The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has released a guide on gender and identity to support Catholic schools in responding to the individual social and pastoral needs of students.

The guide is titled Created and Loved: a guide for Catholic schools on identity and gender and outlines a pastoral approach shaped by the contexts in which Catholic schools operate.

The framework states that it is intended to provide guidance to Catholic school leaders to make judgements in specific circumstances and to adopt approaches suitable to their own contexts. It emphasises that Catholic schools are communities of faith where love is witnessed through the care and respect shown to all those in their care.

The framework also encourages school leaders to contact their local Catholic education office (in systemic settings) or governing body for advice and support where necessary. The guide can be accessed here.