iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

I am! Thanks for checking in. I hope you’re doing well!? Here’s my post top-surgery shot - still a bit of recovery because of my 60 year-old body - but I’m actually feeling great!

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 23/08/2026

I’m fine… just an older person getting gender affirming surgery follow up!

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Very excited to announce that in 2027 I’ll be joining The University of Queensland in the School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry as a Professor in Museum Studies where we'll be building an industry-connected Masters. Here’s a photo of me taken a while ago.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 01/07/2026

Update on my gender surgery from my pjs! It’s been two weeks now. I recorded this a few days ago. Again I’m staying in an Airbnb I promise this isn’t artwork in my home.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

I’m in the hospital, got out of surgery about eight hours ago. Had some cornflakes, had some bad coffee and then Kat bought me a real one. Then I have just been tooling around on the Internet for the last little while. No pain yet because of the anaesthetic, but it’ll kick in at some stage.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

On the eve of going into major gender-affirming surgery (at 60, no less), I want to acknowledge the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU), my university and others that have ensured gender-affirming leave. This flags the importance of affirmation and support for workers across their life cycle.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 22/05/2026

What’s up, Bluesky? Well actually, I’m an Aboriginal person who just got Irish citizenship and a passport. Okay at this stage of my life it’s largely ornamental but still exciting.

Picture of an Irish passport with a bit of an Irish passport card hiding just behind it with my face on it.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

Wonderful news on gender affirming surgery. I’m really excited and a bit nervous. I’m lucky to have the support of family, a dear friend who will be providing after care, and a workplace that provides appropriate leave.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

I had an amazing time over the last few days. I caught up with family and friends up here in Brisbane over the Easter break for my 60th. I kind of love the big family photo where we all look washed out. I’m feeling slightly that way today! It’s been lovely spending time with these folks.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

It’s the 31st of March and I just turned 60 a few minutes ago. Every year on my birthday I share it - appropriately - with the Trans Day of Visibility. Being an older Aboriginal trans person is a gift. One I’m really grateful for. #TransDayOfVisibility #TDOV

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

Aboriginal people across the continent have been shouting out the hypocrisy of the media and govt for not talking about the explosive device thrown into a group of Invasion Day protesters in Boorloo/Perth. 1st I heard about it was from Tarneen Onus Browne. Politicians still haven’t brought it up.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 23/01/2026

Have thoughts about queer museums, queerness in museums, or just plain being queer in museums? We'd love to hear from you. Early findings are turning out to be amazing, and we hope it helps museums do better. mqedu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_... @alanaaaab.bsky.social #Queer #Museums #QueerMuseums

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

This year I’m turning 60. I’ve made the decision that in the next two or so years – work commitments dependent – I’ll be getting gender-affirming surgery. Nothing’s a done deal but things will be changing and I guess I just wanted to say I’m really excited about it and really grateful.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

Today would have been my sister Gina‘s 63rd birthday. Gina was an amazing person and I miss her terribly.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 11/01/2026

Next Sunday would have been my sister Gina’s 63rd birthday. I found this lovely picture of her from a few decades ago. It’s such an evocative photo; I really miss her. *I’ve always done weekly lead ups to birthdays of my family. So this continues, hey.

Close photo of a 30 year old Wiradjuri woman with black hair, smiling.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 25/12/2025

Look, lots of fun things for Christmas catching up online with my sister. Lots of lovely pressies. And a beautiful day outside with birds singing, to be fair mostly squawking, and just a nice relaxing time.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 23/12/2025

I love Christmas. But since my mum and brother and sister - who all loved it - have died, I don’t have the desire to celebrate with others. I’m at home writing for the entire season anyway, so it’s lovely to reflect and reproduce some of the rituals we always shared. Oh, and food!

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

Hey, if you’re struggling this Christmas season, me too. I see you. Sometimes the most important thing is to survive it.

The picture is of a chaotic but very Christmassy open bookshelf of things. It includes a small Christmas tree a couple of skateboards, and a lot of bits and pieces that are both Christmasy and queer.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

This is the next project. Please get in touch, or save this until next year.

This is a poster with text that reads: The Dignity Project is a practice led project focused on support for older LGBTQ+ folks. The project is inspired by the work of the late Dr David Hardy and led by Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (MQ). Please get in touch if you want to hear more or be part of the conversation in 2026.
At the bottom of the poster is an excerpt from the red cover of David’s book BOLD: stories from older lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex people.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

Today is the last day of the Future Fellowship that I’ve been doing for the last five years. If any of the work we’ve done in thinking about queer in Indigenous lives, creativity, the colonial project of gender and everything else has had an impact on your work or life I’d love to hear from you.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 19/11/2025

I got a haircut. It feels so good. Now this is how trans people should be spending #TransgenderAwarenessWeek… having affirming care! ID: me in a selfie in my car with a fresh haircut.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

Happy Non-binary People’s Daaaaaay! Stuff: - there are older people who are non-binary. - there are Indigenous people who are non-binary (but we’re not your ‘proof of concept’). - the binary is a key element of the colonial project of gender. -we’re an integral part of our community.

59 year-old Aboriginal trans/non-binary person in a selfie wearing a nonbinosaurus shirt.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 19/06/2025

Quick interruption from my articles update to just post this photo. Next month it will be 24 years since Dad died. There is a complexity around relationships, always. But this represents a third photo in which Dad and I exist. I'd never seen this before. I'm blonde. Lol.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 15/06/2025

Just a final post about this two year anniversary since my sister Gina went into the hereafter and onto her own Dreaming. Gina made the world a better place by being in it. We’re all better for her having been here.

Two Aboriginal people in their 50s in a car doing a selfie and smiling.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

Gina's commitment to the family often meant that - while being a full-time mum, grandma n social worker - she also accompanied Mum on trips in her free time. In 2017 she took her back to Ireland for her 80th birthday. Mum had Alzheimers and had a fall there, it was a hard but important trip.

