Associate Professor Yael Perry, lead investigator Dr Blake Cavve (both Telethon Kids Institute) and Dr Julie Moore (PCH's Gender Diversity Service and UWA)
A project that aims to understand and support the mental health of Australians with complex gender-affirmation experiences has received the $150,000 Embrace Big Idea Grant for 2024.
Lead investigator Dr Blake Cavve won through a tightly contested selection process to secure funding for this two-year project, which seeks to work with clinicians across Australia to improve support for young people whose gender identity or gender-affirmation needs change.
“Currently, we do not have a lot of good, scientific information about people who identify as trans and then experience these changing needs,” Dr Cavve said.
This means we don’t have a good idea of their mental health, their family and support systems or their experiences trying to access mental health support. I believe we can do a much better job of helping and supporting these people, and the first step is to talk to them to understand their experiences.
The phrase ‘complex gender-affirmation experiences’ recognises that many trans people describe their experience of gender-affirmation as not straightforward, or following a single predetermined path.
Gender-affirmation includes social and legal practices, and medical and surgical interventions that trans people may undergo to address the incongruity of having a gender identity different to the sex they were registered as at birth.
The project will involve interviews with young people, families, doctors and mental health professionals and a survey of young people with complex gender-affirmation experiences. Resources will also be created to share with young people, their families, healthcare providers and peer-support groups.
On completion, the research team will focus their efforts on creating clinical guidelines to advise healthcare providers, media, peer-support groups and families on how to best support young people ceasing gender-affirming medical treatment.
“This research is very important in terms of understanding and supporting people with complex gender-affirmation experiences. It is also very important that this research is approached in the right way, in order not to stigmatise or invalidate anyone regardless of their gender identity outcomes,” Dr Cavve said.
“This project takes the perspective that all gender identity, gender expression, and treatment wishes are equally acceptable and in a way that respects each individual’s drive for authenticity, self-determination, and autonomy.”
Embrace Youth Community Group member Catrin Davies, who sat on the independent judging panel for the Embrace Big Idea Grant, said it was “wonderful seeing the dedication and commitment all researchers had to their projects, and quite inspiring as well”.
“While it was evident that every presenter was extremely passionate about their research project and its goals, you could see through their delivery that the winning presenters genuinely felt and successfully conveyed the urgency of their proposal.”
Catrin added that it was important for judging panels to continue to have community representation.
“Opportunities like this are essential for ensuring research is conducted in the community’s best interest and has the greatest potential for long-term community-wide positive impacts,” Catrin said.
Embrace is supported by principal partner Rio Tinto.
Sign up for one of the Embrace Community Groups here.
The independent judging panel was made up of Dr Keely Bebbington, Karen Forde, Ben Wood (all Telethon Kids Institute), Catrin Davies (Embrace Youth Community Group member) and Alana Bech (Embrace Parent & Carer Community Group, not pictured)