Celebrating Transgender and Gender-Diverse People: Visibility, Affirmation, and Mental Wellbeing
- Shane Warren
- Mar 29
- 2 min read
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
30 March 2025
Celebrating Transgender and Gender-Diverse People: Visibility, Affirmation, and Mental Wellbeing
The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association Australia (VMHPAA) proudly joins communities across the nation today in celebrating transgender and gender-diverse individuals, acknowledging their resilience, brilliance, and vital contributions to our society.
Visibility is more than recognition, it’s a lifeline. Trans and gender-diverse people continue to face disproportionate mental health challenges due to stigma, discrimination, and a lack of culturally competent care. Today is a moment to uplift, affirm, and advocate.
“Visibility saves lives. The more we create space for people to be seen, heard, and honoured in their truth, the more we protect mental wellbeing and human dignity,” said Shane Warren, Chair of VMHPAA and also Chair of the Rainbow Precinct, the Oxford Street Pride Charter, and author of Navigating LGBTGEQIAP+ Terminology: A Comprehensive Guide for Mental Health Professionals.“We urge all mental health professionals to not only affirm gender diversity in theory, but to actively listen, learn, and advocate alongside the communities we serve.”
The VMHPAA encourages practitioners, educators, and community members alike to use this day to:
Share positive stories of trans and gender-diverse individuals
Promote inclusive practices within workplaces and services
Reflect on the role of visibility in shaping safer, healthier environments
Commit to learning more about inclusive mental health care
“This is not a moment for tokenism, it’s a call for authentic allyship,” Warren added. “Today, let’s take the move from awareness into action.”
Together, we can build a mental health sector, and a nation, where everyone feels safe to live as their authentic selves.
About VMHPAA
The Vocational Mental Health Practitioners Association Australia (VMHPAA) represents and advocates for vocationally trained mental health professionals. The association is committed to raising professional standards, fostering inclusive practice, and ensuring every practitioner has the tools to support individuals and communities with dignity and respect.
Media Contact:
Shane Warren
Chair
VMHPAA
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