Auckland Transgender Peer Support
If you would like to access Transgender Peer Support in Tāmaki Makaurau, please submit the referral form below and we will get in touch!
Talk to a rainbow support worker.
Please note that we can’t provide crisis services - if you or someone you know is in danger, please call emergency services on 111 immediately.
**If you are looking for information on medical transitioning, there is some helpful information below under Pathways for Gender Affirming Healthcare.
What we offer:
At RainbowYOUTH we offer a free, fully confidential Trans Peer Support Service for transgender, nonbinary and gender diverse young people who need support and/or advocacy with transitioning, identity, accessing gender affirming healthcare and social and whānau affirmation. You would meet with a gender diverse support worker in person or online, who would help you set and achieve goals over 6 sessions.
TPSS is an in demand service, by filling out a referral form you will be placed on our waitlist. Current wait time is 5-6 months.
Who we offer it to
13-27 year old’s living in Auckland
Trans/non-binary/gender diverse people
Anyone questioning their gender
Examples of things we help with:
Exploring your feelings about gender
Changing your ID (name, gender marker) legally
Coming out to whānau, friends, school, workplace
How to access Gender Affirming Healthcare (hormones, surgery etc.)
Finding gender affirming items (eg. clothes, binders, tucking underwear)
If you are aged 28 years and older, you can contact OutLine by clicking here! This service is free for people aged 28 years and older who live in the wider Auckland region (Auckland, Waitematā and Counties Manukau District Health Board areas).
OutLine is an all-ages rainbow mental health organisation providing support to the rainbow community, their friends, whānau, and those questioning. They provide a nationwide, free and confidential 0800 support line for people who want to speak to a trained volunteer from the rainbow community. Their phone line and webchat services are available every night from 6-9pm.
We have a range of resources available around gender, sexuality, parents, and much more. We also run social groups around the country which you can check out here!
Pathways for Gender Affirming Healthcare
There is no expectation for you to want to medically transition, but we know that it can be challenging to know where to start if you do. We hope you find the following helpful.
The main pathway in Tāmaki Makaurau for gender affirming healthcare for adults (18+) is through the Auckland Sexual Health Service (ASHS), for which you can be referred through your GP.
For more support around gender affirming healthcare through ASHS, you can contact the ASHS Transgender Healthcare Key Worker, Nora Purdie by emailing NoraP@adhb.govt.nz.
Centre for Youth Health provides gender-affirming healthcare for those under 18, and you can get a referral through your GP. More info here.
**Gender-affirming healthcare can also be accessed through private providers, offering a faster option but at a higher cost. Reach out to your GP to see if they can start the process or refer you to another practice.
Urgent help
If your query is urgent or regarding someone's wellbeing, we suggest you get in touch with:
Lifeline - 0800 543 354 or (09) 5222 999 within Auckland - this connects you to a counsellor or trained volunteer. Lifeline is a suicide crisis helpline available 24/7. Call if someone discloses suicidal thoughts or plans of suicide. The person does not need to be in immediate danger to call.
1737 - ph 1737 - this is a general helpline for when you "just need to talk". It's the best place to call if you don't know what exact services you need.
Healthline - 0800 611 116 - Connects you to a registered nurse. If you're not sure about something health related - call them. Good for "is this normal?" and "should I go to a doctor" questions.
National Depression Helpline - 0800 111 757 - This is the line to depression NZ's helpline. You might call this line if someone discloses feeling depressed or asks if they might have depression.
OutLine NZ - Rainbow mental health organisation providing support services across Aotearoa. Free call 0800 688 5463 (0800 OUTLINE) or use their online chat service between 6pm - 9pm every evening.
Youthline - 0800 376 633 - Call to speak to a phone counsellor. Some topics that you might call to discuss would be anxiety, depression, problems between friends, problems at home, disordered eating, general mental health questions.
The information recorded on these forms is treated as highly confidential, and is only ever represented as anonymized statistical information to our funders.