Gender-Affirming Care Pathways for Adults
Accessing gender-affirming care can feel confusing, particularly when different providers use different pathways, requirements, and models of care.
This guide provides an overview of common pathways available for adults in Australia. While processes vary between states, services, and individual clinicians, understanding the options can help you make informed decisions about what feels right for you.
There is no single "correct" pathway through gender-affirming care. Some people pursue social affirmation only, some access hormone therapy or surgery, and others may explore their gender without seeking any formal intervention.
Each person's journey is unique.
Understanding Informed Consent
Many adults access gender-affirming healthcare through an informed consent model.
Informed consent means that a medical practitioner provides information about treatment options, expected benefits, potential risks, alternatives, and long-term considerations so that a person can make an informed decision about their own care.
The focus is on supporting autonomy and shared decision-making.Under an informed consent model, a mandatory psychiatric assessment is generally not required before commencing gender-affirming hormone therapy.
However, individual providers may have different requirements, and additional support or assessment may sometimes be recommended depending on a person's circumstances.
Not all providers use the same model of care. Some practitioners may request additional assessments, supporting documentation, or specialist involvement before commencing treatment.
A Note About Pathways
It is important to note that gender-affirming care pathways vary considerably between providers, services, locations, and individual circumstances.
Some people access care through a GP using an informed consent model. Others may work with specialists, psychologists, or multidisciplinary teams. Requirements can differ between services, and pathways may change over time.
The examples below are intended as general guides only and may not reflect every person's experience.
Pathway 1: GP-Led Informed Consent
Some GPs provide gender-affirming care directly and can assess, prescribe, and monitor hormone therapy using an informed consent model. Increasing numbers of Australian GPs offer this pathway.
Many adults access care through a GP experienced in gender-affirming healthcare. Depending on the GP and individual circumstances, this may involve:
Discussing goals, questions, and support needs
Reviewing treatment options, benefits, risks, and alternatives
Completing blood tests or other health assessments
Providing informed consent
Commencing hormone therapy if appropriate
Ongoing monitoring and review
For some adults, this can be a relatively straightforward pathway to accessing hormone therapy.
Pathway 2: GP + Specialist
Some people access care through both a GP and a specialist medical provider.
Specialists may include:
Endocrinologists
Sexual health physicians
Gender clinics
Other medical practitioners with expertise in gender-affirming healthcare
Depending on the provider and service, this pathway may involve:
Meeting with a GP
Obtaining referrals to relevant specialists
Discussing treatment options and goals
Completing investigations or health assessments
Commencing treatment if appropriate
Ongoing monitoring and follow-up care
Pathway 3: GP + Psychologist + Medical Provider
Some practitioners or services may request a psychosocial assessment or supporting documentation before providing treatment.
Depending on the provider and individual circumstances, this pathway may involve:
Meeting with a GP
Referral to a psychologist
Mental health review and informed consent discussion
Supporting documentation where requested
Consultation with a prescribing medical practitioner
Ongoing follow-up and monitoring
Private and Public Options
Private Pathways
Private services often provide:
Shorter wait times
Greater choice of providers
Telehealth options
Direct access to some gender-affirming services
Costs vary depending on the provider and Medicare eligibility.
Public Pathways
Public gender services are available in some regions and hospital networks.
Public services may:
Be low-cost or free
Have longer wait times
Require GP referral
Have specific eligibility criteria
Availability varies significantly across Australia.
Social, Legal and Medical Affirmation
People may choose one, some, or none of the following pathways.
Social affirmation
Name changes
Pronoun changes
Changes to appearance or presentation
Inviting in family, friends, workplaces, or community
Legal affirmation
Updating a legal name
Updating identification documents
Updating records with Medicare, Centrelink, banks, employers, and other organisations
Medical affirmation
Hormone therapy
Gender-affirming surgery
Voice therapy
Hair removal
Fertility preservation
There is no required order for these steps.
What Can My GP Help With?
Your GP is often the first point of contact for gender-affirming healthcare.A supportive GP can:
Discuss your goals and options
Explain available pathways
Discuss hormone therapy
Order blood tests and health assessments
Refer to specialists where neededRefer to psychologists or other supports
Provide ongoing healthcare and monitoring
Help connect you with local services and community resources
Everything discussed with your GP is confidential, except in circumstances where there are concerns about safety or serious risk of harm.
If you do not feel understood, respected, or supported by a particular GP, it is okay to seek a different provider.
Questions You Might Ask Your GP
About getting started
What are my next steps?
What options are available to me?
Do I need any referrals?
Can you tell me about the different pathways available?
About hormone therapy
Can you tell me about hormone therapy?
Do you provide gender-affirming hormone therapy?
Do you use an informed consent model?
If not, can you recommend a provider who does?
What blood tests or health checks are needed?
What are the expected benefits, risks, and limitations?
About surgery
Can you tell me about gender-affirming surgery options?
Which specialists should I see?
What assessments or documentation may be required?
About support
Can you recommend any support groups?
Are there local or online communities I can connect with?
What support is available for partners, families, or carers?
What can I do if I don't feel safe at home, work, or in my community?
Finding Gender-Affirming Medical Providers
TransHub – Find a Doctor
TransHub provides a searchable directory of gender-affirming GPs, specialists, and services across Australia. It also includes information about informed consent pathways and finding trans-affirming healthcare providers.
AusPATH Provider Directory
The Australian Professional Association for Trans Health (AusPATH) maintains a directory of healthcare professionals with an interest in trans and gender diverse healthcare.
Trans AU Directory
Trans AU is a community-led directory of trans and gender diverse services, healthcare providers, and community organisations across Australia.
