This episode discusses gender-affirming care for transgender young people. We might mention suicide and self-harm. Listeners are advised.

At the end of January this year, Federal Health Minister Mark Butler announced a review into healthcare for trans and gender-diverse children.   The review will be conducted by the National Health and Medical Research Council. The rights of transgender people, and in particular the rights of trangender youth and their access to life-saving, gender-affirming care has become a political football worldwide. 

To help us unpack what this review might mean, and to help us understand this issue more broadly, we’re joined by Matthew Mitchell, a lecturer in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Deakin University, and an expert in LGBTQ people and the law.

Matthew’s research focuses on LGBTQ people’s interactions with legal systems, media representations of gendered and sexual harm, and technology-facilitated violence. Matthew is currently writing a book on the legal regulation of gender-affirming hormones for young people in Australia.

If this episode has raised issues for you or if you’re concerned about someone you know, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14. You can also call QLife on 1800 184 527. Support is also available at:  Switchboard, Queerspace, Transcend Australia, Transgender Victoria and Minus18.