Trans Health Research

13/01/2026

Are you trans or gender diverse, aged 18+, and currently on a waitlist to access gender-affirming hormones in Australia? We want to hear from you!

We are looking for people to join a research project to evaluate an online peer support program called Thriving Transitions, which has been specifically designed to connect and support people during their time on a waitlist.

The next Thriving Transitions program kicks off Wednesday evening 21st January, and will run weekly for 7 weeks.

That’s only ONE WEEK away, so reach out now!

Contact the Thriving Transitions team: thriving-transitions@unimelb.edu.au

More information here: https://www.transresearch.org.au/participate/thriving

The Thriving Transitions project is supported by a Su***de Prevention Australia Innovative Research Grant 2024-2026 and has ethics approval from Austin Health.

Image description: Two photos displayed alongside text. The text promotes Thriving Transitions, as previously written. Left photo: A mature-aged trans woman standing on her balcony, gesturing to herself and smiling as she speaks during a phone video call. She is wearing a blonde wig, a pink business jacket, a white suit shirt, and makeup. Her nails are painted red. Right photo: A q***r person in their office, wearing a blue-striped suit shirt, silver necklaces, and silver earrings. They have a shaved head, head tattoos, and neck tattoos. They are smiling happily while in a laptop video call. End description.

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Photos: EyeEm. Freepik.

08/01/2026

Join Trans Health Research Group for a free online webinar on Friday 30 January 2026, 12pm-12.30pm AEDT, as we launch three new research reports on three community priorities; housing, employment, and healthcare.

Trans and gender diverse wellbeing is influenced by the systems people navigate every day. Housing security, employment conditions, and access to inclusive services all play a critical role in trans and gender diverse people’s health outcomes. This event launches new research exploring these interconnected areas, and identifying where change is needed.

Community members, support services, government, and other stakeholders are welcome!

REGISTER NOW: https://research-reports.eventbrite.com.au

Can't attend? A recording will be available on the Trans Health Research website.

For enquiries about this event, please contact Dr Sav Zwickl: transform-research@unimelb.edu.au

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3 new reports on 3 trans community priority topics!

07/01/2026

Are you trans or gender diverse, aged 18+, and currently on a waitlist to access gender-affirming hormones in Victoria? We want to hear from you!

We are looking for people to join a research project to evaluate an online peer support program called Thriving Transitions, which has been specifically designed to connect and support people during their time on a waitlist.

The next Thriving Transitions program kicks off Wednesday 21st January, and will run weekly for 7 weeks.

Interested in being involved? Contact the Thriving Transitions team:
thriving-transitions@unimelb.edu.au

More information here: https://www.transresearch.org.au/participate/thriving

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A support group for people who are on a hormone therapy waitlist.

30/12/2025

In our new End of 2025 Review blog post, we reflect on the highs and lows in what was a challenging year for trans communities and allies. https://www.transresearch.org.au/post/2025-review

Despite the challenges, as trans people, clinicians, and researchers, we have drawn strength from inspirational displays of trans solidarity and community building, and we have remained steadfast in our commitment to countering disinformation with high-quality research and the elevation of trans voices.

All our research wouldn't be possible without the generosity of the many trans and gender diverse people who have given their time and shared their stories with us in 2025. We cannot thank you enough!

Thank you also to our many collaborators – other research groups, individual researchers, clinicians, and community organisations – for working with us to improve the health and wellbeing of trans people. Your time, dedication, and expertise are deeply appreciated, and we look forward to working with you more in 2026 and beyond!

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2025 was a challenging year, but we remain steadfast in our commitment to high quality research and elevating trans voices.

24/12/2025

As 2025 winds down, the holidays give us time for connection, decompression, and reflection.

For many people, particularly those in the trans and gender diverse community, the holiday period can come with a mix of emotions. Whoever you are, and however you choose to spend the holidays, we hope that you find moments to feel connected and replenished in whatever way works for you. For example, spending time with friends and family, taking part in faith-based celebrations, spoiling beloved pets, taking the time to connect with yourself, or connecting with the beautiful natural world around us.

Community and self-care can take many forms, and look different for everyone.

If you need support during this time, there are trans-affirming support services that you can reach out to, and we’ve compiled a list of options in the Community Resources section of our website.

