Crucial transgender service dropped by Cairns clinic following review into youth hormone therapy

A desperate plea to create a transgender social service has been issued to community leaders after the Cairns Sexual Health Clinic suddenly dropped their “lifeline” adult support group.

Local activist Wendy Ramsey will co-host the CentaCare transgender adults support group in Cairns after the service suddenly stopped at the Cairns Sexual Health Service.

A desperate plea to create a transgender social service has been issued to Far North community leaders after the Cairns Sexual Health Clinic suddenly dropped their “lifeline” adult support group.

Queensland Health launched a clinical review into the publicly funded Cairns Sexual Health Service in January after concerns were raised about the delivery of puberty blockers to a 12-year-old patient in the clinic.

The findings of this review are still unknown as the initial deadline of April 30 was extended to June 30.

As part of the review, Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls indefinitely suspended the uptake of public transgender hormone treatment for people under 18 statewide.

Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls held a press conference at the Cairns Hospital with Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service chief executive Leena Singh, after the state government declared hormone therapies for new gender diverse patients under 18 years old will be paused at public health facilities while a review into the practice is conducted. Picture: Brendan Radke

Although the suspension is only intended for under 18s seeking hormone therapy, a CSHS-led support group for transgender adults suddenly stopped after the announcement of the review.

The Cairns Post understands that attendees of the clinic’s monthly support group received an email from CSHS acting director Dr Jacqueline Mein on January 23, warning that the clinic would “defer” the group meeting due on January 30.

The email said there was a need to review service resources and the CSHS “will be aiming to reinstate meetings as soon as we can”.

As of April 30, group members have not received any updates on whether the support group will be restored at the CSHS.

Cairns Sexual Health Service.

The Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service confirmed that it was not currently running the service and the transgender adult support group was instead “hosted by a non-government organisation in Cairns”.

Local activist and trans-woman, Wendy Ramsey, started co-hosting the new transgender support group for adults with Cairns-based non-government organisation CentaCare after more than four months without the service.

“I was originally attending the support group run by Cairns Sexual Health Service. It was amazing,” Ms Ramsey said

“But when I realised that it was no longer going to be available I started making some inquiries and considered hosting my own support group.”

The Cairns trans community and supporting family members protest the state government’s pause on gender therapy, including puberty blockers and hormone treatments. Wendy Ramsey led the rally on Wednesday, January 30, chanting “Trans rights are human rights”. Picture: Arun Singh Mann

“I came across a registration of interest from CentaCare for LGBT+ support, I made contact with them and explained this support gap that was left behind by the Cairns Sexual Health Service.

“It’s a living proof of what this community is having to do, and the extent we’re having to go through, to deal with the consequences of this review.

“Because the entire clinic, from our point of view, seems to be falling apart at the seams.

“The idea that this review is only affecting kids and not having any impact on transgender adults is, quite frankly, bulls**t.”

Opening session of the CentaCare My Gender Journey TGD Support Group in Cairns. Picture: Supplied

CentaCare social worker and support group co-host, Silvia, said there was a “significant need” to support the transgender community in Cairns.

“We’re hearing from a lot of people who just want to share their experiences, because they’re feeling really isolated at the moment,” Silvia said.

“There’s a big need because of all the adversity experienced by the community and the high prevalence of mental health presentations and suicidality.”

On April 30, Ms Ramsey and CentaCare hosted the first My Gender Journey TGD Support Group in Cairns, and planned to hold the sessions weekly.

Originally published as Crucial transgender service dropped by Cairns clinic following review into youth hormone therapy