LGBTIQA+ students and young people deserve to learn in supportive and welcoming educational settings where they feel safe, seen and heard.
Check out the resources below to help make your school proud. You can also contact the Department’s Engagement and Wellbeing team at education.studentdiversityandinclusion@sa.gov.au for specific advice and support.
South Australian government schools and preschools
The Department for Education provides a range of resources for South Australian government schools including:
- Supporting gender diverse, intersex and sexually diverse children and young people policy
- Gender diverse and intersex children and young people support procedure
- Online introduction training (staff login required)
Starting a Rainbow Group
A Rainbow Group, sometimes known as a Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) or Queer-Straight Alliance (QSA) is an LGBTIQA+ support group for students to find support and build a community.
Access to a Rainbow Group at school is associated with greater school happiness and reduced truancy (Amos, N et al. (2025). LGBTQA+ Health and Wellbeing in South Australia).
Your rights at school as a trans and gender diverse young person
The Department for Education requires schools to support gender diverse students to:
- use a chosen name and pronouns at school
- use toilet and changeroom facilities that match their gender identity
- express their gender through their school uniform
- feel included in excursions, camps and overnight stays
- participate in physical education and sport in a way that aligns with their gender.
For more information see the Department’s procedure on supporting young people to affirm their gender identity.
For more information about your legal rights at school as a trans or gender diverse young person, check out this resource from Justice Connect.
If you need help telling your teacher about your name and/ or gender change, check out TransHealth SA’s template letter here.
Research and reports
Listening to LGBTQIA+ Young People (2024), Commissioner for Children and Young People
Nearly 1,500 LGBTIQA+ young people completed surveys conducted by the Commissioner on relationships and sexual health education, periods, sport, work and public transport.
The Things That Matter to Gender Diverse Primary Students (2024), Commissioner for Children and Young People
This report shares the voices of gender-diverse primary students in South Australia, highlighting their unique experiences and the vital role educators play in creating safe, affirming school environments.
LGBTQIA+ Inclusive School Environments (2022), Commissioner for Children and Young People
This guide provides key insights from children and young people on what is needed to build inclusive school environments that ensure LGBTQIA+ students feel known, valued, included and heard at school without fear of being ridiculed, bullied or ignored by students or teachers because of their sexual identity.
No Exceptions: Creating safer schools for LGBTQIA+ Students (2021), Commissioner for Children and Young People
This report from 2021 captures the views of young people about their perceptions and experiences of discrimination against LGBTQIA+ students in religious schools.
Our work
- SA Rainbow Advocacy Alliance (2024), Advocacy: LGBTIQA+ Inclusive Education.
- SA Rainbow Advocacy Alliance, (2022), Position statement: Supporting mental health and wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ students in education environments.