How Minds of Colour Psychology Can Help
I provide neuroaffirming and gender-affirming psychological support for adults across Australia via telehealth.
Support may include:
Gender exploration and identity-focused therapy
Psychosocial assessments for gender-affirming medical care
Informed consent reviews (18+)
WPATH-aligned supporting letters where required
Support navigating gender-affirming care pathways
Support with changes and adjustments with gender-affirming journeys (social, legal and medical)
Supporting documentation for legal affirmation processes where appropriate
Collaboration with GPs, endocrinologists, sexual health physicians, psychiatrists, and surgeons (with consent)
My role is to support informed decision-making, explore relevant factors collaboratively, and provide assessments or documentation where appropriate.
Prescribing decisions, medical recommendations, and treatment decisions remain the responsibility of the treating medical practitioner.
Gender Affirming Services
NSW-Based Services
🏳️⚧️ Maple Leaf House (Hunter New England LHD)
NSW-based multidisciplinary clinic offering gender-affirming care for trans and gender-diverse children and young people (up to age 24).
🔗 nsw.gov.au/hnelhd/services/gender-diversity
🏳️⚧️ ACON
NSW’s leading HIV and LGBTQ+ health organisation.
🔗 acon.org.au
🏳️⚧️ Twenty10 (NSW)
Support for LGBTQ+ youth (12–25), including case management, mental health, and school engagement.
🔗 twenty10.org.au
🏳️⚧️ Rainbow Families
Supports LGBTQ+ parents and their children with workshops, playgroups, and resources for navigating schools and healthcare.
🔗 rainbowfamilies.com.au
National Services
🏳️⚧️ LGBTIQ+ Health Australia
National peak health organisation for LGBTIQ+ people.
🔗 lgbtiqhealth.org.au
🏳️⚧️ Gender Health Australia – Our Services
Gender-affirming healthcare services and information.
🔗 genderhealth.com.au/services
🏳️⚧️ Equality Australia
Advocacy for LGBTIQ+ rights and equality.
🔗 equalityaustralia.org.au
🏳️⚧️ PFLAG Australia
Family-oriented support for those with LGBTQI+ loved ones, including advocacy and advice for parents of transgender children.
🔗 pflagaustralia.org.au
🏳️⚧️ Parents of Gender Diverse Children (PGDC)
Peer support and advocacy group run by parents of trans and gender-diverse kids. Offers resources, community support, and guidance for navigating schools and services.
🔗 pgdc.org.au
Clinical Guidelines & Evidence-Based Resources for Gender-Affirming Care
🏳️⚧️ World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People, Version 8 (2022)
🏳️⚧️ NSW Health
Consent to Medical Treatment ManualSection 8: Gender Dysphoria – Guidance for clinicians on consent and treatment for trans and gender-diverse patients in NSW
🏳️⚧️ AusPATH
Informed Consent Guidelines for Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy National guidelines supporting informed consent models of care
Medical Providers (Public)
NSW
🏳️⚧️ Maple Leaf House (up to 25) - Hamilton, NSW
Pacific Clinic - Dr Jo Measure, Newcastle, NSW
(02) 4016 4536
Medical Providers (Private)
NSW
🏳️⚧️ Dr Wynne & Dr Luu - Kotara Specialist Suites, NSW
https://www.kotarasuites.com.au/
🏳️⚧️ Dr Steve Kelly - Warabrook Doctors,
(02) 4968 9932
🏳️⚧️ Dr Rita Singh - Dr Rita Singh Family Practice
dr.rita.singh.family.practice@hotmail.com
(02) 4967 2927
🏳️⚧️ Dr Susanna Smart - Healthsure Medical Centre Kotara
(02) 4967 2927
🏳️⚧️ Dr Phoebe Walsh - Newcastle Family Planning
(02) 4929 4485
🏳️⚧️ Dr Dawn Choi - Providence Medical, Belmont
https://providencemedical.com.au/belmont/
🏳️⚧️ Dr Dean Miller - Hunter Health Hub, Hamilton East
(02) 4032 8290
🏳️⚧️ Dr Louise Drinkwater - Merewether The Junction General Practice
(02) 4969 3811
🏳️⚧️ Dr Adam Frost - Merewether The Junction General Practice
(02) 4969 3811
🏳️⚧️ Dr Alex Tonkin - Merewether The Junction General Practice
(02) 4969 3811
🏳️⚧️ Dr Jon Hayes - North Shore Medical Ctr, St Leonards
ACT
🏳️⚧️ Dr Tuck Meng Soo & Dr Xiaoting Ge - East Canberra General Practice (ECGP)
🏳️⚧️ Dr Dorrington – WGP
🏳️⚧️ Dr Sumi Saha - Joy Women’s Health
drsumisaha@joywomenshealth.com.au
🏳️⚧️ Dr Emily Rushton - Joy Women’s Health
reception@chapmansurgery.com.au
🏳️⚧️ Dr Chris Helms - Bridging Healthcare
Disclaimer
Accessing gender-affirming healthcare can be challenging, and finding providers with experience in supporting trans and gender diverse people can be difficult, particularly in some regions.
The resources, directories, websites, and healthcare providers listed on this page are provided for informational purposes only and are intended as potential starting points for people seeking gender-affirming healthcare and support.
Information has been compiled from publicly available sources, professional networks, and community recommendations and was believed to be accurate at the time of publication. Availability, wait times, fees, referral requirements, areas of practice, and service models may change over time.
While efforts have been made to include providers and services known to support trans and gender diverse people, inclusion on this list does not constitute an endorsement, recommendation, or guarantee of services by Minds of Colour Psychology.
Individuals are encouraged to make their own enquiries regarding suitability, availability, fees, and current service offerings when choosing a healthcare provider.
