MEDIA RELEASE
13 March 2026
NEW PROJECT LAUNCH – DADS FOR GENDER DIVERSITY
Tasmanian family violence service, Engender Equality has launched a new project –Dads for Gender Diversity – to support Tasmanian fathers in affirming, celebrating, and advocating for their trans and gender diverse ‘children’ (of any age).
Engender Equality CEO, Alina Thomas said,
“We are delighted to roll out this programme in Tasmania.”
“It is such an important area and there is so little research available to guide the formation of a framework of support for fathers of trans/LGBTIQA+ people.
“In a society of ongoing transgender prejudice and discrimination, parental support is the most important factor protecting the health and wellbeing of trans and gender diverse young people.
“However, evidence from practice and the limited research available, suggest that this support is primarily provided and led by mothers.
“Dads face unique challenges to understand, affirm, and support their ‘child’s’ gender identity.
“Challenges come from rigid ideas in our community about gender, and what it means to be a man and father,” Ms Thomas said.
Our Watch’s Innovation Grant underpinning this project comes through their Violence Prevention Innovation Lab. The Violence Prevention Innovation Lab is designed and led by Our Watch and funded by Minderoo Foundation and has enabled us to pick up this significant work.
Project Manager, Don Pitcher said,
“Ideas about male independence, and social judgement and prejudice towards trans and gender diverse people mean that dads are often isolated.”
“They do not get the chance to talk with other fathers about either the barriers they confront, or the joy they can experience in understanding and affirming their kids gender identity.
“This social judgement of gender diversity, along with rigid gender stereotypes can even invite some men to feel like a failure as a man and father when their young person identifies as trans or gender diverse.
“We are going to create a space where dads of trans and gender diverse people can come together to share their experiences and love for their trans kids, and to support, challenge and inspire each other.
“More than that, we want to find a way to collect these dads’ stories and learning, and to make them available to others, so that all dads of trans young people know that they can do this,” Mr Pitcher said.
For more information email don@engenderequality.org.au, visit the Engender Equality website or phone (03) 6278 9090.
Ends.
Media Contact: Alina Thomas 0438 788 291