A Personalised Toolkit for the Coming-Out Journey

Vision

LGBTQ+ youth in rural Australia face heightened risks of rejection, discrimination, and social isolation. Many feel trapped, unable to communicate with their families, and often leave their hometowns in search of acceptance. TrueSelf aims to change that by providing a structured, supportive approach to self-understanding and open conversations.

Research & Interview

Research shows that Victoria has the highest LGBTQIA+ population, yet rural areas experience greater stigma and isolation. Gay male teens (12–17) are the most likely to come out and face the highest risks, making them the focus of TrueSelf’s structured support.

As part of the discovery phase, I conducted expert interviews with six professionals in LGBTQIA+ support, including a psychologist, sexologist, RMIT inclusion coordinator, young LGBTQIA+ leader, Minus18 manager, and digital accessibility experts. Their insights shaped the project’s direction and informed key design decisions.

Problem Defining / The journey of coming out

The City of Shepparton serves as a case study, highlighting both opportunities and challenges for LGBTQIA+ youth. Despite growing inclusivity efforts, prejudice and discrimination persist. Rural gay teens encounter six key challenges during the coming-out process, as shown in the storyboard.

From the six challenges, four core needs were identified to create a more supportive coming-out experience:

• Personalisation – Tailored support that adapts to diverse communication styles.

• Unified Ecosystem – Seamless integration of digital and physical resources.

• Enhanced Communication – Tools to facilitate structured, empathetic conversations.

• Resilience Building – Positive reinforcement to foster self-acceptance and confidence.

I analysed LGBTQIA+ support tools and found most were lengthy PDFs, lacking interactivity and personalisation. Drawing on social innovation, gamification, and behavioural design, I created TrueSelf—a hybrid digital and physical toolkit for a structured, engaging coming-out experience.

The Solution

TrueSelf: A Guided Coming-Out Support System – Empowering gay teens with the confidence, tools, and support for their coming-out journey.

The TrueSelf hybrid toolkit supports gay teens through every stage of their coming-out journey, ensuring they feel prepared, supported, and connected. It comprises key elements to help:

• Readiness Preparation – Equipping teens with self-assessment tools and communication strategies to build confidence.

• Mentorship & Peer Support – Connecting them with mentors and peer networks to foster a sense of belonging.

• Facilitated Coming-Out Experience – Providing structured guidance and tools to navigate conversations with family.

• Post-Support & Community Engagement – Ensuring ongoing emotional support and access to resources beyond coming out.

TrueSelf is designed to complement existing organisations and stakeholders supporting LGBTQIA+ youth and their families. By integrating with established services, it ensures a holistic and accessible approach to coming-out support.

To implement this, TrueSelf will collaborate with local councils and progressive schools to embed the program within existing diversity and inclusion initiatives. As part of this approach:

• Teens will prepare for their coming-out journey using TrueSelf’s structured framework.

• Parents will be introduced to the program and invited to a separate guided session at school, led by trained facilitators from Minus18.

• Schools will serve as safe spaces for structured conversations, ensuring both teens and their families receive the necessary support.

The TrueSelf digital toolkit provides personalised support for teens struggling with confidence, identity, and emotional sensitivity. Drawing on research and insights from MBTI personality types, I identified five key personalities that would benefit most from TrueSelf’s structured guidance.

The Outcome

The toolkit deck is colour-coded using symbolism and psychological principles, with personalised messages for each personality type to create a more meaningful and engaging user experience.

Results

• Usability testing involved 15 multidisciplinary designers, five industry professionals, and AI heat mapping to refine UX, content, and effectiveness.

• Expert validation from psychologists, LGBTQIA+ organisations, and digital accessibility specialists confirmed its potential to bridge communication gaps and support LGBTQIA+ teens.

• Ethical constraints prevented direct user engagement, but alternative research methods—including expert interviews, secondary data, and participatory design—provided critical insights.

• Stakeholder input informed implementation strategies, identifying opportunities to partner with schools, councils, and LGBTQIA+ networks to scale TrueSelf’s impact.

Lessons Learnt from TrueSelf

Designing TrueSelf was an exercise in service design, social innovation, and systems thinking, uncovering key insights into creating meaningful, human-centred solutions for social challenges.

• Personalisation drives impact – One-size-fits-all solutions fail in sensitive experiences like coming out. Designing for diverse communication styles and emotional needs enhances accessibility and empowerment.

• Blending digital and physical interactions enhances engagement – A hybrid service model makes support more adaptable. Digital tools provide privacy and scalability, while tangible resources foster deeper, relationship-driven engagement.

• Ethical constraints shape research approaches – Engaging with vulnerable groups comes with limitations. Instead of direct user research, expert interviews, secondary data, and participatory design were essential in developing an ethical, informed service.

• Community ecosystems create lasting change – Coming out extends beyond the individual. Designing for family, schools, and LGBTQIA+ networks reinforces systemic impact and sustainable support structures.

• Iterative design strengthens service viability – TrueSelf evolved through stakeholder feedback, multidisciplinary testing, and continuous refinement. A service must be adaptive—constantly evolving to meet real-world complexities.

And many more… :)

This project is also featured on… MDIT website https://www.rmitmdit.com/gradexpage/trueself