ABOUT US
The Gender Centre Inc
Commitment to Excellence
The Gender Centre is dedicated to developing and delivering services and programs that empower transgender, gender diverse, and gender exploring people to make informed choices. Recognised as a centre of excellence in New South Wales through ASES Award Accreditation (Australian Service Excellence Standards), the Centre is also acknowledged nationally for its leadership in providing specialist, multi-purpose frontline services that support individuals of all ages across all stages of transition — pre, mid, and post.
Specialist Service Delivery
Our services are delivered by staff with highly specialised qualifications, skills, lived experience, and professional expertise. This ensures a responsive, client-centred approach to the unique needs of our community. Key services include:
- Specialist Counselling and Psychological Support / Providing therapeutic support for individuals, couples, and families.
- Allied Health Services / Linking clients with gender-affirming and culturally competent practitioners.
- Case Management and Outreach / Holistic support to address complex needs including health, housing, legal, and social services.
- Youth and Family Programs / Tailored services for trans and gender diverse young people and their families, supporting resilience and wellbeing.
- Support for Older Clients / Recognising the unique challenges faced by trans and gender diverse people over 55, including health concerns, social isolation, housing insecurity, and discrimination. The Gender Centre provides targeted programs, peer connection, advocacy, and referrals to ensure older clients are supported with dignity, safety, and inclusion.
- Peer Support Program / Creating safe and welcoming spaces where transgender and gender diverse people can connect, share lived experiences, and build community. Peer support groups provide opportunities for social connection, mutual learning, and resilience building. The program includes groups for young people, parents and families, older clients, and other community cohorts, fostering solidarity and reducing isolation.
- Homelessness Prevention and Intervention / Crisis housing, transitional accommodation, tenancy support, and housing advocacy.
- Health System Navigation / Assistance with accessing safe and affirming health care, including referrals and advocacy.
Beyond direct service delivery, the Gender Centre also contributes to broader systemic and community change through:
- Advocacy and Policy Development /Ensuring the voices and experiences of transgender and gender diverse people shape policy and services.
- Resource Development / Creating accessible information and tools for clients, families, and service providers.
- Training and Education / Providing stakeholder training and corporate education to increase awareness, inclusion, and cultural competency.
- Harm Minimisation Services / Operating as a secondary Needle and Syringe Program (NSP) outlet to reduce health risks and support community wellbeing.
Through these programs and initiatives, the Gender Centre seeks to build a safer, more inclusive, and more equitable society where transgender, gender diverse, and gender exploring people — across all ages and life stages — can live with dignity, visibility, and pride.
Vision, Purpose & Values
- Our Vision: is a world where every TGD person is safe, equal and valid
- Our Mission: is to address the barriers created by poverty, homelessness, social isolation and discrimination by delivering accessible, trauma-informed programes in health, housing, education and wellbeing. We work to create pathways to stability, opportunit, and inclusion for all gender diverse people
- Purpose: We are a frontline service that provides a unique perspective and is responsive to the needs of our community delivering a range of services to meet current and emerging psychosocial housing and other wellbeing needs.
- Our Values The values we work by are the four core values that underpin good citizenship and human rights for everyone.
What we are here for
Homelessness is one of the most urgent challenges facing transgender and gender diverse people. Discrimination in housing, employment, and community settings means that trans people experience homelessness at disproportionately higher rates than the general population. Without safe and stable housing, it becomes almost impossible to maintain employment, safeguard personal wellbeing, or plan for the future.
The Gender Centre plays a critical role in reducing homelessness by providing crisis and transitional accommodation, tenancy support, and advocacy. We currently operate three supported crisis housing facilities offering 11 bed spaces, as well as 21 supported transitional housing facilities with 21 bed spaces. In addition, the Centre provides tenancy support and advocacy, assisting transgender people each year to secure and maintain safe housing in the private and social housing markets.
