Open Doors Youth ServiceOpen Doors Youth ServiceOpen Doors Youth Service (ODYS) welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the Independent Review into Stage 1 and Stage 2 gender-affirming hormone treatments for transgender and gender diverse children and adolescents in Queensland’s public health system.
ODYS is Queensland’s only youth service exclusively supporting LGBTIQASB+ young people aged 12–24, including those seeking or accessing gender-affirming healthcare. For 25 years, we have walked alongside young people and their families, providing frontline mental health, psychosocial, and peer-based supports. Our submission draws on this deep practice expertise, supported by direct lived experience and the voices of young people in our care.
We write this submission in the midst of a devastating and unnecessary crisis. Since the pause on gender-affirming care was introduced in January 2025, ODYS has witnessed a staggering 250% increase in referrals for under-18s, and a 64% increase in presentations of very high psychological distress at intake. These figures are not theoretical — they represent real young people in acute distress, being harmed by the sudden denial of life-affirming, evidence-based care.
Through our Share Your Story campaign, trans and gender-diverse young people have told us in their own words what this pause has cost them: hope, connection, and in many cases, the will to keep going.
One young person shared: “I was one appointment away from starting hormones when the pause came. I haven’t left my house in weeks. I cry every day. I don’t know how long I can wait.” Another told us: “When I found out about the halt, I sobbed for 3 hours, it genuinely felt like my reason and motivation for living had been taken away from me. ”
Gender-affirming healthcare is not controversial. It is globally recognised, clinically endorsed, and grounded in decades of medical evidence. Treatments such as puberty blockers and gender-affirming hormones are administered with careful assessment, informed consent, and multidisciplinary oversight. While all medical treatments carry risks, the risk of denying care — particularly to a group with documented high rates of suicidality — is far greater.
Our submission addresses each review question through a strengths-based lens, foregrounding mental health impacts and the lived experiences of trans and gender-diverse young people in Queensland. We draw on Australian research, including the Trans Pathways study, which documents the alarmingly high rates of self-harm and suicidality in this population — and the critical protective role of timely access to gender-affirming care.
We do not deny that all healthcare carries risk. But for trans young people, the risk of inaction — of delaying or denying care — is too often fatal. Every day that this pause continues, young lives are being placed in harm’s way. This is not a neutral position. It is an active, ideologically driven denial of healthcare and dignity.
ODYS urges the Review panel to listen to the voices of young people. To prioritise evidence over fear. And to act swiftly to restore and protect access to gender-affirming care as a fundamental human right and a matter of urgent public health. Anything less is a failure of duty to the young people of Queensland.
Open Doors Youth Service (ODYS) recently met with Professor Ruth Vine and Professor Eleanor Milligan as part of Queensland’s Independent Review into Stage 1 and 2 hormone therapies for trans and gender diverse young people.
We used this opportunity to advocate for:
Throughout our consultation, we centred the voices of young people by sharing your stories from the Share Your Story campaign. We know there are concerns around the submission process—here’s what we know so far:
You don’t need to answer every question.
You can choose which ones to respond to, or simply share your story in the final section:
“Is there anything else you would like to raise about the current evidence base and ethical considerations for Stage 1 and Stage 2 hormone treatments?” We have confirmed with the review panel that they will accept submissions from young people, families and community that only respond to the final question.
Things to consider:
✅ Word limit has now increased to approx. 800–900 words (previous word limit was approx. 150 words)
❌ Submissions will not be accepted via email
📩 You will not receive a confirmation email—please save your submission before sending. We recommend writing your submission in a Word document noting the question you are responding to.
We’re here to help.
Join our free online workshop with Equality Australia and the LGBTI Legal Service:
🗓️ Wednesday 2 July
🕕 6:00pm – 7:30pm
This session will walk you through the process and answer your questions.
We’ve confirmed with the legal team supporting the review and Equality Australia that it’s highly unlikely your submission would be released under Freedom of Information. The Review falls under Queensland Health’s robust privacy protections—among the strongest in the state. Even if your submission was accessed under the Freedom of Information it is most likely that personal details would be removed.
We raised this directly with the panel. Unfortunately, they do not currently plan to include lived experience members. However, they have emphasised the importance of community submissions. While we believe more needs to be done, we urge young people, families and allies to have their say so your voices remain central to this review.
Your voice matters. If you have any questions or need further support, please get in touch with us at ODYS.
Open Doors Youth Service Inc. acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First people and Traditional Custodians of the lands and waters where we meet, live, learn and work. We acknowledge and celebrate the rich and thriving diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, the oldest continuing living cultures in the world.