Zig Zag would like to reaffirm our ongoing commitment to supporting and providing services to transgender and gender diverse (TGD) communities. Zig Zag services welcome young women, trans and gender diverse young people aged 12-25.

Zig Zag was established in 1988 to respond to the specific identified needs of young women aged 12 – 25 years, including sexual violence, accommodation, and the provision of a safe and confidential place for young women to obtain information, resources, and support. Zig Zag recognises the diversity and need for change so young people feel welcome and have the freedom to be themselves when accessing and getting support through Zig Zag.

In consultation with key LGBTQIA+ advocates, organisations, and community members, Zig Zag is developing and reviewing organisational policy, procedures, and practices to support transgender and gender diverse inclusion across all programs in the organisation. We proudly support and stand in solidarity with trans and gender diverse communities.

Zig Zag is not funded to provide sexual assault counselling or housing services to young cisgender men* however we can provide information and referral on request.

Definitions used:

  • Gender Identity – the personal and cultural sense of one’s own gender/s (female, male, neither, both or another gender/s).
  • Cisgender men – assigned male at birth and identifies as male.
  • Gender diverse – a broad term to describe how a person’s gender identity, role and/or expression may differ from dominant cultural norms prescribed for females or males in our society.
  • Non-binary – a person whose identity is outside of the common belief that there are only two genders, female or male.
  • Trans or transgender – a person whose gender identity does not align with the sex they were assigned at birth.

Transgender and non-binary people may or may not affirm their gender/s by taking steps to be socially, culturally, and physically more aligned with their gender identity, including changing their name and pronouns, changing their name and/or gender marker on identification documents like birth certificates, accessing gender affirming medications and/or surgery.