Australia Launches National Review of Transgender Healthcare for Youth

The federal government tasks its peak medical body with developing evidence-based guidelines for gender-affirming care, urging Queensland to align with national standards.

• Federal Health Minister Mark Butler announced a review of treatment guidelines for transgender and gender-diverse children and adolescents in Australia.
• The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) will lead the review, focusing on puberty blockers and hormone therapies, with interim advice on puberty blockers expected by mid-2026.
• The review aims to establish consistent, evidence-based national standards, replacing state-level variations in care for young people with gender dysphoria.
• Queensland recently paused new prescriptions of puberty blockers and hormone therapies for minors, a move criticized by advocates and deemed inappropriate by the federal health minister.
• LGBTIQ+ health groups cautiously welcomed the review, emphasizing the need for expert-led, evidence-based processes free from political interference.

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Australian Broadcasting Corporation SBS News The Sydney Morning Herald