for trans young people

welcome, we’re glad you’re here ✨

we’re dedicated to improving the lives of trans young people through different research topics

  • trans young people helped to choose four big areas to focus on.

    1. bringing together lots of data about young people using gender-affirming care (learn more)

    2. understanding long-term outcomes for young people using gender-affirming care (learn more)

    3. exploring non-medical supports, such as movement, education and better family support (learn more)

    4. comparing different ways young people access care (called models of care) for what works best (learn more)

    each area is led by different researchers across Australia.

  • We have a youth advisory group of 8-12 trans young people from across Australia with lots of different experiences of gender, sexuality, disability, age, education and experiences seeking gender affirming care. The group is looked after by trans adults and cisgender allies. Young people also sit on our leadership group and working groups.

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    Our Youth Advisory group is responsible for:

    x

    x

    x

    The group is not responsible for x

  • Gender-affirming care makes a positive and profound difference to the lives of many trans young people.

    Read or hear their stories here.

  • We worked with our Youth Advisory Group to create a set of ways of working.

    [DOWNLOAD EASY READ] 📝

    These are:

    • welcoming trans people of all lived experience

    • minimising harm

    • celebrating unique protective factors in trans communities (such as our joy, support of each other)

    • involving young people in many ways with choice and dignity of risk (what does this mean?)

    • being transparent about processes, decisions and risks

    • understanding gender euphoria and affirmation as more than alleviating dysphoria

    • seeing intersections in identities and challenging pathologisation (especialy of neurodivergent trans folks)

    • staying curious with each other

    • having colleagues and institutions stand with us

    • building in intergenerational leaning and support from trans adults

The whole program is led by Associate Professor Ken Pang (he/him) from Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) alongside a Program Coordinator and Stream Leads. Ken is a Paediatrician and an experienced researcher. Ken is supported by a youth advisory group and other working groups.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the many lands upon which we are located. We pay our respect to Elders past and present.

  • by families we mean all kinds of families including chosen families, kin, siblings, parents, caregivers, foster carers and anyone else

    We use trans inclusively to refer to all gender diverse people, including those who are non-binary, agender, sistergirls, brotherboys, transgender, genderfluid and other terms people identify with.

    By young people, we mean anyone aged x - x.

    See key terms

  • ARCTYC stands for the Australian Research Consortium for Trans Youth and Children.

    We are funded by the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).

    We are many organisations and individuals with professional and lived experience across Australia. Learn more.

    We are governed by trans young people, clinicians, trans and cis researchers.

    Read more about us