Queensland pauses hormone therapies for under 18s amid review
The Queensland government has paused hormone therapies for new patients under 18 as it conducts a review into treatments for gender dysphoria in children. The review will involve expert input and aims for a comprehensive understanding of the services provided.
Health Minister Tim Nicholls has announced an immediate pause on new patients under the age of 18 accessing hormone therapies within Queensland's public health system. This decision was unveiled on Tuesday alongside a review into stage one and two hormone therapies for children experiencing gender dysphoria.
The review will be led by an independent external reviewer, with the terms of reference to be developed in consultation with the reviewer. Mr Nicholls emphasised that the review would involve participation from clinicians and professionals with expertise in the area, as well as young people with lived experiences and their families.
A written report on the findings is expected to be submitted to the government within 10 months of the reviewer's appointment.
Mr Nicholls highlighted an "apparently unauthorised provision of paediatric gender services" that occurred within the Cairns Sexual Health Service, resulting in 17 children receiving hormone therapy that may not align with accepted Australian treatment guidelines. Consequently, two separate investigations into the Cairns Sexual Health Service have been initiated; one focusing on the governance framework and another on the delivered services.
The ongoing pause for new patients under 18 will remain active while the broader review is conducted. However, patients already on a treatment plan with the Queensland Children's Gender Service will be exempt from the pause, in line with appropriate medical procedures.
Mr Nicholls assured that the Queensland Children's Gender Service would continue to provide other clinical support to adolescents dealing with gender dysphoria. This includes psychiatric and psychological support, counselling, and other medically recommended interventions.
He reiterated the importance of ensuring that care for children is grounded in solid evidence and urged caution in this evolving and complex area.
An earlier independent evaluation of the Queensland Children's Gender Service, completed last year under the previous Labor government, found no evidence that patients or their families felt pressured into decisions regarding medical interventions. However, that evaluation did not investigate the evidence base for the hormone therapies in question.
It was also noted that there has been a significant rise in children and adolescents seeking care for diverse gender experiences, with 547 currently receiving care and an additional 491 patients awaiting assistance.
