Responsive Care for Young Queer and Trans People of Colour (QTPOC): Key Ingredients and Recommendations
Tracks
MARQUIS ROOM - In-Person Only
| Wednesday, March 18, 2026 |
| 1:45 PM - 2:15 PM |
Overview
Dr Isabel Zbukvic, Orygen, The University Of Melbourne
Presenter
Dr Isabel Zbukvic
Senior Research Fellow
Orygen
Responsive Care for Young Queer and Trans People of Colour (Qtpoc): Key Ingredients and Recommendations
Presentation Overview
Research on the mental healthcare experiences of young people navigating life across multiple systems of marginalisation– such as queer and trans people of colour (QTPOC) – is essential to ensure inclusive and responsive systems. This study is the first-known Australian research to investigate the mental healthcare experiences of young QTPOC, mental health practitioners’ experiences and barriers working with young QTPOC, and recommendations for strengthening workforce and system capacity.
This study was co-created with lived experience advisors and representatives from community and clinical services. Data was collected and analysed with a peer researcher with lived experience as a queer young person of colour. QTPOC (n=20) interviewees had diverse lived experiences of gender, sexuality and ethnicity. Practitioners (n=11) represented a range of disciplines. Analysis of interviews identified key elements of responsive care including: system and service design factors (e.g. visible queer-friendliness), relational factors (e.g. affirmation and empowerment), and the approach and knowledge of practitioners. Major themes across experiences of mental health, practice, service access and engagement, and barriers to responsive care included working responsively with family, navigating White Western paradigms, and the critical importance of supporting QTPOC agency.
Results are currently being used to inform a written practice resource for mental health practitioners, through co-design with QTPOC, youth mental health practitioners, and knowledge translation specialists. This project provides an example of co-design and co-analysis to embed lived experience and foreground equity in research about youth mental healthcare experiences to develop practical outputs for workforces. Findings provide insights into the experiences of accessing and delivering mental healthcare, alongside recommendations to build more responsive Australian youth mental health systems.
Note: This project was not focused on First Nations youth, but the experiences of young people of colour with migrant and refugee backgrounds or experiences.
Three Key Learnings:
1. Understanding of the key ingredients of responsive care for QTPOC from the perspective of young QTPOC and youth mental health practitioners
2. Understanding of key recommendations to strengthen workforce and system capacity to work with QTPOC
3. Awareness of co-design methodologies for research involving young people from minority and marginalised communities
This study was co-created with lived experience advisors and representatives from community and clinical services. Data was collected and analysed with a peer researcher with lived experience as a queer young person of colour. QTPOC (n=20) interviewees had diverse lived experiences of gender, sexuality and ethnicity. Practitioners (n=11) represented a range of disciplines. Analysis of interviews identified key elements of responsive care including: system and service design factors (e.g. visible queer-friendliness), relational factors (e.g. affirmation and empowerment), and the approach and knowledge of practitioners. Major themes across experiences of mental health, practice, service access and engagement, and barriers to responsive care included working responsively with family, navigating White Western paradigms, and the critical importance of supporting QTPOC agency.
Results are currently being used to inform a written practice resource for mental health practitioners, through co-design with QTPOC, youth mental health practitioners, and knowledge translation specialists. This project provides an example of co-design and co-analysis to embed lived experience and foreground equity in research about youth mental healthcare experiences to develop practical outputs for workforces. Findings provide insights into the experiences of accessing and delivering mental healthcare, alongside recommendations to build more responsive Australian youth mental health systems.
Note: This project was not focused on First Nations youth, but the experiences of young people of colour with migrant and refugee backgrounds or experiences.
Three Key Learnings:
1. Understanding of the key ingredients of responsive care for QTPOC from the perspective of young QTPOC and youth mental health practitioners
2. Understanding of key recommendations to strengthen workforce and system capacity to work with QTPOC
3. Awareness of co-design methodologies for research involving young people from minority and marginalised communities
Biography
Dr Isabel Zbukvic (she/her) is a Senior Research Fellow at Orygen and The University of Melbourne, specialising in implementation science to bridge evidence-practice gaps in youth mental health. Her work prioritises interdisciplinary collaboration, lived experience engagement, and health equity. Isabel has experience leading projects in health, community and school contexts. She lives and works on Wurundjeri Country in Melbourne, Australia.
