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Active Watchful Waiting (AWW) is an organization dedicated to safeguarding the wellbeing of children in relation to gender identity policies. We educate parents, policymakers, and communities on the risks associated with gender transition practices in schools and medical institutions. AWW emphasizes a cautious, psychosocial approach, advocating for family involvement and evidence-based interventions.
 

Current Challenges in Schools

AWW has identified concerning practices in educational settings:

• Gender and Political Ideologies: Schools increasingly promote gender ideologies allowing children to self-identify regardless of biological sex, with enforced use of neo-pronouns (e.g., it/they/them/ze/zir). In addition, children are taught to view all subject matter through the Social Emotional lenses of Critical Race Theory, Queer Theory and 'Third wave feminism.

• Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Clubs: These clubs often lead children to monitor compliance with queer culture, placing additional pressures on gender nonconforming children who may simply be gay, autistic, or trauma impacted to transition.

• Transitioning Pathways in Schools: School counsellors sometimes engage third-party gender clinics, initiating transition processes without parental consent[i], frequently labelling gender-nonconforming children as "transgender."

• Hyper-Sexualized School Curricula: Schools have seen a marked increase in incidents of child-on-child sexual assault and exposure to explicit content. Comprehensive Sex Education (CSE), often R-rated by standard classification criteria, introduces children to adult sexual concepts, promotes sexual experimentation, and normalizes high-risk sexual behaviours under the guise of health education.
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The Australian Independent Sex & Gender Guidelines

In response to these challenges, AWW developed the Australian Independent Sex & Gender Guidelines:

• Background: The guidelines are fully referenced and endorsed by Emeritus Professors Sue Middleton and David Gerrard[ii].

• Distribution and Impact: After sharing the guidelines with over 1,300 schools across Tasmania and Western Australia, we achieved a 96-97% engagement rate, with schools showing strong interest and forwarding them to others.

• Expanding Reach: Our sister organization, Resist Gender Education, has adapted the guidelines for use in New Zealand, increasing the document’s reach and influence.

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Our Mission and Broader Advocacy

AWW’s mission brings together parents, detransitioners, transsexuals, mental health professionals, lawyers, and LGB community members from Australia and New Zealand. Our main advocacy initiative, In Defence of Children, supports a child’s right to a natural development path free from early, irreversible medical interventions. Through this initiative, AWW contributes evidence to government inquiries and participates in educational forums, supporting a thoughtful, long-term approach to gender-related issues.
 

Achievements and Resources

Over the past year, AWW has accomplished the following:

• Media & Legislative Influence: Featured on major media channels and in parliamentary inquiries, UN sessions, and educational forums.

• Resource Development: Created critical resources such as Social Transitioning: Risks & Harms and the Australian Independent Sex & Gender Guidelines. Developed exemption letters for school curricula in NSW and other states.

• Parent and Community Support: Operates a call-in support line, addressing 4-5 new cases and managing 10-20 ongoing cases weekly. Provides support to parents under state pressure for medical transitions and to detransitioners seeking legal representation.

• Educational and Political Outreach: We provide information packs for MPs, reply to parlimentary requests for submissions, addressing the effects of gender ideology in education, culture and law. We have created educational sites for politicians and the public:
   

  • •   Active Watchful Waiting: addresses the medicalisation of children due to gender identity ideology. Exploring better directions for policy and exposing
      the harms of'gender  affirming care'.

    •   In Defence of Children: provides resources for teachers and parents to remove hyper-sexualisation and political indoctrination in schools.

    •   No Conflict They Said: testimony gathering site on the impact of self-identification on Australia.

    •   Bill Breakdown: educating MPs on the NSW Equality Bill.

    •   Lost Women’s Rights: Media articles on the impact of self-identification on women in Australia and New Zealand.

    •   LGB Defence: A training group for LGB Organisations and research on organisations involved in receiving revenue for transitioning, trafficking, grooming and marketing sex products to children.
       

• AHPRA Precedent: In 2023, our research and submission to AHPRA helped a psychologist retain her license after speaking out against gender-affirming care, setting a precedent against punitive actions for such advocacy.
   

Funding and Support Needs

AWW has completed guidelines for each Australian state and is seeking $8-10K per guideline for legal review to ensure robust distribution and support. Our goals include:

• Wider Distribution: Expanding our guideline reach to every school in Australia, with online training and additional support.

• Resilience Training for Detransitioners: Developing programs to support individuals recovering from gender transition procedures.

• Parental Training: Educating parents on how to combat school indoctrination into critical race theory, queer theory and gender identity ideology.

For referrals or funding support, please contact us at contact@aww.org.au.

 

[i] A story representative of schools transitioning youth is that of our co-founder, Tess Hackett, entitled "Betrayed by the System - Rape, Gender Transition, and a Family's Heartbreak

[ii] The guidelines are endorsed by Emeritus Professors Sue Middleton, PhD (Faculty of Education, University of Waikato) and David Gerrard, CNZM OBE MB ChB (Otago) FACSEP FFSEM(Hon) (University of Otago Medical School).