Through these programs, the Gender Centre reduces the risk of homelessness, improves safety and stability, and supports clients to build the skills and confidence needed to sustain long-term housing. We recognise that housing is not only a basic human right but also the foundation for dignity, independence, and social inclusion.
Improving Mental Health:
Adjusting and integrating to a new gender identity can be an incredibly stressful and confronting experience. Currently, the suicide rate amongst trans people is so high that almost half of all trans people attempt suicide at least once in their life[1]. The common experience is that being transgender is of itself not distressing,
[1] McNeil, J. et al. (2012) Trans Mental Health Study 2012. Scottish Transgender Alliance. Edinburgh. www.scottishtrans.org [viewed 8/3/13]
but rather suffering arises because family and society often fails to accept and support trans people’s in their identities.
In the past year The Gender Centre has offered 1289 counseling/support sessions. On average the Gender Centre offers counseling for over two hundred trans gender and gender diverse clients per year.
Helping Trans People Rise:
Helping trans people involves a wide range of services and assistance: from housing, income, health, employment, education and training, to counseling, support groups, advocacy and building the strength and resilience of the community itself. The Gender Centre is involved in all aspects of the trans and gender diverse experience. In 2015/16 The Gender Centre logged 10,500 hours of casework in support of clients.
Building Community:
The Gender Centre is committed to building strong, supportive, and resilient communities for transgender and gender diverse people of all ages. We provide vital support for trans children and their parents, offering guidance, information, and a safe space to navigate the challenges of growing up trans. Our programs work to ensure that trans youth develop the resilience, confidence, and self-worth they need to thrive and take on the world.
We also provide dedicated care and connection for older trans people, particularly those over fifty-five, who may face additional challenges such as isolation, health concerns, and discrimination. By fostering intergenerational support, we create opportunities for shared learning, mentorship, and community solidarity.
The Gender Centre’s work extends across diverse settings, reflecting our commitment to reach people wherever support is needed. We provide education and advocacy in schools to promote inclusion and understanding, partner with hospitals to improve access to gender-affirming healthcare, deliver programs within prisons to ensure dignity and safety, and engage with local communities in Greater Western Sydney and regional NSW to reduce barriers to services.
Through these initiatives, the Gender Centre strengthens community bonds, reduces social isolation, and empowers transgender and gender diverse people to live with dignity, visibility, and pride.
Who funds us
We are part of the community
We believe that collaboration is central to achieving meaningful change. The Gender Centre works in partnership with government agencies, private sector organisations, community health and welfare providers, and, importantly, the broader community. These partnerships enable us to expand our reach, share knowledge, reduce barriers, and create environments where transgender and gender diverse people are respected, affirmed, and supported.
By strengthening networks of support and fostering understanding across all sectors of society, we not only respond to immediate needs but also build the foundations for long-term resilience and equality.
Management Structure
The Gender Centre Inc. is a Non-Government Organisation (NGO), funded in part by the NSW Department of Communities and Justice under the Specialist Homelessness Services (SHS) Program), the Ministry of Health (NSW Health), and the Sydney Local Health District, with additional support provided by Link Wentworth Housing. The organisation is an incorporated association, governed by the provisions of the Associations Incorporation Act 2009 (NSW).
As an incorporated association, the Gender Centre operates under a formally adopted Constitution, which reflects the principles of good governance, accountability, and compliance with legislation. The Constitution, based on the prescribed Model Rules, sets out clear requirements regarding:
- The structure and powers of the Management Committee (Board of Directors)
- The election, roles, and responsibilities of office bearers and committee members
- The rights and obligations of members
- Procedures for meetings, decision-making, and dispute resolution
- Delegation of authority to ensure effective governance and operational oversight
The Executive Director is delegated responsibility for the day-to-day management and administration of the organisation. This includes overseeing service delivery, supervising staff, managing resources, implementing policies, and ensuring accountability to the Board. This delegation of operational matters allows the Board to maintain its focus on governance, sustainability, and long-term planning.
