Statement regarding statewide cessation of stage 1 and stage 2 treatment to children and adolescents under 18 years of age with gender dysphoria

AMA Queensland remains extremely concerned about the Government’s decision to halt paediatric gender hormone treatment services across Queensland.

March 2026 update

AMA Queensland members have reported that the government’s ban of stage 1 and stage 2 treatment to children and adolescents under 18 years of age with gender dysphoria in Queensland Health services is impacting patient access to private treatment. Doctors report confusion about the application of the ban and a lack of clear advice from Queensland Health for both clinicians and the community.

When the ban was announced in January last year, AMA Queensland asked Queensland Health to urgently provide referring clinicians with information about the options patients seeking referrals for this treatment now had. This was to ensure patients wishing to seek private treatment would be provided appropriate information and referrals, in accordance with best practice principles.

Unfortunately, doctors are now reporting that patients are being incorrectly advised by Queensland Health staff that the ban applies to both private and public services, resulting in an effective denial of treatment for patients. Patients report they are travelling intestate to seek treatment since it has not been banned in other Australian states and territories.

AMA Queensland reminds all health workers that the ministerial direction only applies to Hospital and Health Services and calls again on Queensland Health to issue clear information to its staff, patients and the community. Patients must not be effectively denied treatment through misinformation.

Details about the ministerial direction can be accessed on Queensland Health’s website.

January 2025 update

AMA Queensland remains extremely concerned about the Government’s decision to halt stage 1 and stage 2 treatment to children and adolescents under 18 years with gender dysphoria across Queensland.

Doctors, particularly psychiatrists, general practitioners and paediatricians fear the decision will cause significant distress and harms to this already-vulnerable patient cohort, their families and treating clinicians.

This is particularly concerning given a recent Australian Government report showed LGBTQIASB+ people are at high risk of suicide and self-harm, with nearly 75 per cent considering suicide at some point in their lives.1

We unequivocally support investigations of alleged non-compliance with clinical guidelines, however, they must be undertaken in good faith by independent experts free from political or other considerations.

Treatment decisions must be made by clinicians based on the science, not ideological beliefs.

Patients across Queensland also cannot be denied access to vital health treatments while investigations are ongoing, particularly where there is no demonstrated evidence of systemic failure.

The Government has a duty of care to keep patients safe which includes providing time-critical health treatment.

Access delayed tragically often amounts to access denied.

AMA Queensland is seeking urgent advice from Queensland Health about the care patients currently wait listed will receive, some of whom have been waiting up to 577 days.

They cannot be left in limbo.

Referring clinicians also need advice about what options now exist for patients seeking referrals for hormone treatment.

General practitioners are already struggling to assist patients unable to access timely public hospital outpatient services and they cannot be expected to shoulder this unexpected and disruptive decision.

It is also essential that clinicians working in this field are not further harmed by insensitive and uniformed public discourse about gender services.

We are in a health workforce crisis and cannot afford to lose any more staff from our overloaded hospitals.

AMA Queensland again urges the Government to follow the recommendations of last year’s independent review of the Queensland Children’s Gender Service.

That review was conducted by highly qualified and experienced doctors, researchers and people with lived experience who know the science and best practice standards for this patient cohort.

All patients deserve health services that are safe and free from judgment and discrimination.

Department of Health and Aged Care, National Action Plan for the Health and Wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ People 2025-2035, p22, available here.