Non-binary HSC students favour English, arts, drama as NESA reveals new gender category

For the first time, NSW’s education standards authority has reported students who identify as ‘non-binary’ in their official HSC records. See how LGBT+ groups have reacted.

For the first time, NSW’s education standards authority has reported students who identify as ‘non-binary’ in their official HSC records in a move LGBTQ+ groups have welcomed as “a step in the right direction” for young people.

Schools were this year allowed to submit a third category for students’ personal records to the HSC administrative body, with 50 Year 11s and 12s marking themselves neither male nor female.

“In line with other NSW and Australian Government departments, NESA now provides opportunities for schools to record non-binary gender in NESA’s senior secondary enrolment systems,” a spokeswoman said.

“This feature is about giving schools the option to record non-binary gender if it is needed.

“Schools know their students and their families and are in the best place to decide what works best for them.”

Flag of the Transgender Pride and Social Movement.

The enrolment data reveals non-binary students make up 0.06 per cent of the total cohort of students sitting exams this year, although schools are not required to give their students a third gender option.

Almost half are studying advanced English, with Visual Arts and Drama the next most popular subjects among the group.

Equality Australia CEO Anna Brown has welcomed the move. Picture: Troy Snook/News Corp Australia

Anna Brown, CEO of lobby group Equality Australia, said government agencies need to collect reliable data about LGBTIQ+ people.

“We welcome this development that gives gender diverse young people the respect and dignity of being recognised as themselves,” she said.

“We know that it is vital to the wellbeing of young people to be recognised as who they are and supported to learn in safe and inclusive environments.”

CEO of transgender youth advocacy group Transcend Jeremy Wiggins described NESA’s decision to document non-binary students as “a step in the right direction”.

Transcend CEO Jeremy Wiggins. Picture: AAP Image/James Ross

“Students might still not feel safe to disclose their gender identity to schools,” he said.

“Work still needs to be done to guarantee and ensure the legal rights of transgender, gender diverse and non-binary students within school communities and beyond.”

GET HSC TIPS AND TRICKS

The Daily Telegraph’s ultimate guide to success in HSC exams features the wisdom of teachers who consistently help their classes rake in band 6 results; tutors who’ve scoured over dozens of exam papers and even those who mark the exams.

There’s also advice and tips from some of the best in class from 2022 available here.

They are the successful students who have been there, done that.The Daily Telegraph’s ultimate guide to success in the 2023 Trial HSC and HSC exams featured extensive advice from the students who topped each subject last year. Their advice still holds true as the HSC final exams approach.