Theme: LGBTIQA+ … more specifically, trans health
Attendees - 34
Andy Penny (he/him) - Youth Engagement Officer, headspace Ballarat
Chair & Acknowledgement of Country
Asha Buckmaster (she/her) - Education Engagement Coordinator, Highlands LLEN
Note Taker
*Content note*: Please be advised this BYSN Report discusses sensitive themes including violence against the LGBTIQA+ community
Andy delivered a thought-provoking Acknowledgement of Country. He introduced himself and included his pronouns. He then asked everyone to introduce themselves to the room, with the inclusion of pronouns.
Andy then introduced our two speakers – Conner and Alex
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Please see the registration link below for more information on times for this event:
Click Here
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Conner Lewry [he/him]
Member of Zaque, an LGBTIQA+ youth group that is facilitated by headspace Ballarat
Transition 101 – possible pathways and timelines
Gender transition is often discussed in the context of “completion”, but transition is a lifelong process and an individual needs to find the place where they are content. Conner commenced social transition at 15 years old and commenced medical transition at 18 years old. Transition is a very individual process, taking a few months at best but possibly a decade or more. Once hormones are commenced, they must be continued throughout life. If someone is under 18 years old, you can’t really transition in any way without parental support or permission… either socially or medically. Therefore, community support is really important and connection to the trans community is fundamental. Conner stated, “I didn’t think I was ‘trans enough’ until I met other people in the trans community… and realised you can still be effeminate and a trans man”.
Social transition can include name changes, pronoun comfort and self-expression of identity.
Professional support includes Social Workers, GPs, Endocrinologists and clinicians such as Psychologists. A mental health assessment and professional support in place is needed to access hormones through a process of informed consent. Hormone therapy is a significant and permanent change to your body make up. Many Gender Clinics have long wait lists; these can easily be from 8 to 12 months.
To provide informed consent a mental health assessment must be undertaken to determine that the individual is “of sound mind and can consent” to the process they are seeking. If children are transitioning, puberty blocking medication can be used to halt puberty. Negative medical effects from puberty blockers are only likely to occur if taken for an extended period and it is highly unlikely that a few years causes any long-term damage. The period of time that a child is on puberty blockers is usually used to assess their maturity regarding their capacity to consent.
Surgery is another option. Some people choose to undergo surgery, others do not. Some people choose to engage in some surgery. Extensive professional support is required for surgery and these professionals are essentially “making sure”. A person is required to live as their new/affirmed gender for 12months to get ‘bottom surgery’. “But we have all been living it our entire life”. Not everyone wants or needs surgery to be happy and content with their body and gender, and existing health issues may complicate and impact on this.
Conner initially transitioned socially when he commenced a VET (Vocational Education and Training) course and would be studying this with students from other schools. He introduced himself as Conner and using he/him pronouns. Conner’s mother was supportive and realised this was “not a phase”, so engaged Conner with medical professional support – a GP and a Gender Clinic. Conner’s parents are ok with him being trans but struggled with interventions that would result in permanent body changes. Therefore, Conner undertook this by himself, commencing hormones and progressing with surgery. Conner doesn’t like the term “complete” but does now feel content and happy with his body.
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Alex Bravo [he/him]
Peer Navigator at Ballarat Community Health’s Gender Clinic
Trans & Gender Diverse Community Health
Alex expressed his admiration for Conner, and then described how his path was very different. Alex’s transition began in his early 30s. He had felt too old to transition and that it wouldn’t work. Alex has a Bachelor of Health Sciences, Biomedical Science and an Honours in Testosterone. He took time out of University studies to transition. His studies meant that he had extensive medical knowledge, including knowing which testosterone and dose he wanted. Alex didn’t require a psychologist to commence hormones but was engaged with a psychologist for surgery approval. Alex pointed out that he has never heard of a trans psychologist, and has never met a trans person that was supported by a trans psychologist. This makes the process even more difficult in terms of explaining gender identity. Sometimes engagement with a psychologist can be a long, one off session and then you leave, left to sit with all that had been discussed and without follow up support. Alex was well supported but many people don’t have support through this process.
Alex’s transition has been as much a transition for his family as it has been for him. The only child of a Social Worker mother, Alex’s family are South American, and it was hard for them to realise that this has always been his truth.
