Australian kids can change their gender in public schools around the country without their parent’s knowing as long as the school principal signs off on the transition.
According to research by The Epoch Times, in all but one Australian region, the state and territory education departments’ policies surrounding gender transition declare that if principals believe a student’s safety is at risk and it is in their best interests, the school will not inform the parents of the transition. This can involve legally changing the student’s name on school records and allowing them to socially transition at school.
For example, in New South Wales (NSW), principals are advised that if they believe there are “reasonable grounds” that it would not be in the student’s best interests for the school to inform their parents of the transition, then they do not have to.
“Support needs will vary from student to student. It is important to consult with the student and their parents or carers where practicable when planning for the student’s support unless the principal believes on reasonable grounds that it is not in the student’s best interests to do this,” the NSW education policy states.
In the case of NSW, this policy stands for all student grades from primary through to high school.
For South Australia (pdf), this advice also stretches down to preschools, which typically cater for kids from 3-4 years of age.
The revelation comes after it was alleged by the Courier Mail that the Queensland Department of Education was advising teachers to have two names for students who are transitioning, one for the student at school and one for when the teacher is speaking or contacting parents.
According to the Queensland Education Department, the policy (pdf) states that students may refer to themselves by a name of their choosing and that all students and school staff are encouraged to use a student’s preferred name and gender when requested.
A spokesperson for the Queensland education department told The Epoch Times in an email that the department is “committed to ensuring schools are safe and inclusive learning environments for all students, including trans and gender diverse students.”
However, the department indicated that while the position is for schools to work very closely with the student and their parents in accordance with medical advice, there can be exceptional circumstances if schools believe the student might be at risk of harm.
In this situation, “steps can be taken to act in the student’s best interests and prevent harm.”
The department did not confirm if they had produced advisory material that recommended teachers hide students’ gender transitions from parents.
Meanwhile, in Victoria, schools are advised by the state’s education department that there are times when a student may “wish or need” to transition without “the consent of their parent/s (or carer/s), and/or without consulting medical practitioners.”
“If no agreement can be reached between the student and the parent/s regarding the student’s gender identity, or if the parent/s will not consent to the contents of a student support plan, it will be necessary for the school to consider whether the student is a mature minor,” the department states.
A mature minor is regarded by the Victorian education department as a student under the age of 18 who asks to make a decision instead of their parent or carer.
“Principals or others working with students in schools can decide that the student is capable of making their own decision, i.e. that they are a mature minor for the purpose of making a particular decision,” the department’s policy says.
“To be considered a mature minor, principals or others working with students must be satisfied that the student has sufficient maturity, understanding and intelligence to understand the nature and effect of their particular decision.”
The policies, which come under each state education department’s inclusivity guidelines regarding transgender students in schools, also argue in each case that the process must be student-led and focus on the welfare of the student.
The policy revelations come as education bodies in other countries have faced legal proceedings over their inclusivity policies.
In the United States, school educators in Wisconsin, Maine, California, and Florida have been taken to court over hiding transitions from parents.
In one lawsuit, the parents argued that they could not meaningfully exercise their parental rights “if public schools hide vital information about their children from them.”
In Australia, it is the legal right of parents to bring up their children according to their own values and beliefs. The NSW government, for example, states that parents have the right to decide the child’s “religion, education, discipline, and medical treatment and where the child lives will not be interfered with unless there are good reasons or the child’s well-being is at risk.”
However, gender transition advocates argue that children are endangered by parents not affirming their child’s choice.
According to the parents’ hub on Australian trans rights advocacy group Transcend, many people who want to come out as trans fear how their family might react and that “rejection, marginalisation, stigma, and discrimination” can have negative impacts on mental health.
However, not all states and territories have implemented inclusive policies.
Australia’s Northern Territory (NT) government walked back on its decision to introduce the same inclusivity guidelines on diverse sex, sexuality, and gender identity as the rest of the country.
Teachers would have also been banned from calling students “boys and girls” or “ladies and gentlemen,” for being perceived as confirming “gender stereotyping,” which can be “alienating for gender questioning and gender diverse children.”
The document, published by Sky News Australia in April 2022, also suggested that teachers could use “vocabulary such as ‘students,’ ‘class,’ ‘crew,’ ‘everyone,’ ‘people’ or ‘year X’ that are more inclusive.”
Under the plan, schools would be asked not to separate children based on their gender for sports events and be “flexible with regard to clothing type and participation.”
The measure would also ensure students attending school camps could access the toilets, showers, and sleeping quarters of their “affirmed gender”—which refers to the gender they choose for themselves.
“When considering school excursions including overnight stays, the teacher in charge of the excursion should consult with LGBTQI students, parents, and support teams to confirm preferences,” the document said.
The draft guidelines further warned that concerns from other children could be considered a form of bullying.
“If a child, or their peers, do not agree that they would feel safe and comfortable sharing, seek alternative solutions and acknowledge that this is an indication of possible exclusionary behaviour and potential bullying toward the LGBTQI child.”