Queensland transgender youth hormone therapy review

Experts are warning of major impacts for transgender children, including decreased school attendance and increased suicide attempts, if a clinical review into Queensland youth gender healthcare is extended.

Health minister Tim Nicholls and Mulgrave MP Terry James inside the construction site of the Cairns Hospital Expansion Project with contractor Hansen Yuncken project manager Scott Butler on Tuesday. Picture: Elodie Jakes

Experts are warning of major impacts for transgender children, including decreased school attendance and increased suicide attempts, if a clinical review into Queensland youth gender healthcare is extended.

In January Queensland Health launched a review into the Cairns Sexual Health Service after concerns were raised about the prescription of puberty blockers to a 12-year-old within the clinic.

Inside the Cairns Sexual Health Service.

Queensland Health also indefinitely suspended the uptake of all publicly accessible youth gender hormone therapy across the state as part of a wider investigation into the “governance framework” of youth gender healthcare in Queensland.

On Tuesday, Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls revealed the clinical review into the Cairns Sexual Health Service would likely be extended past its April 30 deadline, but could not provide details on how long the extension would be.

“I’ve asked for an update on where (the review) is, and I would not be surprised…if those reviewers sought an extension of time to it,” Mr Nicholls said.

Health minister Tim Nicholls and Mulgrave MP Terry James inside the construction site of the Cairns Hospital Expansion Project with contractor Hansen Yuncken project manager Scott Butler. Picture: Elodie Jakes

“The reviewers are free to come back to us and say, we think we need an extra month, we need three months.

“I’m not proposing to direct the reviewers on how long they should or shouldn’t take, and it will be up to the reviewers to come back to me and let me know what it is they think.”

A wider investigation into the “pathways of clinical care processes for paediatric gender services” in Queensland is also due to be completed by June 30.

While health authorities await the results of the Cairns review at least 491 young people in Queensland are on the waitlist for hormone therapy.

Australian Professional Association for Trans Health chief executive Eloise Brook said the possible extension was a massive blow for some of Queensland’s most vulnerable youth.

“The inquiry being dragged out, just further puts those families and young people at risk for no good reason,” Ms Brook said.

“Trans young people, aged 12 to 24, in Queensland have an attempted suicide rate of 48.1%.

Australian Professional Association for Trans Health (AusPATH) chief executive Eloise Brook. Picture: Supplied

“These mental health struggles are due to the kinds of pressures that are placed upon them, including not being able to access adequate services.”

Ms Brook said an extended suspension on youth gender hormone therapy in Queensland would increase suicidality and decrease school attendance in the state’s transgender youth.

“It’s not just harming those young people, it puts families under extraordinary strain as well with every passing day,” Ms Brook said.

“Some families effectively need to be on 24/7 suicide watch for their trans children.

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

“The knock-on effect of a prolonged pause of these services just put an increasing amount of unnecessary strain on families.

“By stopping further access to care, the government is stepping in and saying that it knows better than the healthcare professionals, than the families, and even the young people themselves.”

Originally published as Queensland transgender youth hormone therapy review