Schools opt for gender neutral toilets, language

An overhaul in Victorian schools will see gender neutral language and uniforms introduced to support a growing number of transgender and non-binary students.

Victorian schools are opting for gender neutral toilets to support transgender and non-binary students.

Single-sex bathrooms and strict uniform policies are being overhauled in Victorian schools in a bid to support transgender and non-binary students.

Springvale’s Killester College has already ensured student bathrooms are not labelled with female presenting signage to ensure all students feel comfortable using the facilities.

Several trans students attend the Catholic girls secondary school, where the only amenities labelled according to sex are the staff-designated bathrooms.

Mentone Girls Secondary College allows students to wear school pants rather than dresses or skirts.

Killester has also updated its uniform requirements to allow transgender to students to wear shorts or pants rather than the school’s traditional dress and skirt.

The school’s Year 10 to 12 assistant principal Peter Harte said making all students feel represented and validated at the school had become a major focus for staff.

“We are having a really big think about the language we use about gender identity. Our teachers will address students with ‘good afternoon everyone, or good afternoon students,” Mr Harte said.

“All the students are very welcoming. The kids are much more receptive and adaptable than often adults can be,” he said.

Killester’s changes reflect a national trend.

The Herald Sun last month revealed researchers had slammed Victorian schools for being “homo-cis-normative institutions” over their unwillingness to fully support transgender students.

But a new national study by Western Sydney University revealed 82 per cent of parents want gender and sexuality taught to students from kindergarten.

Transgender Victoria chief executive Mama Alto said validating transgender students’ identities at school saved lives after the Writing Themselves In report by Latrobe University found teenage LGBTQA+ people experienced higher levels of psychological distress than the general population.

“It is essential that transgender, gender diverse and non-binary school students are safe, supported and affirmed at school,” she said.

Single-sex schools continue to uphold bathroom and uniform requirements after the federal government’s proposed religious discrimination bill suffered defeat when members crossed the floor to vote with Labor to amend the bill to protect trans students from being expelled because of their identity.

It is illegal for schools to discriminate against a person on the grounds of their sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex status.

Chief executive of youth LGBTQIA+ charity Minus18 Micah Scott said more work still needed to be done so trans and non-binary students could go to school and use the bathroom without fear of being bullied.

Education Minister James Merlino said Victoria’s Safe Schools program equipped teaching staff to support LGBTQIA+ students.

“At Victorian schools, equality is not negotiable, and all students have the right to a safe and inclusive environment at school no matter their background, sexuality or gender identity,” Mr Merlino said.