I definitely feel quite connected to my school. Since I’ve been at high school I’ve been an openly queer person even before I came out as transmasculine. I would not change my schooling for anything. And I’ve always been supported by my teachers and my peers and stuff like that. So yeah, I really do feel quite connected here.

I feel like Marryatville is a place where my identity is supported. The teachers are super inclusive and stuff. We don’t have too many queer teachers but that’s just the world we live in. We do have some queer teachers though, who are very open and positive about who they are. They also happen to run our pride club. Our gay/straight alliance which is really helpful. Seeing other kids my age like me it’s, you know, really empowering.

A lot of students have experience with bullying and discrimination because they are queer. In this society it’s a part of being queer. It’s a part of growing up being queer, and that’s something has to change. Because it’s me, this is who I am. And why do I have to change that for how you see me?

The Queer Collective is certainly something that give us a space to be who we really are, even if we can’t be it outside The Queer Collective. And we all knew that that was a big impact especially when, people would be changing their pronouns every week. And it was like, “You are allowed to do that, that’s ok.” And that was huge.

So the Seaview Wellbeing Team. Our main aim here is to support students around their learning. It’s around maybe supporting them to navigate some of the challenges in their life. We’re a safe place to come and talk and work on strategies to making them feel more connected to their school community.

As a member of the LGBTQ+ community and as a gay male, I feel like, I don’t see many of my kind, that’s one thing, especially as a person of colour. Of course within the school’s representation though, we have the Gender Sexuality Alliance and stuff and we celebrate Wear It Purple Day and all those things. But I feel like some work can be done.

Having teachers not stand up for me, and people like me, made me feel different. It made me feel like, it wasn’t right to be the way I am. I think having a rainbow group or a GSA, would have made me realise that it was ok to be the way I am. It would have made me feel more supported, and more connected to the school.

I would like to send a message to our educators that being a part of the LGBTQI+ community is such a big thing. It’s not just something to be overlooked, that we’re such a massive and amazing community and we’re allowed to explore our own identity without being discriminated against. And we shouldn’t feel bad or guilty about ourselves just because we’re trying to figure out who we are as young people.

I’ve been very lucky knowing that I’ve been safe here. The first big group of people I came out to were the LGBTQI+ collective, and that was something that made me feel so safe and so comfortable in a big group of people for the first time. There’s this level of connection that the students have that is something magical, I think.

What it means to me to a part of the queer community is feeling supported by so many people that you don’t necessarily see every day. I think having that connection allows you to form bonds that you didn’t realise you could form.

End of transcript.

The supporting gender diverse, intersex and sexually diverse children and young people policy (PDF 254 KB) reinforces the right of all children and young people, including gender diverse, intersex and sexually diverse children and young people, to:

• a quality education
• a safe, supportive and inclusive environment
• freedom from discrimination, bullying and harassment.

The policy explains the obligations of all staff to support the needs of gender diverse, intersex and sexually diverse children and young people.

The gender diverse and intersex children and young people support procedure (PDF 245 KB) helps staff and site leaders to:

• support children and young people who want to affirm their gender
• respond to a request for support from a child or young person with an intersex variation
• take actions that are child and young person-centred and family inclusive.

Staff and volunteers in South Australian government schools and preschools can access 2 types of professional learning.

• Introduction online training module for all staff and volunteers that covers the essentials.
• Advanced training delivered at the school or preschool so all staff can attend.

Teachers can find information about the training on the department's intranet (staff login required).