Trans Health Research

29/10/2026

🏳️‍⚧️ Sport belongs to everyone.

Prof Ada Cheung was back at the Australian Pride in Sport Summit in Sydney, speaking with sport leaders from across the country about what the science really says about trans and gender diverse people in sport.

Ada joined an incredible panel with Rudy Jean Rigg, Hayley Conway, Nikki Dryden OLY, and facilitator Tracey Lee Holmes, then gave a talk on what’s changed this year.

What we shared:

Hormone therapy changes the body. Research tracking trans women athletes before and after starting hormones found that they got slower, especially in running events.

Genetic s*x testing (SRY screening) doesn’t measure how well someone plays sport. When it was used at the Olympics in the 1990s, every positive result was a woman. Genetics experts are now calling for it to stop.

Most trans and gender diverse people are missing out. Only a third of these adults regularly play sport or exercise, often because of fear, bullying, exclusionary rules, and unsafe change rooms. Playing sport is good for mental health, and everyone deserves that.

“Nothing about us without us.” 🤝 Thank you to the trans and gender diverse athletes, and community members, who keep this work honest and grounded.

Read more about our sport research: https://www.transresearch.org.au/post/trans-women-in-sport

Access resources: https://www.transresearch.org.au/community/sport

Image description: The Trans Health Research logo and text discussing the Summit, as previously written, displayed alongside two photos. The left photo shows Prof Cheung standing indoors at a podium, gesturing as she speaks into a microphone. She is wearing a purple jacket and black-rimmed glasses, and has brown hair cut in a bob style. The right photo shows a panel of five people sitting in padded grey chairs onstage. A sign language interpreter is standing beside the row of chairs. The people, from left to right, are Hayley Conway, Ada Cheung, Nikki Dryden, Rudy Jean Rigg, and Tracey Lee Holmes. Rudy Jean Rigg is gesturing and speaking, and the others are listening. End description.

20/10/2026

Are you a formerly trans person? Someone who has detransitioned? Or someone who has reclaimed or re-identified with your birth-registered s*x?

Researchers from The Kids Research Institute Australia, The University of Western Australia, and Trans Health Research are making a final callout for participants for paid interviews exploring the mental health and support needs of people like you!

This research has been developed in collaboration with advisors and community organisations across Australia, and seeks to respect the authenticity, autonomy, and gender affirmation decisions of all people.

For more information or to participate, follow this link: https://shorturl.at/blIs4.

You can also see the TRICON research disclosure here: osf.io/dvs34.

If you have questions, please contact Dr Blake Cavve at [email protected]

Ethics | UWA HREC No. # 2026/ET000055; ACON Ethics No. RERC 202602.

Image description: Text displayed alongside the three participating organisations’ logos. The text reads, “Have you ever detransitioned? The Complex Experiences of Gender Affirmation study wants to hear from you. You may be eligible for a 60-minute online interview. See details in the caption below.” Smaller text at the bottom of the image reads, “The research team respects the authenticity, autonomy, and gender affirmation decisions of all people,” and shares Dr Blake Cavve’s email. End description.

08/10/2026

The second Emerging Trans Researchers Conference is almost here!

Join us this coming Wednesday (14 October) to hear from 20+ trans and gender diverse students and early-career researchers. Show your support for these emerging researchers, learn about their research, and connect with a thriving trans research community!

Co-hosted by Trans Health Research Group and Australian Research Consortium for Trans Youth and Children, the conference is online and free, but places are limited.

For more information and to register attendance: https://ETRConf2026.eventbrite.com.au

Image description: Text displayed on a light blue background, with decorative swirls on the edges of the image and two logos at the bottom of the image. The text reads, "Emerging Trans Researchers Conference 2026. 20+ trans and gender diverse presenters. Topics covered include trans joy and agency, social support, mental health, s*xual health, discrimination, and healthcare experiences. Wednesday 14 October 2026. Online and free. Attendance is limited. Register now!" The left logo reads "Trans Health Research" in blue letters, beside a swirling patter of dots. The right logo reads "ARCTYC" in large letters, with "Australian Research Consortium for Trans Youth and Children" displayed in smaller letters. The decorative swirls are comprised of pride flag colours; trans (pink, white, blue), non-binary (yellow, white, purple, black), and genderq***r (purple, white, green). End description.

08/10/2026

October 8th is International Le***an Day!

