Rapidly expanding gender-affirming care based on consensus instead of evidence justifies rigorous governance and transparency

Abstract

Objective: Public services offering gender-affirming care to minors have rapidly expanded across Australia. Despite limited evidence of safety and efficacy, no public information about these services is routinely available. Data from freedom of information requests sent to Australian public gender services for minors is summarised. Gender service numbers increased rapidly in Queensland (2017:190 – 2022:922) and in Victoria (2019:472 – 2023:1290). Limited transparency prevented strong confidence in the number of patients receiving hormone therapy. Staff FTE employed by gender services jumped after 2020 in NSW (to 16.7 across two sites in 2023), Queensland (to 11.4 in 2023), Victoria (to 9.4 in 2022), and WA (to 10.2 in 2023). Conclusions: Despite low confidence in their safety and efficacy, the number of patients seen by public gender services has expanded rapidly since 2018. Limited transparency makes it difficult to judge the number of patients seen, treatments provided, and outcomes achieved. Safe, effective care of this vulnerable group requires clear treatment goals, and annual reporting.