Alex said he “kinda fell into the [Peer Navigator] role” at Ballarat Community Health’s Gender Clinic, and he is excited to be working with BYSN members. This is the first gender clinic in regional Australia… which is HUGE! The clinic is a consortium, with Austin Health managing the endocrinology. Training is a big part of the consortium’s work, with a specific focus on the needs of trans people living in regional areas.
Many stats relating to trans people are conservative guesses, as it relies on self-disclosure. Statistics relating to people who are intersex are really the only solid statistics with have for the LGBTIQA+ community. Unfortunately, surgery on babies who are intersex is still occurring, even in major hospitals with Gender Clinics. For more information on statistics, please head to the The 2018 Australian Trans and Gender Diverse Sexual Health Survey – Report Findings https://kirby.unsw.edu.au/sites/default/files/kirby/report/ATGD-Sexual-Health-Survey-Report_2018.pdf. Alex pointed out that trans elders often don’t engage with surveys as they feel fatigued having had horrific journeys. Alex went on to state “I have never met a trans elder in contact with their family”.
Alex still doesn’t know if he will be verbally abused or assaulted when walking down the street in Ballarat. Safety is a massive issue for trans and gender diverse people. When in public, Alex often doesn’t know if he can say something – anything - trans related because he doesn’t know who is listening.
Alex knew he was trans at 5 years old. He would wish every night as he went to sleep that he would wake up as a boy.
It’s important that Workers can be supportive – and say “I see you and that you are vulnerable… I have resources, I can support you”. You don’t have to be an expert; you just need to be there.
“I can’t name a single trans person I know that doesn’t have depression”
“Of all the trans people I have met, and there have been a lot, every one of them has experienced suicidal thoughts at some stage”
The introduction of marriage equality and the development of gender clinics does not mean that the LGBTIQA+ community have achieved acceptance, equality and safety. Mental health is a significant issue. And so is murder.
369 trans/gender diverse people were murdered worldwide in the year October 2017-18. More than one per day. And these are just the reported murders of trans/gender diverse people. 28 of these were teenagers. Nine were stoned to death. Five were beheaded. One person was from NZ.
This is the chance for us all to make an effort, so that all of us can feel safe. There are a lot of trans people in Ballarat, many of which don’t feel safe. We want people to feel there are safe places in our community. That is what the Ballarat Community Health Gender Clinic is about. The Clinic and Alex can manage people’s transition… providing direction and support.
The day that someone talks to you about their gender identity could be the day that you say something that really makes a difference. This is a lot of responsibility on you… but this is where we are at.
One small thing can make a massive difference… both positively and negatively. You are always welcome to connect a client with Alex. And you are welcome to take the time to visit a service and its professionals, so that you know where and to whom you are referring a young person.
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LGBTIQA+ Terms
Click the link to access a document with glossary terms for your reference:
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Trans Awareness Week
From November 12th to the 19th Trans Awareness Week will be taking place and will culminate in the Transgender Day of Rememberance on the 20th. Click the link below to check out some of the resources and information available from Minus 18.
Click Here
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BYSN was honoured to sponsor the Adult Ally Worker Award at the 2019 City of Ballarat Youth Awards. Congratulations to all those recognised by nomination, and to the Award recipient, Pearl Goodwin-Burns. Due to unforeseen circumstances, this Award was presented by Jannine Bennett from Highlands LLEN, who stepped in at the last minute for Asha Buckmaster.
Adult Ally Worker Award – Pearl Goodwin-Burns
Sponsored by Ballarat Youth Services Network
Pearl Goodwin-Burns is the facilitator for the Youth Advisory Board of the Central Highlands area. This group has a diverse range of members and Pearl makes sure to not only cater for all of them within the meetings but to try to enhance their experiences within the community. She is always willing to spend time – above and beyond what she is expected to – to talk with them, to understand what their ideas are and to work with them to achieve the group’s goals in a professional and personal sense. Not only is Pearl working to help the group be agents of change within our communities, she is helping each member to be the best versions of themself. She advocates for those with disabilities, physical and mental health issues, the LGBTI+ community, as well as being passionate about environmental issues. Pearl has a strong passion for justice and equity. She has also helped young people find employment and volunteer opportunities as well.
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Coaching Young People for Success
Highlands LLEN are excited to be hosting Coaching Young People for Success Training!
The complete life coaching program includes the training and resources that schools and youth services need to build a culture of greater wellbeing. When participants complete the session they will be registered as an accredited CYPFS Leader and will receive a 12 month non-commercial license to all of the CYPFS training modules.
Check out the link and come along for a great day of training!
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