Adelaide dad makes claims about daughter’s experience at gender centre, backs mooted review

An Adelaide dad has spoken out in support of a proposed review of gender centres, claiming his daughter was prescribed puberty blockers despite not being sure she wanted them.

An Adelaide father has thrown his support behind a proposed review of gender clinics, claiming his young daughter was too readily prescribed puberty blockers despite not being completely sure it was what she wanted.

The dad has spoken out about his daughter’s experience in the hope it will convince politicians to back MLC Frank Pangallo’s push for independent state and federal probes into gender clinics, which provide care to people in the gender diverse community.

However, an expert in gender studies worries that the politicisation of gender diverse, trans and gender questioning young people will lead them to feel further marginalised and unsupported.

It comes as Mr Pangallo, an independent MLC, released state government figures that showed 88 referrals to the gender clinic at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital were issued for children aged three to 10 years old between March 31, 2022 and March 31 this year. These figures may include re-referrals.

Upper House MP Frank Pangallo has raised concerns about and called for probes into gender clinics. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Emma Brasier

“What needs to be understood is that many of these treatments (offered at these clinics) are irreversible – if medical professionals get it wrong, their young patient lives with the painful mental and physical consequences for the rest of their lives,” he said.

The UK this month banned the supply of puberty blockers – drugs used to delay the onset of puberty by blocking the production of testosterone and oestrogen – to people under the age of 18 in the wake of a major National Health Service study that found there was not enough scientific evidence to confirm their safety or effectiveness for children.

It is a concern also held by an Adelaide dad.

The father, who asked not to be identified, said his daughter was 11 years old when in 2021 she informed him and her mother that she identified as a male, and wished to be referred to by a male name, with male pronouns.

In support, he and her mother took their daughter to a GP, who referred the child to the gender clinic at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.

The father said the clinic initially diagnosed her with gender dysphoria and prescribed her a puberty blocker called Lucrin.

He said he felt the clinic did not give proper consideration to offering non-medicated care and was too quick to prescribe drugs.

Just one day before the then-high schooler was to start taking the puberty blockers, she told her mother “I don’t want to go ahead with it”.

“(Our daughter) wasn’t genuinely convinced within herself that this was what she wanted to do, but (the clinic) was just full steam ahead,” the father said.

He said his daughter, now 14, has since reverted back to her birth name and has chosen the pronouns she/her.

A spokesperson for the Women’s and Children’s Health Network Gender Diversity Service said that as of March 31, 285 children and young people under 18, including none under the age of six, were accessed. 113 were aged 16 to 17 years old.

“The Women’s and Children’s Health Network Gender Diversity Service aims to improve the health, wellbeing, and function of gender-diverse South Australian children and young people,” the spokesperson said.

“Referrals to the service are made for initial assessment by the WCHN Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).

“Data reported last night and today by some media outlets was incorrect.

“As of 31 March 2024, the Women’s and Children’s Health Network Gender Diversity Service was assessing 285 children and young people under 18, including none under the age of six.

“A large number were aged 16 to 17 years old.

“It is important to note that numbers include children referred but not necessarily undergoing treatment as they may still be being clinically assessed. The WCHN does not offer surgical treatment options.

“Care is provided in an evidence-based approach which is person-centred, developmentally appropriate to individuals and delivered by experienced clinicians and a multi-disciplinary team.

“There are appropriate safeguards in place, as per National and International guidelines.

“All youth undergo initial assessment and care as indicated from the mental health team prior to proceeding for medical assessment or intervention.

“Not all children referred to our service will go on to access medical-based treatment.”

Meanwhile, University of South Australia PhD candidate in psychological science and gender studies Alice Rose is worried that the politicisation of the gender diverse community may lead those people to feel unsupported and not safe to be themselves in our society.

“All young people in the South Australian community deserve our support and the provision of resources, and not to be patronised, condescended or misrepresented to create moral panic for political point-scoring,” she said.

Health Minister Chris Picton said the state government would monitor a NSW government-initiated independent review of gender care and SA Health would “consider any outcomes from that review when it is finalised” in the coming months.