Name and gender when you enrol

At TAFE NSW, everyone belongs. We’re dedicated to building safe, fair and inclusive learning environments where all students can fully participate and thrive.

If you’re enrolling for the first time at TAFE NSW, this page will support you to:

• understand how we use your legal name, preferred name and affirmed gender
• have a smooth enrolment if you’ve recently changed your name or gender
• learn how we support a culture of belonging and pride at TAFE NSW.

We respect that many people use a name other than their legal name. When you enrol with us, we’ll ask for both your preferred name and your legal name.

After you’ve enrolled, you can update your preferred or legal name with us at any time.

When we use your preferred name

We’ll do our best to use your preferred name:

• when talking with you
• when we email you
• for your TAFE NSW username and email address
• in your Student Hub
• in Microsoft Teams and other online learning systems.

We want you to feel welcome, safe and supported by using your preferred or affirmed name when we can. There are some records and systems where we must use your legal name and some cases where we'll need to ask for it. We’ll handle your information carefully and respectfully.

When we use your legal name

Your legal name is the official name on your identification (ID) issued by a government. For example, your Medicare card or driver licence.

We use your legal name:

• when you enrol to help us validate any documents, identification, Unique Student Identifier (USI) or Centrelink information you provide
• on your TAFEcard
• on enrolment and academic records
• on official documents like your TAFE NSW academic transcript and certificate

You’ll need academic documents with your full legal name to get a licence for some jobs.

When you enrol, we sometimes use your gender to help validate the identification, USI or Centrelink information you provide.

Your privacy and identity are important to us.

After you’ve enrolled, you can update your gender with us at any time. You won’t need to provide evidence to update your gender.

As part of your enrolment, we’ll need to check your details against relevant government records. To help your enrolment go smoothly, we recommend you update your details:

• on your passport, driver licence or other identification documents you use
• on the USI Registry
• with MyGov, including myID
• with Medicare and Centrelink via Services Australia
• with Training Services NSW if you’re doing an apprenticeship or traineeship.

You may also like to update your details with:

• the Australian Taxation Office, especially if you have a current student loan
• your school, for School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBAT) and TAFE-delivered Vocational Education and Training (TVET) students
• healthcare providers such as your doctor, counsellor and disability services.

We understand that changing your name or gender is an important step for many people. If you’d like support, visit:

• Twenty10 for LGBTIQA+ young people
• Transhub for trans and gender diverse people
• NSW LGBTIQ+ health resources
• Ask Izzy to find support services near you
• the NSW Government’s Mental Health Line
• 1800RESPECT for domestic and sexual violence support.

TAFE NSW counsellors provide a free and confidential health and wellbeing service for TAFE NSW students. Our counsellors can help you manage your personal challenges and studies and can refer you to other support services.

AT TAFE NSW, we believe every student, staff member and visitor deserves to feel welcome, safe and supported.

As a student, you’ll have access to a range of resources and services to support you to thrive.

Got a question? Our Customer Service Centre can help with your study journey at TAFE NSW. Call 131 601 or send an enquiry.