Designing an inclusive event for the transgender community | Australian Professional Association for Tran Health (AusPATH) Conference 2022

Challenge:

The biennial AusPATH Conference is designed for professionals and community members who are passionate about delivering high quality care and support to the transgender community.

For the 2022 conference, the organising committee wanted to increase the inclusion of local transgender community members, especially Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Northern Territory and to ensure those delegates felt supported at the conference.

Solutions:

The following initiatives were implemented:

• The program committee comprised both transgender and non-transgender members to ensure diversity of ideas and perspectives on program design.
• Speakers comprised a mix of both health professionals and transgender community members, with organisers working to ensure an even balance across the program.
• Local transgender community members were encouraged to enter a competition to design the conference logo. The winner was awarded $500.
• The Northern Territory Primary Health Network funded scholarships for transgender community members to attend the conference. Ten scholarships were funded for community members and two were specifically allocated to local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants.
• Gender inclusive language was used throughout all marketing and communications. An inclusive welcome statement was published on the conference website and a participation policy outlined expected behaviours relating to respect for all attendees.
• Organisers undertook an education session with venue staff ahead of the conference to ensure a better understanding of transgender respect and inclusion.
• Custom gender-neutral bathroom signage was displayed during the conference.
• A range of registration categories were offered to make the conference accessible to a wide audience. This included member, non-member and student rates, a day rate and a concession rate.
• The registration process included an option for delegates to enter their gender or indicate that they describe their gender in another way. The gender-neutral title Mx was also offered as an alternative to Mr and Ms.
• Delegates could opt to have their pronouns printed on their name badge.

Outcomes:

The objective to include more transgender community members was achieved with the 2022 AusPath Conference attracting the most trans and young community members than ever before. This included speakers and delegates from the local transgender Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Of the delegates who responded to a post-event survey, 90% said they felt the conference and fellow attendees were inclusive and supportive.

Further feedback from delegates will be incorporated into future AusPATH conferences to increase inclusion.