Artwork by Ronie Byles
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Gender Affirming Surgery Research Group recognise the True and Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands, air, and waters we operate on as that of the Kaurna People. We acknowledge Elders, past and present, as well as Brotherboys, Sistergirls and gender expansive mob with whom we aim to uplift and walk along side. We acknowledge that these lands were, and always be, Aboriginal Land.
Who we are
Who we are
The Gender Affirming Surgery Research Group is a collaborative research group comprising surgeons, surgeons in training, trans community members – including our lived experience researchers and consumer group - nurse consultants, epidemiologists, health equity experts, clinical research coordinators, and international experts in gender affirming surgery outcomes.
The Gender Affirming Surgery Research Group is affiliated with the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network (SALHN) and Flinders University, focusing on coordinating and conducting collaborative, multidisciplinary research to support safe, effective, and equitable access to gender-affirming surgical care in Australia.
Our Team
Our Team
Main research team contact: Hester Lacey - hester.lacey@flinders.edu.au
A/Prof Nicola Dean | MBChB, FRCS (Eng), FRACS (Plas), PhD (she/her)
Head of Unit, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (SALHN). Associate Professor, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University.
Lead Investigator
Dr Hester Lacey MBBS (Hons), MSc (Hons), MA (Hons) (she/her)
Resident Medical Officer, PhD candidate, Health Outcomes of Gender Affirming Surgery
MBBS (Hons), MSc (Hons), Ma
PhD candidate, Flinders University
A/Prof Courtney Ryder | PhD, BScBEng (Biomed) (Hons) (she/her)
Health Equity Expert, Co-Director of the Health Equity Impact Program for FHMRI
Associate Researcher
Mr Zac Cannell | BA (Hons), MA, (he/they)
Mental Health Clinician and Senior AOD Counsellor at Thorne Harbour Health. Founder - Trans Health SA
Lived experience researcher
Ms Tamsin Anspach | (she/her)
Advocate and leader in LGBTIQA+ communities, Vice President - Thorne Harbour Health
Lived experience researcher
Varo | LLB(Hons), BIntlSt, GDipPubPol (they/them)
Health and social policy strategist and LGBTIQA+ community leader.
Peer advisor
Dr Jia Miin Yip | FRACS (Plast), PhD (she/her)
Specialist Plastic Surgeon, full academic status at Flinders University
Associate Researcher
Dr Laura Sourdin | BSc, PhD, (she/her)
Clinical Research Coordinator, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network. Lecturer, College of Medicine and Public Health.
Associate Researcher
Ms Phillipa van Essen | BHSc, MPH, (she/her)
Clinical Research Coordinator, Southern Adelaide Local Health Network. Lecturer, College of Medicine and Public Health.
Associate Researcher
Ms Tracy Smart | RN (she/her)
Clinical Nurse Consultant (Gender Affirming Surgery) at SALHN.
Associate researcher
Dr Manraj Kaur | PhD (she/her)
Health services researcher, global expert in PROM development, validation, and implementation.
International advisor
Dr Danny Young-Afat | MD, PhD (he/him)
Plastic Surgery Resident & Epidemiologist at Amsterdam UMC.
International advisor
What we do
What we do
The Gender Affirming Surgery Research Group exists to coordinate and conduct collaborative, multidisciplinary research into safety, effectiveness and accessibility of gender affirming surgery in SA and Australia.
Our mission is to generate high-quality evidence to inform best practice and healthcare policy in Australia and contribute to the broader international literature on gender affirming surgery.
We know that those who are trans often have health problems and difficulties accessing the care they need. The Gender Affirming Surgery Research Group is conducting transdisciplinary research collaboratively with surgical experts, community members, and lived experience researchers to determine Australian-specific evidence relating to health outcomes in the trans and gender diverse Australian population, to identify areas of unmet need, and how improved access to gender affirming surgery may improve health.
Current Research Activities – How you can get involved?
Current Research Activities – How you can get involved?
Australian-specific gender affirming surgery research is essential to identify areas of unmet health needs for transgender and gender diverse Australians.
Consumer involvement and lived experience research have been a cornerstone of this project design since conceptualisation. Our team aims to undertake high-quality prospective research focused on the priorities of the trans and gender-diverse population, to produce tangible evidence relating to health outcomes, and to support Australian-specific health funding and policy decision-making.
These studies have been designed with the help of a consumer group and a group of lived experience researchers, with the aim to understand outcomes of gender affirming surgery in Australia.
Taking part in our research supports our team to identify the unmet health needs relating to health outcomes, surgery and quality of life in trans and gender diverse Australians.
Confidentiality and privacy for our lived experience collaborators remain paramount, and all research contributions remain confidential, and the anonymity of participants is maintained within the research team. Queries regarding confidentiality and privacy can be directed to the lead researcher or Flinders University HREC department.
Navigate to the next page to find out more about our current and upcoming research studies. Further details regarding privacy and ethical approvals are included here.
WPATH conference, 2025
Our team visting the UMC in Amsterdam
Our Consumer Group and lived experience researchers
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