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Transgender Victoria unveils Affirmation Station's newer, bigger home

Transgender Victoria has expanded Melbourne’s beloved trans-led community hub and op shop, reopening the Affirmation Station.

Eighteen months ago, Transgender Victoria created an Affirmation Station in Brunswick East.

A trans-led community hub and op shop, dedicated to social affirmation, creative therapies, events, and essential services.

It’s Australia’s first integrated gender affirmation and support centre.

Tonight on March 31st, for Trans Day of Visibility, they are unveiling the Affirmation Station’s larger, safer and more accessible location.

QNews visited the site during renovations, discovering it’s so much more than we expected.

“The new space is three times bigger,” CEO of Transgender Victoria Dr. Son Vivienne told us,

“Which will also provide a space for team connectivity and staff to work together better.”

“There are a lot of difficulties our trans and gender-diverse communities are facing politically right now.

“So, this gives us greater resilience when we can connect and chat about things face to face.”

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Trans and gender diversity beyond the medical space.

With the advocacy work Transgender Victoria does and its impact on the community, they’ve seen an increased demand for social support and connection.

“We’re unique in terms of the landscape of services we provide supporting the community,” Son told us,

“Because we’re not focused on medical transition exclusively.”

“We provide support for navigating those systems.

“But that’s the tip of the iceberg with what we see.

“Trans and gender diversity is way beyond the medical space.”

The Affirmation Stations op shop provides a space for exploration.

With the opportunity for social connection, finding others who may be on the same journey as you.

“Meeting the diversity of communities’ needs is an interesting thing,” Son said,

“But we don’t have to go looking because people come to us.

“I am often surprised by people’s assumptions about what gender diversity and the trans community look like.

“The Affirmation Stations’ styling services are groundbreaking.

“Allowing people to do something other than talk about gender diversity and differences.

“We have people come in and look at the clothes on offer, feel and touch them,

“Trying to figure out what will look good for their body – It helps them build confidence.

“The Affirmation Station has been able to be a place for people to safely explore what this means to them.

“People have come into the space who have never spoken to someone face to face about that before.

“They don’t know if they are a crossdresser, transgender, nonbinary or just curious.

“Because there is a lot of stigma even discussing that.

“It’s great that we can be a part of helping those stigmas dissolve and be a space for everyone.”

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Trans people do a lot of the work themselves.

The core of the Affirmation Station is the op shop, offering low-cost gender-affirming clothing to all.

But the social affirmation the space provides is also incredibly important.

“When we think about affirmation, often people jump to medical affirmation,” said Stevye Ellman, Senior Programs Manager at Transgender Victoria.

“But the reality is for most trans people, their first step is social affirmation.”

“Trans people do a lot of that work themselves.

“Unless you already have a community or support network around you, you probably won’t know where to look for that.

“All of our social affirmation services are free of charge, we offer anything that helps you feel like yourself.

Haircuts, makeup lessons, binder fittings, bra fittings, and even voice therapy.”

They were not able to find someone to facilitate bra fittings themselves.

So Stevye took a course so they would be able to facilitate the workshops at the Affirmation Station.

“We know that trans and gender-diverse folk are the marginalized population with the lowest employment outcomes.” she said,

“So affording services like this can often be out of reach for them.”

“We have sold out all our workshops and even have waitlists.

“This is why the new and bigger space is exciting.

“On top of that, it will be an event space for other community organizations.

“Transgender Victoria is about lifting others with us.

“We want to make sure grassroots organizations have a low-cost or free space to put on their activities, so no part of the community is left behind.”

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Help support this groundbreaking space.

The Affirmation Station also hosts a Trans Makers Boutique.

The Boutique allows transgender, gender diverse and nonbinary creatives to sell their wares in-store at no cost, so profits go directly to them.

Tonight, the Affirmation Station reopens at 279 Lygon St Brunswick East for Trans Day of Visability.

It will now be open five days a week, doubling the capacity for social affirmation services.

There are still some renovations to be done, including bathroom upgrades to make the space fully accessible.

The team at Transgender Victoria have set themselves a fundraising goal they are working hard to meet.

“We invite our community and our allies to join us in making this vision a reality,” Son said,

“Every donation given will directly support the creation of this groundbreaking centre and help us empower TGD communities in Victoria.

“We are incredibly excited to embark on this new chapter.

“This expansion will allow TGD people to better connect, find support, and explore their identities.”

You can donate to the Affirmation Station here, and be sure to check it out at its new location.

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