Queer

With rising hostility against Transgender people and transphobic violence across the world, the University of Melbourne unfortunately remains a site in which this takes place. We seek to instigate a serious inquiry into the transphobia that occurs at UniMelb through gathering responses from students across campuses. 

We need to highlight the impact of the University’s complicity in failing to protect Trans students, as well as UMSU’s lack of care and advocacy for Trans students, including deadnaming students on their own website and emails!

This report would help us gather vital information and data to put forward to the University to push for change, identify how UMSU can advocate for these students better, and eventually make the campus a safe space for all.


Inquiry into transphobia

Launch a serious inquiry into transphobia across Unimelb campuses and in Unimelb services.

Despite GPs being able to prescribe gender affirming hormone replacement therapy (HRT) via the informed consent pathway with simple training, the University of Melbourne Health Service still lacks any GP who can prescribe HRT to Trans and Gender Diverse patients at the Service. Instead, any requests are referred to external services and specialists, which are often costly, unreliable, and have long waiting lists. The University’s Health Service has the ability to provide these life saving services to one of the most marginalised demographic of students, which we will fight to be implemented.


Informed consent for HRT into the Unimelb Health Service

Informed Consent Gender Affirming HRT prescribed by UniMelb Health Service GPs

The Queer department’s regular collectives – Aro/Ace Collective, Queer People of Colour Collective, Trans Collective, and Queer Lunch – offer vital space for Queer students to meet and find support, yet often stay unknown to many due to lack of advertising. Together, we plan to advertise these collectives extensively both in person and online to ensure their visibility, allowing all students to be aware of their existence so that those who need collectives most can find them.

 Additionally, we plan to improve collective catering to always account for diverse cultural and dietary needs, as well as to provide enjoyable, satiating free meals to Queer students. We’ll be opening surveys and permanent communication pathways in order for students to express their visions for future collective meetings, making sure that collectives stay autonomous.


Improve collective engagement, attendance and catering

The Queer Political Action Collective (QPAC) acted as a key on-campus organising body for student activism concerning Queer issues. It has not had an active presence in many years.

Together, we will bring back QPAC as a regular recurring collective amongst other Queer department collectives, giving all Queer students opportunity to directly engage with the department in discussions regarding advocacy within UMSU and the University, as well providing space for Queer students to collectively mobilise action to address Queer concerns in local areas and beyond. 