Gina pictured with two big ice cream sundaes, and our Mum with one. In a cafe in Paris. They are smiling at the camera and someone else is taking the photo.

Gina in a selfie in front of a waterfall in Killarney.

Mum and Gina in a smiling selfie with Killarney Castle behind them.

Mum looking back to Gina in a cart in Killarney.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

Next Sunday will mark a kind of anniversary... two years since my sister Gina died. Over the next week, I'll post on this thread pics and stories of the wonder that she was and continues to be for our family. For today here are some photos of her being magnificent.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 07/06/2025

This is me 38 years ago, imagining that pride is about wearing the colours of the rainbow. It wasn’t true then and it’s not true now. If queer pride can be individual and self-congratulatory, queer resistance is rooted in community, solidarity and fighting a system set up to oppress.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 11/05/2025

Thinking about Mum today. As many of us are. Go gently, folks.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

Poor Herald Sun got all turned about by a result, and renamed Dutton after the seat he lost. Bit cruel.

Newspaper article with the headline: Peter Dickson kicked out of his own seat.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 26/04/2025

Booing a Welcome to Country at a Anzac Day dawn service is just vile and it also completely forgets that so many of our people served. Here’s the service of one Aboriginal soldier, my Dad.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

I'm doing a keynote at this year's SAGE conference in Sydney. Lots of changes happening at universities right now. I'm pleased to be a part in talking about what that means in relation to equity and the work that leading bodies can do to effect change.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

Trans and queer people who are reposting up the violence we’re getting, need to fuck right off fuck off, you’re a terrible person. If you’re posting a social action, do that. Stop fucking terrorising people.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

I've dragged my feet (or the literary version) on writing the book: the colonial project of gender. As I nudge towards potential publication, I'm reflecting on the reason that I've been so uncharacteristically slow. I think after this comes out, I'll die. I'll expand on this in a few hours.

A t-shirt that says 'strong, resilient, Indigenous' on a background of a tie-dyed rainbow colour set.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

#SupportingTransHealthCare Every day is a gender-affirming (or denying, if ya like) day. Another selfie to say gender-affirming healthcare has saved my life. I’m grateful for the support from the centre I work in, and the negotiated gender-affirming leave and support the uni and union agreed on.

Bit red-faced selfie of a 59 year old Aboriginal trans person with glasses, sort of smiling at the camera.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

I work alongside other Aboriginal people who are trans, I work alongside settler folks who are trans. The work we do in our Centre frames belonging and connection. So of course we do. Here are some of them. #TransDayOfVisibility #WeBelong

Dr Madi Day and I staring at the camera smiling. Post PhD garb

Dr Andy Farrell, me and Dr Souksavanh Keovorabouth smiling at the camera and selfie mode

Alana Blakers, Chloe Turner (museum of Transology), Dr Han Reardon-Smith in selfie mode in London.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

Trans visibility matters today, because an enormous amount of people are trying to erase us from the world. But it's our connection to others that we need to focus on. We are part of a community, not an outlier. We belong. #TransDayOfVisibility #WeBelong Here with Necho Brocchi

Two trans people, 30 years apart in age, in a selfie smiling at the camera.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

I just turned 59. Every year I share my birthday - the 31st of March - with #TransDayOfVisibility. There’s never a more important time for us to be visible and to shout our existence from the rooftops. Today I’ll be posting on visibility in difficult times. It’s how we care for one another.

59 year-old aboriginal person doing a selfie up close while smiling at the camera.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

Just a few more weeks and I’ll have moved to Sydney. It’s been a bit of a journey to say the least. I mean, I’ve had an office there for over four years so it’ll be good to be going into work each day. It’s been 36 years since I’ve lived there - it’s changed. Now I just have to fall in love with it.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

Today was unspeakably terrible for queer Mob. And especially for those targeted. But we are still here. Time to stand up, ‘allies’ within the community.

Older Aboriginal trans person in a selfie wearing an ‘I see Deadly People’ T-shirt.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 02/03/2025

🧵After saying it was 40 years since my first queer Mardi Gras. I heard an old friend from back then had died. We were really close for years & we have no photos together. I get some stick from posting selfies. Take photos with people you love, take photos of yourself. I can’t recommend it enough.

Selfie of a 58 year old Aboriginal trans person smiling at camera.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 01/03/2025

40 years since my first Queer Mardi Gras - it was a protest then - the theme was FIGHTING FOR OUR LIVES. It was a hard time, now it’s hard for different but surprisingly similar reasons. It’s still a protest, we’re still fighting.

Young queer n trans me facing the camera and not smiling. With a red background.

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 21/02/2025

Have an amazing weekend. I’m visiting family in qld! About to shower and go down to the beach then (less excitingly) to my storage to look at things that I effectively threw in there when I moved. The drive up was variously lovely and harrowing (two of the worst thunderstorms I’ve driven through).

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Prof Sandy O’Sullivan (Wiradjuri, trans they/them) @sandyosullivan.bsky.social · 11/02/2025

A statement from our Centre of Critical Indigenous Studies in support of Dr Randa Abdel-Fattah

The Centre of Critical Indigenous Studies expresses our unwavering solidarity with Dr. Randa Abdel-Fattah against the suppression of academic freedom and pro-Palestinian activism.

We stand against politically motivated attacks on Dr. Abdel-Fattah’s research and advocacy for Arab and Muslim communities. We are deeply disturbed by increasing attacks on the intellectual freedom and critical voice of anti-imperial and anti-colonial scholars and activists internationally.

We always have and always will stand on the side of justice and anti-colonial resistance.

Centre of Critical Indigenous Studies

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