The management structure ensures a clear separation of roles and responsibilities, fostering transparency, accountability, and effectiveness. It enables the Gender Centre to remain responsive to the needs of the transgender, gender diverse, and gender exploring community, while upholding the trust placed in the organisation by government funders, community partners, and the broader public.
Board of Directors
The Directors of the Gender Centre Inc. hold the ultimate legal and managerial responsibility for the organisation. The Gender Centre recognises that an effective, skilled, and active Board of Directors is essential to ensuring sound governance and strong organisational outcomes. Clear definition of roles and responsibilities provides accountability, transparency, and confidence in the organisation’s operations.
The Board of Directors is primarily responsible for:
- Oversight of the organisation’s affairs and governance
- Financial management, accountability, and sustainability
- Compliance with funding agreements, contracts, and reporting obligations
- Administration and accountability in relation to incorporation and legal requirements
- Development, approval, and monitoring of organisational policies
- Ensuring adherence to legislation, regulatory frameworks, and binding rules
- Oversight of employment matters, including the appointment and supervision of the Executive Director.
To ensure effective collaboration, the Executive Director maintains open communication with the Board, providing regular updates on the organisation’s activities, emerging issues, and strategic priorities. Where decisions made by the Executive Director are potentially contentious or carry significant implications for the organisation, these matters are referred to the Board for guidance and determination.
This governance structure ensures that the Gender Centre operates with transparency, accountability, and integrity, while enabling the Board and staff to work in partnership to advance the organisation’s mission and support the transgender, gender diverse, and gender exploring community.
EMPLOYMENT
Staff
- Executive Director
- Programs manager
- Family support caseworker
- Family peer support worker
- Counsellor
- Caseworker's
- GWS Caseworker
- Outreach Education caseworker's
- Communication /Resource/Information
- Allied Health staff funded by CESPHN
- Clinical Psychologist
- Clinical Psychologist
- Clinical Psychologist
- Clinical Psychologist
- Psychologist
Positions Vacant
POSITION VACANT:
Caseworker Contract Position
POSITION:
Outreach Caseworker 1 year contract
AWARD TITLE:
Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award, 2010
CLASSIFICATION:
SACS Employee Level 2 Pay-point 4 (current)
SALARY:
$ 35.14 As per award + Salary packaging
- 28 hours per week
- 3 days 9am to 4.30
- 1 day 4pm to 11.30 pm with preparedness to work flexible hours in order to accommodate client
- service provision and inter-agency events
LOCATION
Marrickville
RESPONSIBLE TO:
The Executive Director & Senior Programs Manager
DOWNLOADS:
Please download the files below
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
For more information and a guide to applying for a position at the Gender Centre contact the Executive Director on 90555341 or Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
ROLES & FUNCTIONS
NGO & Incorporated Association
Our Role in the Community
The Functions We Perform
FUNDING
Who Funds Us?
The Gender Centre Inc. is both an N.G.O. or a Non-Government Organisation funded in part by the N.S.W. Department of Communities & Justice under the Specialist Homeless Service program (S H S ), and Sydney Local Area Health District, and is an incorporated association under the "Associations Incorporation Act 1984". We also periodically apply for government grants for different projects, receive the occasional donation and also hold occasional fundraisers.
Sydney Local Area Health District
The Gender Centre is generously funded, in part, by, Sydney Local Area Health District, a funding agreement that dates back many years. This funding has been provided under N.S.W. Health's "AIDS. and Infectious Diseases Scheme" and the Gender Centre Inc. is very grateful to the N.S.W. Health, Sydney Local Health District for this funding.
Over the years this funding has meant that we, as a service devoted to the well-being of transgender people, a most marginalised group within the community, have been able to promote the education and training of other service providers in the needs of transgender and gender questioning people, have also been able to operate an ever important outreach service that tends to thousands of transgender clients per year, we have been able to provide educational material including our bi-monthly magazine, "Polare", and have been able to generally operate other important programs which enhance the ability of transgender people to make informed choices.
