Accessing healthcare and support

Many children and young people explore their gender with support from their family and whānau. Others may experience:

• difficult times
• low moods
• negative experiences at school, in the community, or at home.

You may notice your child feeling unsure about their gender, or having distress related to their gender or their body. Some children will have clear views about what they need, while others may be working this out over time.

It is also normal for parents, caregivers, and whānau to feel unsure, have concerns, or want to know how to help their child or young person. There are support options available. You and your whānau are not alone.

Reach out to a general practitioner (GP), health professional, or community support service if your child or young person:

• talks about wanting to be recognised or treated as a gender different from the sex they were assigned at birth
• is experiencing bullying, exclusion, or ongoing distress related to their gender or gender expression
• asks for help to understand their gender or wants to know what support or healthcare options might look like
• seems more distressed, withdrawn, overwhelmed, or hopeless than usual.

See the Listening to Families resource for more information.

Talking about gender diversity — when to talk to your GP — Listening to Familiesexternal link

You and your whānau are not alone. You can read stories that families in Aotearoa New Zealand have shared about raising transgender and gender diverse children.

Storms, clouds and rainbows — The journey of parenting a transgender child — Be Thereexternal linkPDF

KidsHealth has a resource to help support children and young people experiencing gender dysphoria.

Gender dysphoria in children and young people — KidsHealth

If you are looking for more information, support, or access to gender affirming healthcare, a good first step can be to talk with:

• a general practitioner (GP)
• another trusted healthcare provider or navigator
• community-based organisations that supports Rainbow and LGBTQIA+ young people.

These providers or organisations can:

• listen and help answer questions 
• explain options available in your area
• talk through what the next steps might be.

In some cases, a healthcare provider or organisation may refer a child or young person to a clinician or service with more experience supporting transgender, non‑binary, gender‑diverse children and young people, and those who are exploring their gender.

Children and young people may need support from a parent, caregiver, or another trusted adult to:

• help arrange appointments
• be involved alongside them in the care process.

Healthcare providers are expected to work with children, young people, and their whānau or caregivers, to identify support that is appropriate to their life stage, needs, and circumstances.

Healthcare and support options for children and young people

At times, families, whānau, and caregivers may also need support for themselves. When a child or young person in your life is exploring their gender or experiencing distress related to gender dysphoria, it can be normal to feel:

• unsure
• stressed
• overwhelmed at times.

Support options for families, whānau and caregivers