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Gender and sexual diversity - advice and support for students

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    Your gender identity is personal, unique and may evolve and change over time. An environment of acceptance and open communication at school can help you feel supported.

    Knowing where to find help can make a big difference. Learn more about support and resources available, and what to do if you experience or see bullying to do with gender or sexual diversity.

    LGBTQIA+ student voice

    There are many students in our schools who identify as LGBTQIA+. These students have unique perspectives and experiences that educators should be aware of and consider in their day-to-day practice.

    Building respectful and affirming school cultures podcast

    Listen to a podcast with a student and their wellbeing leader about the restorative work the school is doing to support and champion LGBTQIA+ students. Learn how the school fosters a safe and inclusive environment where all students feel valued and supported.

    Being me: LGBTQIA+ inclusion in South Australian schools

    A video featuring voices of LGBTQIA+ secondary students has been created and will help contribute to informing and supporting educators, leadership and other staff to develop a greater understanding of how to support and include gender diverse, intersex and sexually diverse children and young people in education settings.

    ‘Being me: LGBTQIA+ inclusion in South Australian schools’ is part of a range of activities taking place to increase the visibility and inclusion of LGBTQIA+ students in South Australian public schools.

    Being me: LGBTQIA+ inclusion in South Australian schools - transcript

    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.

    How your school can help you

    We have policies, procedures, training and resources for the staff and volunteers in government schools and preschools to:

    • support gender diverse, intersex or sexually diverse children and young people
    • establish inclusive and safe environments.

    Support and resources for schools

    We work closely with your school to make sure they have help for:

    • how to support you
    • understanding the policy and procedure
    • complex situations.

    Policy

    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.

    Procedure

    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.

    Training for staff and volunteers

    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).

    Support for you

    If you need help or have questions, you can talk to a trusted adult. This could be someone at your school like a teacher, a member of your family or a friend.

    You can talk about things like:

    • how schools can create safe and inclusive environments
    • completing a gender affirmation plan
    • your wellbeing
    • using a different toilet or changeroom
    • uniforms, facilities and activities
    • where to get help
    • using your preferred name and pronouns
    • consent and protecting your privacy and information
    • gender and sexuality alliance groups.

    Get involved at your school

    Talk to your school about ways to get involved or show your support for gender and sexually diverse students. You can ask your school to consider:

    • creating a visual display
    • starting or joining a gender and sexuality alliance group
    • including information in newsletters or assembles about behaviour and celebrating success for everyone
    • LGBTIQA+ representation on your student representative committee and governing council
    • opportunities for presentations or activities to be led by a gender and sexuality alliance or gay-straight alliance (GSA) in your school.

    Supporting another student

    If another student talks to you about their gender or sexual identity, there are things you can do to help. You can:

    • listen to them and be supportive
    • use their preferred name and pronouns
    • let them know about ways they can get help – for example, talking to someone at school, telling a trusted adult, seeing a health professional or talking to a counsellor
    • offer to support them to talk to an adult that they trust
    • call out bullying and homophobic behaviour and language
    • let them know they can talk to you about it again another time.

    Sometimes supporting a friend who is having a hard time can be difficult for you too. You might need to get support for yourself from a trusted adult or counselling service.

    If you are being bullied

    Talk to someone. There are people and services who can help.

    Talk to a teacher or someone at your school. Your school wants to stop bullying.

    Ask your parents or an adult in your family for help.

    If things don’t get better, tell them again or speak to a different adult.

    What is bullying and where students can get help has more information.

    Online bullying

    If it’s online bullying, you can report cyberbullying to the eSafety Commissioner.

    The Cyberbullying quick guide explains how to protect yourself online and report bullying on social media sites.

    Where you can get help outside of school

    For young people, and their families and friends

    Engagement and Wellbeing

    Email: education.studentdiversityandinclusion [at] sa.gov.au

    Related information