The Gender Centre Inc. remains truly grateful for the funding that has been provided by the N.S.W. Health, Sydney Local Health District in the past and looks forward to maintaining a long and cohesive relationship in the future.
Department of Communities & Justice
The Gender Centre is also generously funded, in part, by the N.S.W. Department of Community and Justice under the Specialist Homelessness Service program (S.H S .), a funding agreement that also extends back many years. In accordance with this funding agreement, the Gender Centre Inc. has devoted this income to the funding of our residential service and associated services such as the residential case management program.
Over the years this funding agreement has meant that we, as a service devoted to the well-being of transgender people, a group that experiences a high rate of homelessness, have been able to house many hundreds of transgender people in refuge accommodation, and provide them with appropriate resources to assist with their movement through the transgender process.
The Gender Centre Inc. remains truly grateful for the funding that has been provided by the N.S.W. Health Department of Human Services, Community Services in the past and looks forward to maintaining a long and cohesive relationship in the future.
Government & Private Sector Grants
From time to time during the course of our operations, the need often arises to apply for small to medium government and private sector grants to fund individual projects that may not have been budgeted for previously. Some examples of the grants that the Gender Centre Inc. has been successful in applying for in more recent times include grants from The Aurora Group, Sydney City Council and Marrickville Council "Street Smart" and N.S.W. Clubs for projects such as the compilation of our kits and fact sheets, and the purchase of furniture and appliances for our refuge houses.
Donations & Fundraisers
The Gender Centre is registered with the N.S.W. Department of Registered Charities as a registered charity, and is therefore able to receive donations and conduct occasional fundraisers. The Gender Centre Inc. would like to thank all parties that have made generous donations to us in the past and ask that any interested donor contact the centre on (02) 9519 7599 or go to our Donation Page and make a Donation.
STRATEGIC PLAN
Our Strategic Planning Processes
Method used
The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) method was used to conduct the planning process. A combination of external and internal stakeholders were interviewed by an external consultant.
EXTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS: SERVICE PROVIDERS
Interviews were conducted with the following stakeholders:
- NSW FACS
- Metro Housing
- Wentworth Community Housing
- Headspace in Dubbo
- Sydney Local Health District
- Primary Health Network
- Regional LHD
- NSW Police
Stakeholders were asked to respond to a series of questions including:
- A description of their service and role.
- Their agencies relationship to GC e.g. referral, partner, funding.
- What GC services were they aware of?
- What additional services they think the agency could provide?
- What should be the agencies priorities over the next three years?
- What did they see as the overall strengths of the service?
- Were there any areas where the service could improve? If so, what were they?
- How should GC position itself to achieve long term sustainability?
INTERNAL STAKEHOLDERS: GC CLIENT GROUPS
The consultant met with the following client groups:
- two clients in an interview discussion
- two clients’ submitted surveys
- Parents group – fifteen participants
- Young person’s group – 18 participants
The following questions guided discussion:
- What activities and services at GC have been helpful to you?
- How would you describe your experience of being a client at GC?
- What staff support has been helpful to you?
- Is there anything additional staff could do to assist you?
- How can GC improve its services?
- Is there anything you would like to add?
SWOT: Emerging themes from stakeholders consultation
Many of the identified strengths highlighted the GC’s, ability to provide a specialist response. This specialisation included the following: the Centre’s strong relationship with local community, passionate, friendly and skilled staff, strong advocacy skills, excellence in service provision and delivering the client centred approach into case management practice.
External stakeholders identified the GC’s strong relationships with local community positions the service in a leadership role when advocating for the dignity and rights of transgender and gender diverse people. GC’s variety of programs such as, counselling, parents group, young person’s group, case management, access to information and resources supports clients with the skills and knowledge to increase their capacity for independence and self-empowerment.
The young person’s group found access to the group particularly helpful in developing strong relationships and challenging social isolation.
The parent’s group highlighted the staff as supportive, valued the social support aspect of the group and access to information. Parents identified the support from GC as crucial to the ongoing wellbeing of their family, particularly the mental and social wellbeing to their children.