The evidence for gender-affirming care is strong and well-established, with research and lived experience overwhelmingly supporting timely access for young people.
However, in January 2025, the Queensland Government announced a directive suspending access to care and gender-affirming treatment for new adolescent patients at public health facilities in Queensland, including the Queensland Children’s Gender Service.
This decision affects all young people who have not yet started hormone treatment, including those who were about to begin care.
Transcend Australia is advocating for the Queensland Government to:
- Lift the ban on gender affirming care for young people immediately
- Make sure all Queenslanders have equal access to public health care, no matter where they live or who they are.
The Vine Review: Queensland’s inquiry into gender affirming care
Following the suspension, the Queensland Government announced an independent review, also called the ‘Vine Review’, into:
- Stage 1 treatment: Puberty blockers
- Stage 2 treatment: Gender-affirming hormones
The review’s final report and recommendations are due to the Director-General of Queensland Health by 30 November 2025.
Families and services were initially invited to respond to consultation questions via an online submission form, which closed on 29 July 2025. An extension was later given, allowing submissions to be emailed directly to the Vine Review team.
Transcend Australia has made a comprehensive submission to the review, advocating for and centring families and young people directly affected by this harmful suspension. We also participated in an interview with the Vine Review team, providing another opportunity to highlight the urgent need for access to gender-affirming care and to share the real-life impacts of this suspension and review on children and their families.
However, the process hasn’t been designed in a way that truly centres trans voices. The official online form placed strict limits on what we could be shared—restricting the depth of evidence, personal stories, and resources we know are vital to understanding the real impact on those most affected by the Queensland government’s current ban on gender affirming healthcare.
To ensure the voices of young people and their families were heard, we also sent an expanded submission via email, which included the full details and links the review needs to see and reframing the questions through a lived experience perspective.
You can find a full copy of Transcend Australia’s submission to the independent review of stage 1 and stage 2 hormone therapies in Queensland’s pubic paediatrics gender services (PDF, 323kb) on our website.
Many organisations are advocating for trans, gender diverse and non-binary children and young people. We have joined Equality Australia, LGBTI Legal, Q Trans, Open Doors Youth Service, and many others who are calling on the Queensland Government to urgently reinstate gender-affirming care and protect the rights, dignity, and wellbeing of trans young people.
The Trans Justice Project is calling on supporters to take action for trans youth in Queensland.
From Friday 29 August, 9am to Sunday 31 August 2025, they’re organising a Day of Action. Supporters are encouraged to visit their local Liberal Party office with letters and signs, calling for the reinstatement of youth gender-affirming care.
This is a chance to show visible community support and send a clear message that young people deserve timely, affirming healthcare.
For more details and to register your interest, visit: Trans Justice Project – Day of Action.
Support
Please look after yourself. If reading this brings up any difficult feelings, you can get support from:
- QLife – 3pm to midnight, 7 days a week. Phone: 1800 184 527 | Webchat: qlife.org.au/resources/chat
- Lifeline – Call 13 11 14 anytime.
- Transcend Australia – Book a support call: info.transcend.org.au/meetings/familyservices/family-support