The recent Trans and Gender Diverse Sexual Health study by the Kirby Institute found that nearly half of all trans women participants described themselves as le****ns. Le***ans can also be gender diverse, including non-binary le****ns and some butch le****ns.

The 2023 Positive Futures report by Just Like Us in the UK found that cisgender le****ns were most likely out of the LGB umbrella to be trans allies, with 96% percent saying they support trans and gender diverse people.

These statistics show that trans women are valuable and valued members of the le***an community, highlighting the importance of trans inclusion in le***an research, health campaigns, and community spaces.

Happy international le***an day to all of our trans le***an community members and le***an allies!

View the Australian Trans and Gender Diverse Sexual Health Survey findings here: www.tgds*xualhealth.com

View the Positive Futures report here: www.justlikeus.org/our-research

Image description: Text and the Trans Health Research logo displayed alongside a photo. The text reads, “Happy International Le***an Day to all of our trans le***an community members and le***an allies!” The photo shows two tattooed women walking outdoors, holding hands and smiling at each other. The trans woman is wearing a pink bucket hat, pink crop top, blue denim jeans, and wire-rimmed glasses. She has long, curly, bleached blonde hair. Her partner has a bleached blonde buzzcut and is wearing a white sports bra, chequered shorts, and a red sling bag. Trees and a blue sky are visible in the blurred background. End description.

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Photo: FG Trade, iStock.

05/10/2026

IN THE MEDIA: ABC News shines a spotlight on the mental health impacts of anti-trans stigma.

The article explores some of the key findings from our recently published research and potential policy implications, including the need for stronger protections for trans and gender diverse people.

View the article: https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2026-10-05/trans-mental-health-social-media-exposure/107184252

Interested in hearing more about this research? Join us this Friday 9 October for the launch of a community and stakeholder report. The webinar is free but registration is required: https://antitrans-stigma.eventbrite.com.au

Need support? Trans-affirming services and resources are available: https://www.transresearch.org.au/community

A new Australian study has linked more frequent exposure to anti-trans stigma with a statistically higher prevalence of anxiety, depression, self-harm and suicidal thoughts.

04/10/2026

October is LGBTIQ History Month in Australia!

In the context of anti-trans rhetoric trying (and failing!) to erase trans people from public life–whether it's sport, bathrooms, healthcare, or education–it's more important than ever to celebrate the fact that gender diversity has existed for as long as gender roles have, and trans people have always been valuable members of our communities.

Want to learn more about local LGBTIQ history? "A History of LGBTIQ+ Victoria in 100 Places and Objects" by our friends at the Australian Q***r Archives is a great place to start. A highlight for our team was learning about the Victorian Transs*xual Coalition, a group of trans women advocating for trans rights in the 1970s, and evidence of their work can be found in our very own University of Melbourne archives!

You can find "A History of LGBTIQ+ Victoria in 100 Places and Objects", which has a whole section about the University of Melbourne precinct, at: https://q***rarchives.org.au/heritage-100

Image description: Text and the Trans Health Research logo displayed alongside a photo. The text reads, “Happy LGBTIQ History Month!” followed by, “Celebrating the valuable contributions trans people have made across history, including the history of our very own University of Melbourne!” The photo shows a laptop sitting on a bench indoors, displaying a webpage; the site shown is the homepage of the Australian Q***r Archives website, which prominently reads, “Collecting, preserving, and celebrating Australia’s very q***r histories since 1978”. End description.

30/09/2026

On Friday 9 October, join us as we launch a new research report on anti-trans stigma and mental health, drawing from a survey of over 800 trans and gender diverse people from across Australia.

Working in policy, LGBTIQA+ inclusion, or media and communication? This webinar will provide a broad overview of escalating anti-trans stigma, present the latest research on how this stigma is impacting trans and gender diverse Australians, and provide clear recommendations directed at governments, media organisations, and social media platforms.

This event will also be relevant for trans people, allies, health professionals, educators, and anyone working in mental health.

📅 Friday 9 October.
🕛 12:00–12:30pm AEDT.
💻 Online, free — Zoom link shared following registration.

