This page details changes to how gender data is collected and used in ANUHub and other ANU systems. Updates are being made to use appropriate language to describe gender, distinct from sex, and allow you to more accurately represent your identity.
These changes may directly impact students with a trans or gender diverse experience, and students with variations in sex characteristics or an intersex experience. Support is available and anyone with concerns is encouraged to refer to the support section below.
If you need to change other personal details recorded in ANUHub, please visit the Change your name, title, date of birth or gender webpage.
What are the changes?
ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½ Government’s system will transition from using a combined sex/gender model to a model that acknowledges gender is distinct from sex. The new model aligns with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) , which defines gender as a social and cultural concept relating to an individual’s identity, expression and experience. All universities are required to have implemented this change by 1 January 2026.
As part of this update, students will be able to self-identify their current gender at any given time through . This may be different from the sex recorded at birth or what appears on legal documents. You will not be required to provide any supporting documentation. The new gender options are:
- woman or female
- man or male
- non-binary
- different term
- prefer not to answer
While the updated gender options use language that more accurately reflects sociocultural understanding of gender, we acknowledge that this update removes ‘indeterminate/intersex/unspecified’ as an option. If you have selected this option previously, you will receive direct communication inviting you to make a new selection in line with the above options.
This may feel limiting and may cause distress, particularly for members of the intersex community or those with variations of sex characteristics. We encourage anyone who feels concerned about this to refer to the support services below, and engage with future opportunities to shape more inclusive data collection at ANU.
What does this mean for you?
From 4 November 2025, all students are encouraged to view their gender in , and ensure it best reflects how you currently describe your gender.
If you have previously selected ‘female’ or ‘male’, this will have been updated to ‘woman or female’ and ‘man or male’ respectively. If you still feel this best describes your gender, you do not need to do anything. If a different option better describes your gender, you can click on the description to make a new selection.
If you have previously selected ‘indeterminate/intersex/unspecified’, this will have been updated to ‘no value defined’ as this option will no longer be available. You can click on the description to make a new selection from one of the available options. You are encouraged to do this by 31 December 2025.
We recognise that for many this is not a simple switch, and that this has a particular impact on students with a trans or gender diverse experience, and students with variations in sex characteristics or an intersex experience. If you have any concerns about this change, we encourage you to reach out to support services listed below, and engage with future opportunities to shape more inclusive data collection at ANU.
If you experience any technical difficulties throughout this process, please reach out to Student Central for support.
Why is 'indeterminate/intersex/unspecified' being removed?
Previously, TCSI has aligned with older Australian Government Guidelines on the Recognition of Sex and Gender, and asked for sex and gender information in a way that conflated the two. Up to now, the options have been ‘male’, ‘female’ or ‘indeterminate/intersex/unspecified’. These options more closely align with descriptions of an individual’s sex, which refers to biological sex characteristics (e.g. internal and external genitalia, chromosomes, hormones).
The ‘indeterminate/intersex/unspecified’ option, often signified with an ‘X’, was established in line with sex discrimination legislation to capture variations in sex characteristics. Some systems have misinterpreted this as a gender field, which has meant that some people may have selected ‘X’ in the absence of more accurate options.
The new changes ask for gender as distinct from sex. As ‘indeterminate/intersex/unspecified’ typically describes sex and not gender, it will no longer be an available option to choose from.
There is currently no requirement for universities to collect data on how students describe their sex. However, we acknowledge that removing this option may also create disruptions in the transition and may erase the representation of some intersex people.
If you have any concerns about this change, we encourage you to reach out to support services listed below, and engage with future opportunities to shape more inclusive data collection at ANU.
Support is available
We understand this change may be distressing for some members of the community, particularly those who have variations in sex characteristics or identify as intersex, as well as those with a trans or gender-diverse experience.
Inclusive and Respectful Communities (IARC) is here to support you and discuss these change and can provide internal referrals to other support services. If you would like to speak to a team member about these changes, please email Respect@anu.edu.au.
Wellbeing Services
If you're facing challenges that may affect your university experience or academic engagement, our free and confidential wellbeing services are here to help.
Student Safety and Wellbeing and Counselling are available to all currently enrolled ANU students, offering tailored support that promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the ANU community.
To explore which service best suits your needs, speak with one of our intake officers. Simply complete the , and a trained staff member will be in touch within one to two business days to arrange an appointment.
If you want to know more about each service, please follow the links below:
LGBTIQA+ support
The LGBTIQA+ support webpage provides internal and external support services and resources for ANU students who identify as members of the LGBTIQA+ community (including trans, gender diverse, intersex, and people with variations of sex characteristics).
Advisory information
Contact
- Inclusive and Respectful Communities (IARC) Team
- Send email