Children with gender dysphoria will be denied puberty blockers as a state government reviews hormone therapies for minors.
The Queensland government launched the investigation after reports gender-affirming hormones had been given to children as young as 12 without authorised care.
Health minister, Tim Nicholls, on Tuesday announced the independent review into the use of puberty blockers and hormone therapy for minors experiencing gender dysphoria.
The state has immediately paused any new patients under 18 accessing paediatric gender therapies through the public system until the government considers the review’s outcome.
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Kids already on a treatment plan – nearly 600 in total – can still access the services.
Children experiencing gender dysphoria but unable to begin hormone therapy will still be able to access psychiatric and psychological support.
Nicholls said the review was sparked by reports paediatric gender services were being given to children at the far north’s Cairns Sexual Health Service without proper medical support and parental consent.
Queensland’s Liberal National government said a public interest disclosure was received regarding a 12-year-old being prescribed a puberty blocker without proper consultation in Cairns.
Multi-disciplinary consultation must be sought for all under-14s who want to start puberty blockers which involves input from psychologists, psychiatrists, paediatricians and family.
Nicholls said an internal review found that the Cairns service provided unauthorised care to 42 children with 17 of those prescribed puberty blockers or hormone therapies.
It also found the service had deficiencies in credentialing and scope of practice, kept inadequate client records about multidisciplinary team discussions, and raised concerns about patient and parental consent.
There were also delayed blood tests or bone mineral density tests for some patients.
“In short, assessment, diagnosis and treatment may not have aligned with Australian treatment guidelines,” Nicholls said on Tuesday.
An investigation into the Cairns clinic is now under way looking at the health services delivered to patients and the governance framework, with a report expected by the end of June.
The review into the Cairns service is in addition to a broader statewide investigation into the use of hormone therapies in children and whether there should be more regulations on medical gender-affirming care.
Gender-affirming care for young people has come under scrutiny globally with the controversial Cass review in the UK ultimately leading to the National Health Service restricting the use of puberty blockers in children.
An independent review in 2024 found Queensland children with gender dysphoria were not being rushed or coerced into receiving puberty blockers or hormones.
It did however identify the state’s gender services were struggling to keep up with the waitlists, with times blowing out to 577 days depending on the urgency for care.
The review said children were entitled to robust care regardless of the debate around puberty blockers, hormones and long-term effects.
“The service … supports the right of the child or adolescent with diverse gender experiences to express themselves and access health care,” it said.