ELL is appalled by the decision of the Queensland Government to restrict essential gender affirming care for young people under the age of 18. This will leave vulnerable young people waiting to access life saving support and care.
The recent decision by the Queensland Government does not align with current evidence and expert consensus, health service practices across Australia, or the clinical guidelines globally (such as the AusPATH and WPATH standards of care). It was also only last year that a review in Queensland determined the state’s gender clinics were safe and evidence based.
Equality Australia CEO Anna Brown said Queensland was “an outlier state”.
“This will be catastrophic for young trans people and their families when the evidence on the benefits of hormone treatments is clear and well established,” she said.
“This move is at odds with the current evidence base, expert consensus, health services in all other Australian states and territories and the majority of clinical guidelines around the world.
“Only last year a review in Queensland found that practices in the state’s gender clinics were safe and evidence based, recommending increased funding and capacity to reach regional areas.
“Governments should stay out of these deeply personal decisions and leave it to young people, their parents and the expert doctors treating them.”
Eloise Brook, CEO of AusPATH (the Australian Professional Association for Trans Health) said medical practitioners followed guidelines established through research and clinical evidence.
“Hormone treatments for the small number of young people who need them are essential health care,” she said.
“The evidence shows that denying access to this care will cause young people immeasurable trauma, contributing to depression, anxiety and in some cases self-harm.”
Jeremy Wiggins, CEO of Transcend Australia said families across the state were distressed by the news.
“Our parents are terrified about what this will mean for their children. Parental consent for hormone treatments is mandatory by law in Queensland and they are heavily involved in the process.
“These families want politicians to stay out of the doctor’s office and away from their personal healthcare decisions.
“Healthcare for trans young people is essential and needs to be protected. To restrict or deny access to care is a dangerous political move that seeks to target an already marginalised and vulnerable group of people.
“Trans young people know who they are and what they need and we should be listening to them, their parents and their medical providers.”
TGD lives should not be left up to politics. We should be listening to TGD youth, their parents, and their medical providers. TGD young people know who they are and what they need. Gender affirming care is life saving.
Letter templates, for anyone wanting to petition or advocate
-
QLD health minister - https://docs.google.com/document/u/2/d/e/2PACX-1vSC21XxMEqNf55MjaoNOPoxJsq67fE3OL6wEPmJYXb7An9ypLrIYDRIOSJaa4vbKAQ-qjmma4PdaGaY/pub
-
Local health ministers - https://docs.google.com/document/u/2/d/e/2PACX-1vRvne75auE8AITx4rspqBv_k04kx-6gis4rZ9BNS2gRvLt05rP4IllR4QUkamwJjex2er5v0N31mdbW/pub
Evidence base overall (to support gender affirming care)
Critiques of Cass Review (these are all hyperlinks)
-
FGEN (2024). Letter from academics concerned about The Cass Review.
-
What's wrong with the Cass Review? A round-up of commentary and evidence
-
AusPATH & Transcend Australia - The Cass Review's Use and Evaluation of Research
Acknowledgments Majella Jones and Lumen Gorrie for above evidence links and action options.
If you are feeling distressed by this decision please reach out for help:
Rainbow Door
Rainbow Door is open 10am - 5pm, everyday.
Call: 1800 729 367
Email: support@rainbowdoor.org.au
SMS: 0480 017 246
Lifeline
If life in danger call Triple Zero 000
Switchboard
QLife
Free Australia wide LGBTIQ+ service
3PM - 12AM, 7 days per week
Call us: 1800 184 527
Webchat online: via QLife