Mental health and peer support: https://www.transresearch.org.au/mental-health-peer-support

Support and resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples: https://www.transresearch.org.au/first-nations

Support for families and carers: https://www.transresearch.org.au/families-carers

All community resources: https://www.transresearch.org.au/community-resources

Image description: Supportive text displayed alongside six photos. From top left to bottom right, the photos show: Two non-binary people and a transfem person sitting outdoors, taking a selfie together. Trans man taking a selfie with his friends, in a pool. Man sitting in his wheelchair, talking on the phone with the assistance of his wife. Non-binary intersex person standing with their non-binary partner, the pair about to kiss. Trans woman sitting at a dinner table, being embraced by her relative, a Christmas tree in the background. Non-binary person sitting on their couch, hugging their dog. End description.

Photos by Gender Spectrum Collection, FG Trade (iStock), 24K Production, EyeEm, Wavebreak Media, Carlos A. Gonzalez Q.

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21/12/2025

📢 Setting the record straight on gender-affirming care 📢

We’re pleased to share our published response addressing misinformation about gender-affirming care that has been circulating in public discourse. https://doi.org/10.1111/imj.70040

Our original Clinical Perspective outlined evidence-based recommendations for the initiation and monitoring of gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) for trans adults in Australia. https://doi.org/10.1111/imj.16413

In contrast, the recent letter we respond to raised claims about children and overseas reviews that were outside the scope of our article, and inconsistent with established medical evidence.

In our response, we reaffirm that gender-affirming care is a patient-centred, evidence-informed model that supports trans people to align their physical, psychological and social wellbeing with their gender identity. It involves careful assessment, shared decision-making, and ongoing clinical monitoring—not ideological assumptions or “blind affirmation”.

Decades of research show that, for those who seek it, gender-affirming care is associated with improvements in mental health, quality of life, and reductions in dysphoria and suicidality. This care is supported by more than 30 major medical organisations worldwide, including the Australian Medical Association and the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

We also address common myths (including claims about “social contagion” and the mischaracterisation of gender-affirming hormones) and explain why applying uniquely restrictive evidence standards to trans healthcare is not scientifically or ethically justified.

Healthcare should always be guided by science, clinical expertise, and the voices of those most affected… not fear, misinformation, or political interference.

Evidence matters. Trans lives matter.

Image description: Text displayed alongside a photo. The text summarises the post as previously written. The photo shows a doctor standing indoors, holding forward a heart-shaped trans pride badge, wearing a white coat and a stethoscope around their neck. End description.

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17/12/2025

Trans Health Research was proud to attend the 2025 AusPATH Conference in Nipaluna (Hobart) with more than 500 delegates.

Team members chaired workshops, shared new research findings, and helped lead national discussions on gender-affirming healthcare.

This blog post brings together all of those contributions. It offers a broad overview of the work that we are doing to improve gender diverse people’s quality of life and access to healthcare, with even more progress being made behind the scenes.

Our researchers presented on topics including gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) continuation, hair loss with testosterone GAHT, ge***al atrophy, and body composition changes with spironolactone or cyproterone acetate.

We also discussed Medicare item numbers for gender-affirming surgeries, gender diversity training for GPs, pelvic health physiotherapy, and key achievements from the TRANSform project.

The Conference highlighted sector achievements such as the launch of AusPATH Standards of Care Version 2 and the Guidelines for Gender Affirming Care in Aotearoa New Zealand.

As always, there is more work to do, and we are so proud to be contributing to progress for our communities.

Trans Health Research were excited to join over 500 delegates in Nipaluna/Hobart, for the biennial Australian Professional Association for Trans Health (AusPATH) Conference.

15/12/2025

Support matters, especially right now.

Many people in our trans and gender diverse communities are feeling heightened stress, fear, anger, or grief at the moment. If you’re finding things heavy, you don’t have to sit with it alone. Confidential, affirming support is available.

QLife: Free, anonymous peer support for LGBTIQA+ people.
Availability: 3pm–9pm, every day.
Call: 1800 184 527.
Webchat: https://qlife.org.au

Lifeline: Crisis support and su***de prevention service.
Availability: 24/7.
Call: 13 11 14.
Webchat: https://www.lifeline.org.au
Text: 0477 13 11 14.

Su***de Call Back Service: Mental health support and su***de prevention service.
Availability: 24/7.
Call: 1300 659 467.
Webchat: https://www.su***decallbackservice.org.au

A more comprehensive list of services and resources is available here: https://bit.ly/thr-resources

Reaching out is not a sign of weakness. It’s a way of taking care of yourself.

13/12/2025

On December 14th, HIV Cure Research Day, we want to express our heartfelt thanks and solidarity to HIV researchers across the world, particularly those with lived experience.

