at an earlier age, school is becoming a pivotal sphere. Schools and educators themselves recognise this, but don’t always know where to start with making their LGBTI students feel safe and supported. These resources are aimed at helping everyone – schools, students, and families – understand the legal aspects of the issues impacting on trans and gender diverse students, and hopefully lead to better outcomes for those students.”

The guides cover a range of topics including names and pronouns, records, medical information, toilets, uniforms and dress standards, and school sports.

The Commission hopes the resources will lead to better mental health outcomes and increased school retention for trans and gender diverse students, and the prevention of complaints and litigation through fairer treatment in Queensland schools.

“Queensland’s Anti-Discrimination Act prohibits discrimination in education on the basis of someone’s gender identity. Often, the changes which need to be made in order for school environments to be safer for trans and gender diverse students are relatively small, and can benefit the entire student body,” says Mr McDougall.

“We hope these resources will help schools build a safe and inclusive learning environment for all their students.”

The Trans@School guides for schools and for students are available on the Queensland Human Rights Commission’s website.

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