Trans Camp 2016 organiser Avery Holderness-Roddam said he was prompted arrange the event after discovering there are no current camps that bring transgender people together from around Australia. 

“I looked around and couldn't really find any national camps,” he said. “And so I thought, ‘Oh well well let's make this happen’.”

Mr Holderness-Roddam said although he has had a positive experience of transitioning gender, he knows many are faced with losing family and friends, may struggle to find work and even end up homeless. He hopes to provide a positive experience.

Mr Holderness-Roddam said the response to the camp so far has been positive. “We've had over 400 people react from online from all state and territories except the Northern Territory.”

The camp is open to all ages, although minors will need to be accompanied by adults, and has a range of events and activities.

There will be information sessions on mental health, transgender rights at work and safety as well as fun activities like a makeup workshop, art sessions and sports activities. 

Mr Holderness-Roddam hopes the camp will provide a safe space for transgender people to relax and be surrounded by others going through similar challenges. 

“The idea primarily is just to give members of the trans community and their friends and family a couple of days where they can forget the negative side of transitioning,” he said. 

He has even gathered donations of clothes, from which each camp attendee can select a few items to take home. 

“There is a lot of anxiety when you go shopping for clothes, especially early on in your transition when people still perceive you to be a certain gender,” he said. 

The camp is on from Friday, September 30 to Sunday October 2. More information can be found on the Trans Camp 2016 facebook page.