Today gives us the opportunity to spread awareness about the importance of HIV cure research, and to celebrate the incredible and life-saving wins that have been made in the field so far.

People living with HIV, many of whom are researchers and advocates themselves, have been international trailblazers in peer-led practices. They continue to inspire us to push for more peer leadership within trans and gender diverse health research.

Our communities have benefitted greatly from HIV cure research, and although data are limited, they suggest that HIV is less prevalent amongst Australian trans people compared to overseas. Moving forward, improvements in how we collect gender information will ensure that trans people are counted, and receive the best care possible.

This blog post, by our collaborator Joël Murray, shares information about trans and gender diverse people living with HIV in Australia: https://www.transresearch.org.au/post/__hiv

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How many trans people are living with HIV in Australia?

10/12/2025

We’re proud to share our latest publication in the International Journal of Transgender Health: Efficacy of a Co-Designed Transgender Health Training Program for Primary Care General Practitioners.

This study evaluated a trans-led, co-designed training program developed with the support of Thorne Harbour Health and the Victorian Government. It was led by Julian Grace, Foster Skewis, Sav Zwickl, Samantha Clune, Vic Harden, Michelle Dutton, Peter Locke, Shalem Leemaqz, and Ada Cheung.

The six-hour course, created by cis, trans, and gender diverse clinicians, significantly improved GPs’ confidence, knowledge, and access to collegial support in providing gender-affirming care.

Every participating GP reported that the training would change their practice. Co-design by trans professionals was rated as the most appealing feature, highlighting how lived experience leadership drives better learning and better care.

This research strengthens the evidence for funding trans-led training to build healthcare capacity and ensure culturally safe, affirming care for trans and gender diverse communities.

Read the full article here: https://doi.org/10.1080/26895269.2025.2583469

Image description: A photo displayed alongside text. The photo shows study leaders Julian Grace and Michelle Dutton presenting at the 2025 AusPATH conference. The pair are standing at a podium onstage. Julian, wearing a white shirt and grey trousers, has short dark hair and is gesturing as they speak into a microphone. Michelle, wearing a black shirt and blue trousers, has shoulder-length wavy blonde hair, and is listening to Julian speak. An audience member can be seen in the foreground, looking up at the large presentation screen onstage. Text accompanying the photo reads, “Six hours of GP training. Lasting impact for their trans patients,” followed by a brief description of the photo. End description.

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08/12/2025

Closing the final plenary at AusPATH came with a moment of immense pride for our whole team. We were absolutely thrilled to see Dr Sav Zwickl awarded the AusPATH Best Early Career Researcher Award, recognising their outstanding leadership across TRANSform, community-led research, and national advocacy. Equally exciting was Dr Lachie Angus receiving the AusPATH Best Paper by an Early Career Researcher Award for his PhD study, Effect of Spironolactone and Cyproterone Acetate on Breast Growth in Transgender People: A Randomized Clinical Trial; a landmark contribution to evidence-based gender-affirming care.

Both Sav and Lachie have had a stellar year, driving rigorous science, strengthening community partnerships, and shaping the future of trans and gender diverse health research in Australia. We couldn’t be prouder.

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03/12/2025

Day 2 at AusPATH brought our full Trans Health Research Group together with 500+ delegates. Sav opened with five-year TRANSform findings. In Adult Endocrinology/Surgery, Lachie reported on anti-androgens and body composition, Nhi on proteomic changes during feminising GAHT, Brendan on mental health treatment utilisation post-GAHT, and Silver on met and unmet gender-affirming care needs.

Julian presented the results of a co-designed GP training program. In Adult Care, chaired by Sav, Foster reported long-term informed-consent outcomes, and Eli presented on ge***al atrophy/pain in people using testosterone. Sav and Julian joined the Trans Researchers in Trans Research panel, and Ada contributed to a symposium on positive exercise engagement.

Day 3 opened with a plenary featuring Rodney Croome on advocacy in Lutruwita/Tasmania, followed by a confronting update from Queensland on proposed bans on youth gender-affirming care. Ada concluded the session with an overview of Medicare-supported surgery access.

In Politics and Human Rights, Sav presented national data on anti-trans rhetoric, discriminatory policies, violence, and mental health outcomes. In Hormones and Surgery, our group shared new research; Arden’s 24-month body composition results, Brendan’s audit of estradiol implants, Toan’s trial of sublingual minoxidil, and Den’s findings on immune-system changes during feminising hormone therapy.

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