Our goal is to learn more about what transgender young people need from their whānau and families.  We aim to have a direct positive impact on the lives of transgender young people in Aotearoa, by providing information to help their families better support them. 

Our project is guided by an advisory group who are experts in transgender health and wellbeing.  We will seek advice from these experts at all stages of the project, from design to execution, and will listen carefully to what they tell us. 

Western perspectives on gender dominate in Aotearoa and gender oppression is connected to colonisation.  We value mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge) about gender and whānau (extended family) and will incorporate appropriate Kaupapa Māori methodologies in our work with Māori participants, led by a Māori researcher.  We will be guided by Māori members of our advisory board in ensuring our approach aligns with the goals of Māori and takatāpui communities. 

We want to hear from transgender young people what good family support looks like for them.  Our research team is made up of a majority of transgender researchers.  We prioritise lived experience, valuing guidance from people who have direct personal experience of the topic we are researching.  When we have different points of view on a subject, we will prioritise the views of transgender people. 

We aim to be accountable to the needs of transgender communities.  We will work collaboratively with community organisations around Aotearoa to make sure our project serves community goals.

We recognise that gender intersects with many other features of identity that are subject to oppression.  We commit to recognising the diversity of transgender experience and uplifting diverse perspectives in our work.  This includes incorporating culturally appropriate research frameworks and matching members of our research team to work with participants of different cultural backgrounds.  It also includes being open to learning about a range of other intersectional experiences.