A new website for parents of trans children and young people across Australia is expected to improve family wellbeing and ultimately save lives after launching in May 2023.
Transforming Families is a digital hub hosting videos, fact sheets and local service options, following its two-year development in collaboration with parents and community- based service providers.
The need for targeted parental support was first identified in 2017 following the release of Trans Pathways, a first-of-its-kind report that surveyed 894 trans young people and 194 parents of young trans people.
“Parents surveyed then revealed they struggled to understand and support their child’s gender identity due to a woeful lack of support and services,” Telethon Kids Institute Senior Researcher, Dr Helen Morgan, said.
In qualitative studies conducted by the team, parents reported that they struggled to access reliable information about gender diversity, were unaware of peer support that might help alleviate feelings of isolation and they could not access competent care for their families.
Pictured: the Transforming Families website
The project is a partnership between Telethon Kids Institute, Transcend Australia, Parents of Gender Diverse Children, ACON, the Commissioner for Children and Young People Western Australian, Transfolk WA, The Gender Centre Inc, the Freedom Centre, the Perth Inner City Youth Service, Healthway and Youth Focus.
Evidence-based support for families
Supported by a grant from Healthway and led by Dr Morgan and Dr Yael Perry – Co- Head of Youth Mental Health at Telethon Kids - Transforming Families was developed with significant involvement from national and local partner organisations and, most importantly, parents.
“It really has been led by those with lived experience of what they need,” Dr Morgan said. Dr Perry said many of the parents who had been willing to talk to the team had been on quite a journey.
“Many of them did not start out supporting their child when they first came out to them. Initial reactions ranged from outright rejection, to ambivalence and acceptance. They were able to reflect on that experience and harness it to provide recommendations of what might help others in a similar position.”
In efforts to counter misinformation and provide practical support for parents, Transforming Families features research summaries written in accessible language and with direct links to empirical studies. There are also scripts to help parents ask questions at their local GP and navigate conversations with schools and extended family members.
We just wanted to make it really easy for parents to get all the information they need in one place, in a really quick, digestible and easy-to-use format. We want to support them to make good decisions for their family and eliminate unnecessary distress on the path to understanding their child.
Dr Yael Perry