Register now: https://antitrans-stigma.eventbrite.com.au

Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1093936073169560

A recording of this event will be available here: https://www.transresearch.org.au/events/anti-trans-26

If this topic causes you distress and you need support, find trans-affirming support here: https://www.transresearch.org.au/community

Image description: Text discussing the report launch, as previously written, displayed above a photo which is faintly visible against a dark blue background. The photo shows a non-binary person with long, straight brown hair, wearing an orange shirt, scrolling on their phone with a serious or upset expression. The Trans Health Research logo is displayed, small and faint, at the bottom of the image. End description.

23/09/2026

Trans Health Research would like to wish all of our Bi+ community members a happy international Bi+ visibility day!

September is Bi+ Awareness Month, celebrating and raising awareness about multi-gender attraction. The term Bi+ is an umbrella term covering the experience of being attracted to people of different genders, and people can describe this experience with terms like bis*xual, pans*xual, q***r, and more.

At THR, our work focuses on gender identity rather than s*xual orientation, but Bi+ recognition is crucial to our work as such a large proportion of trans and gender diverse people are under the Bi+ umbrella.

We can see evidence of this in the Kirby Institute's Australian Trans and Gender Diverse Sexual Health Survey launched just last week, where nearly a half of participants described their s*xuality as q***r, and over a third of participants identified as bis*xual and biromantic. Congratulations to the research team behind this excellent project!

If you would like to read the brand new national Trans and Gender Diverse Sexual Health Survey by the Kirby Institute, head to: www.tgds*xualhealth.com/

If you’d like to learn more about multi-gender attraction terminology, where to find support as a Bi+ person, or tips for how to provide inclusive care for Bi+ people, check out the Bi+ Pride Victoria website: www.bipluspridevic.org.au/learn

Image description: A message of support for bi+ trans and gender diverse people displayed alongside two photos. Left photo shows a pans*xual woman holding a small pans*xual pride flag up in front of her face, making eye contact with the viewer. She has dark brown eyes and curly black hair which is partly shaved and bleached light brown. Right photo shows a couple standing outdoors during a pride parade, both wearing crocheted tops; one person’s top is the colours of the bis*xual pride flag. The pair are smiling happily and embracing each other. End description.

Photos: Tim Samuel, Lucia Vergara.

*xual *xual ***r

15/09/2026

Many trans and gender diverse people and their allies have been eager for an update on the progress of the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) application 1754 – Surgical Procedures for Gender Affirmation in Adults with Gender Incongruence.

This application, if successful, will result in the creation of Medicare item numbers for gender-affirming surgeries. This would be an important step toward increasing access to gender-affirming surgeries in Australia.

In 2025, the first round of public consultation highlighted the benefits in quality‑of‑life of gender‑affirming surgeries. Earlier in 2026, stakeholder consultation meetings helped to further understand gender-affirming care pathways.

A third consultation period is now open. This survey contains targeted questions which aim to build on the previous consultation input and to address the specific aspects MSAC requested.

Input is welcome from all interested individuals and organisations. Submissions close 9 October 2026.

Find information and make a consultation submission here: https://ohta-consultations.health.gov.au/ohta/1754-resubmission/

Image description: Text, summarising the application update as previously written, displayed alongside a photo. The photo shows a trans person sitting indoors on a green couch, one arm braced against the back of the couch. They are laughing happily and looking into the distance. They have shoulder-length, wavy brown hair and tattoos on their arms and abdomen. They are wearing blue jeans. Horizontal mastectomy scars are visible on their chest. They do not have ni***es. End description.

14/09/2026

Join us for the Emerging Trans Researchers Conference 2026 on 14 October!

With an all-trans organising committee and line-up of presenters, the Conference aims to amplify trans and gender diverse voices in trans and gender diverse research. Show your support for student and early-career researchers, learn about their research, and connect with a thriving trans research community!

Co-hosted by Trans Health Research Group and Australian Research Consortium for Trans Youth and Children, the conference is online and free, but places are limited.

For more information and to register attendance: https://ETRConf2026.eventbrite.com.au

Image description: Text summarising the event, as previously written, displayed alongside two logos, a photo, and decorative wavy stripes. The photo shows a non-binary person sitting at a wooden table in an office, looking at their laptop, typing as they speak. They are wearing a collared white shirt and have a short, closely-cropped black afro. The two logos represent the Australian Research Consortium for Trans Youth and Children, and Trans Health Research. The wavy stripes are comprised of colours which represent the trans, non-binary, and genderq***r pride flags. End description.

Photo: Gender Spectrum Collection.