Trans Health Research

TRANSform is an ongoing survey designed to investigate the health and wellbeing experiences of the Australian trans, gender diverse and non-binary (TGDN) community. We are incredibly grateful to the nearly 2000 participants across Australia who have joined to date, since the project launch in May 2020.

We are recruiting continuously and invite you to join us!

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Welcome!

Our Vision is for a Life Without Barriers.

We conduct research with one goal: to provide robust evidence to improve the health and well-being of the trans, gender diverse, and non-binary (TGDNB) community. This is our community. Every question we ask, every project that we do, every collaboration that we start, is aligned with our goal and must translate to better health and advocating for our community. Findings guide health and well-being programs, treatment guidelines, and health policy, to enable trans people to live a life without barriers and discrimination.

We are TGDNB researchers with community experience, nurses, endocrinologists and research students based in the Department of Medicine (Austin Health) at The University of Melbourne, united by our shared goal. Whilst #GenderResearch is our core focus, as a leading trans health research group in Australia and authors of national gender-affirming hormone therapy guidelines, we are also advocates and passionate speakers, and share #GenderEducation with health professionals nationwide.

Our research findings have been translated into policy, and contributed to government investment in two new multidisciplinary gender clinics in Victoria, and a state-wide training program for health professionals in trans health. However, there is much more work to do, and we invite you to join us in shaping the future for health equity and a life without barriers for the TGDNB community.

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Our Team.

Sav Zwickl (they/them)

Researcher

MSexol

A photograph of Sav Zwickl, smiling while wearing glasses. They have wavy light hair.

Sav is a Researcher in our Trans Health Research group at The University of Melbourne and also completing a PhD focused on non-binary gender identities and experiences at La Trobe University. They are one of the lead investigators of TRANSform; an Australian Longitudinal Gender Health Study. Sav is also an engaging communicator, speaking with media to share their research and also delivering #GenderEducation.

Lucas Foster Skewis (he/they)

Researcher

BBiomedSc student

A photograph of Lucas Foster Skewis. He has a moustache and curly, brown hair, and is smiling.

Lucas is a biomedical science student and after completing his research placement, has continued to work as an honorary researcher. He is also a community member and keen to improve trans health, understanding, treatment and research.

Kylie King (she/her)

Research Nurse

A photograph of Kylie King. She has short blonde hair, is wearing a dark collared shirt, and is smiling.

Kylie is a study coordinator for our clinical research studies and exudes warmth towards everyone she meets. She manages most clinical research visits at Austin Health and is passionate about improving trans health and well-being.

Talia Hunter-Smith (she/her)

MD Research Student

Bachelor of Biomedical Science Monash University

A photograph of Talia Hunter-Smith. She has shoulder-length red hair, and is smiling.

Talia is a MD student at The University of Notre Dame who is completing her MD research project as part of TRANSform.

Dr Shalem Leemaqz (he/him)

Statistician

MAppStats PhD

A photograph of Shalem Leemaqz. He is wearing a collared shirt with a dark jumper, and a pair of glasses. He is smiling.

Shalem is our dedicated statistician, based at Flinders University, South Australia.

Dr Ada Cheung (she/her)

Lead, Trans Health Research

MBBS(Hons) FRACP PhD DipBus(Gov)

A photograph of Ada Cheung, smiling. She has shoulder-length dark hair, and is wearing dark clothing.

Ada is an Endocrinologist at Austin Health and a NHMRC & Dame Kate Campbell Research Fellow at The University of Melbourne. Driven by community need and working with the trans community, she established the Trans Health Research group and is an unwavering ally. She has won a number of national and international awards for research excellence and outstanding community leadership, and is committed to training MD & PhD students and trans researchers.

Dr Ingrid Bretherton (she/her)

PhD Candidate and Endocrinologist

MBBS FRACP

A photograph of Ingrid Bretherton. She has long ginger hair, and is smiling.

Ingrid is an endocrinologist and PhD student studying the impact of gender-affirming hormone therapy on bone microarchitecture. Joining Trans Health Research group in 2017, she has been instrumental in growing research in trans health. Ingrid is also a clinician in private practice, at Austin Gender Clinic and Monash Gender Clinic, and is passionate about health professional education in trans health, publishing additional research in this area.

Clare Headland (she/her)

Speaker and educator

B App Sc (Chiropractic)

A photograph of Clare Headland. She is wearing blue earrings, a scarf with butterflies printed on it, and a pair of glasses. She is smiling.

Clare is a trans woman, passionate speaker and suicide prevention activist. Clare was a past employee at Austin Health where she transitioned, and was an International Woman's Day awardee. She is now dedicating her efforts to advocate for acceptance and understanding of trans people.

Ariel Ginger (she/her)

Researcher

Dip Health Sciences

A photograph of Ariel Ginger. She has long red hair, earrings, and sunglasses. She is smiling.

Ariel is a social media guru who manages most of the #GenderResearch updates translating research jargon into health information for the community. She is a biomedical student and data buff working on a project examining body composition changes with hormone therapy.

Alex Wong (he/him)

Researcher

BBioMed (Unimelb)

A photograph of Alex Wong. He is smiling, and is wearing glasses and a blue collared shirt.

Alex wears multiple hats as a MD student, researcher, speaker and a proud LGBT community member. He is passionate about improving trans health and engaging with community. Alex is one of the lead investigators of TRANSform; an Australian Longitudinal Gender Health Study. Originally from Singapore, he has chosen Melbourne to be his home.

Dr Brendan Nolan (he/him)

PhD Candidate and Endocrinologist

MBBS FRACP

A photograph of Dr Brendan Nolan. He is wearing glasses and smiling.

Brendan is an endocrinologist and PhD student and is originally from Brisbane. Always full of research ideas to better the health of the community, he is working on several projects to understand the safety of gender-affirming hormone therapy.

Dr Lachlan Angus (he/him)

PhD Candidate and Endocrinologist

MBBS FRACP

A photograph of Dr Lachlan Angus. He is wearing a flannel collared shirt, and is smiling.

Lachie moved from Adelaide to join the Trans Health Research team in Melbourne and start a PhD. He is also a final year endocrine advanced trainee and is coordinating a randomised controlled trial comparing two antiandrogens used in feminising hormone therapy. He is using novel technology to examine feminising effects.

Prof Jeffrey Zajac AO (he/him)

Head, Department of Medicine (Austin Health)

MBBS(Hons) FRACP PhD

A photograph of Prof Jeffrey Zajac. He has wavy grey hair, is wearing glasses and a grey suit, and is smiling.

Jeffrey is the Head of the Department of Medicine (Austin Health) and is a staunch ally of the LGBTI community, advocating to improve trans health for many years. His work has led to the establishment of the research group and Austin Gender Clinic as part of the Trans and Gender Diverse in Community Health consortium.

Dept Medicine (Austin Health), The University of Melbourne

145 Studley Rd, Heidelberg, Victoria 3084, Australia