TGDiCH Training Project

The Trans and Gender Diverse in Community Health (TGDiCH) Consortium comprises of Thorne Harbour Health, Your Community Health, Ballarat Community Health, and Austin Health. In 2019 the TGDiCH Consortium was successfully funded by the Department of Health and Human Services in the establishment of two multi-disciplinary community TGD health clinics in Preston and Ballarat as well as Thorne Harbour health to lead state-wide evidence-based training in TGD affirmative health care.

TGD affirmative care is the practice of actively listening to, learning about, and meeting the needs of trans and gender diverse people using your service. It aims to overcome the negative legacy of historic gate-keeping and stigmatising models of care which have created significant barriers to health access for TGD communities. By embedding TGD affirmative care into our practices, we can overcome the health disparity between TGD people and the broader community and move towards a more equitable and just society for everyone.

Current evidence tells us that access to safe, appropriate, and accessible health care is crucial in order to achieve health equity for trans and gender diverse people. Our training program consists of a variety of training packages created to improve TGD sensitivity, reduce stigma and discrimination, and build the health sector’s capacity to meet the needs of TGD Victorians.

The program has been co-created with trans and gender diverse people and medical professionals of a variety of backgrounds and professions, and is designed to adapt to different delivery methods, contexts, and disciplines.

We’re proud of our team of TGD-identified trainers who draw upon a wealth of knowledge from both their TGD and health service provider communities:

Vic Harden (they/them) leads the TGDiCH Training Project. They have a background as a Registered Nurse with experience in community and sexual health nursing - working with the TGD community for many years. Outside of work, Vic volunteers as the co-chair of the AusPATH Education Committee and as the chair of the ARCTYC Youth and Family Committee. In their spare time, they enjoy being with their family (including the furry kind), collecting records, and spending too much time on the PlayStation.

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As well as our TGD trainers, the project is collaborating with allies who are experienced practitioners in their fields. This includes endocrinologists, general practitioners, surgeons, psychiatrists, nurses, speech pathologists, and a broad selection of experts from across the health care sector.

TGD Affirmative Practice

2-hour multidisciplinary training available via Zoom, designed to build capacity for whole clinics and services including allied health, customer service, and management. This session covers:

• Appropriate language
• Cultural sensitivity
• Current TGD Health statistics and research in Australia
• Common avenues of gender affirmation including medical pathways
• Applying Affirmative Practice in the clinic environment
• Delivered by health professionals who identify as TGD

Contemporary TGD Healthcare for General Practitioners

Co-designed by TGD health professionals, experienced general practitioners, and educators.

Qualifies for RACGP CPD points.

Advanced training opportunity designed to increase the confidence and knowledge of GPs in TGD health, covering:

• Affirmative practice
• Cultural sensitivity
• Current TGD health statistics and research in Australia
• The role of the GP in gender affirmation
• Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy prescription and management
• Navigating surgical options and referrals
• The role of the GP in general healthcare for TGD populations
• Referral pathways
• Finding a community of practice

GP Observerships

• Half-day practical observerships for GPs and GP registrars working in Victoria
• Suitable for practitioners who are starting to work in the area and have undergone Affirmative Practice (or equivalent) training in TGD and/or LGBTIQ+ inclusivity
• Observe TGD Affirmative Practice in action, shadowing one of the GPs at our unique Equinox Gender Diverse Healthcare Centre in Abbotsford

Project ECHO Community of Practice

A free, live, online and peer-based educational platform, creating a multidisciplinary community of practice for TGD healthcare in Victoria. For practitioners who are already involved in providing TGD healthcare, or are starting to work in the area and have undergone Affirmative Practice (or equivalent) training.

The Project ECHO initiative connects practitioners across professions and locations, to maximise impact and improve health outcomes for those most in need. For more information, see the Project ECHO website. Multi-modal training combines didactic presentations with case discussion led by an expert panel.

Previous session have covered topics such as:

• Perioperative Care and Gender Affirming Surgeries
• Family Violence and TGD Communities
• Speech Pathology Practice with Trans and Gender Diverse Individuals
• Monitoring Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy
• Supporting Trans and Gender Diverse Clients in the Perinatal Period