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Multi-disciplinary = choice
Bringing together health practitioners from a wide range of professional training and experience means Gender Health Australia offers choice and ease when collaborative care is required. At GHA, we bring together the team of doctors, psychologists, and other health professionals together to provide safe, affirming, and evidence-based care for all ages and genders. You may see one member of our team, or several, depending on your needs.
I want to begin gender-affirming care (Pathway I):
Medical Specialist & Senior Mental Health Clinician
This care pathway is available to all ages and genders.
It is GHA's favourite for enabling us to spend more time with you and ensure holistic support to optimise your social, emotional, physical health and wellness in tandem with providing a pathway to gender affirming medical treatments if that is one of your goals. For example, more time allows better neuro-affirming adjustments to consults; better able to identify and respond to developmental or mental health questions, to provide education and/or support with parents or chosen family (if you wish), identify your resilience and strengths and provide ideas, referrals and support in areas you want to develop . . . perhaps all of the above
What does it involve?
Usually 4-5 appointments with a Senior Mental Health clinician who provides a comprehensive assessment and written report to you and your other health providers/doctors as per your wishes. Note, senior at GHA = min 5 years experience as a mental health clinician + developmentally informed + passionate and experienced in gender affirming care i.e. the whole package.
Plus,
Expert developed, hormone education session/s personalised for your needs, to support ongoing healthy bodies and minds
Multi-disciplinary care planning meeting
and direct access to GHA prescribing doctors if treatment recommended (usually a further 2 consults with doctor)
Choice of ongoing monitoring with the specialist doctor or a written summary for your GP to continue care
If you are in Queensland and under 18 years of age, note GHA meets the funding criteria for financial support through AusPATH's Project 491 and can support you with an application if financial hardship is a barrier to healthcare.
I want to begin gender-affirming care (Pathway II):
Medical Specialist only
A Navigation appointment where we get to know you a little, you tell us your goals, we clarify rebates and we make a plan.
Then, our medical specialists assess and initiate gender affirming medical treatments and can provide ongoing monitoring or transfer back to your local doctor.
Usually 3-4 consults (1 hour each) with a specialist doctor for comprehensive assessment and prescribing
Multi-disciplinary care planning meeting
Expert developed hormone education (and puberty blocker if relevant) session and Q&A sessions to support healthy bodies and minds if beginning new medications.
Summary letter detailing medication management to you and your GP.
If you are in Queensland and under 18 years of age, note GHA meets the funding criteria for financial support through AusPATH's Project 491 and can support you with an application if financial hardship is a barrier to healthcare.
Individual Counselling (child, adolescent and adults),
Mental Health assessment and treatment with or without a MHCP, NDIS, EDTP or CCTP
Gender Health Australia has a number of highly experienced mental health clinicians with decades of experience between them seeing children, adolescents and adults. They are eligible for medicare rebates and/or NDIS referrals
You can self-refer to any practitioner but you will not be able to claim a medicare rebate (private health insurance may be an option). Fees range from $200 - $240 per consult.
Or if you would like to select a practitioner from our website you can discuss with your GP a referral directly to GHA. Gap fees are dependent on your referral and whom you see, call or email to ask us what to expect.
Or you can book a Navigation appointment before you have a referral to talk to us about what you are seeking and figure out if we are right for you, get information and referrals to community supports and advice on next steps including a letter for your GP if needed.
MHCP: Mental Health Care Plan (specify referral to Mental Health Social Worker, or Psychologist)
NDIS: National Disability Insurance Scheme
EDTP : Eating Disorders Treatment Plan (direct referral to Mental Health Social Worker)
CCTP: Chronic Condition Treatment Plan (Direct referral to Mental Health Worker, or Speech pathologist or Psychologist or Mental Health Social Worker, Mental Health Nurse)
Partnered care
Transfering from another gender specialist service?
or
Your GP/specialist doctor needs an assessment report before commencing gender affirming medications?
Due to changes in other health systems or moving location some folk are part way through their gender healthcare journey. This package requires partnership with a health provider who provides us with a comprehensive report and if necessary continuing care, we can just do the medical treatment part of your care journey in partnership with your existing support
Some folk have a local medical specialist willing to initiate and manage their gender affirming medical treatments close to home but require an assessment of their health and wellbeing and multi disciplinary care review - all in a written report. We can do just that part with you.
This pathway begins with a Navigation appointment where we get to know you a little, you tell us your goals, we clarify rebates, and we make a plan. Navigation appointments are $150 and medicare does not provide a rebate
If you are in Queensland and under 18 years of age, note GHA meets the funding criteria for financial support through AusPATH's Project 491 and can support you with an application if financial hardship is a barrier to healthcare.
CORE FEATURES
The GHA way
Affirming
We are here for you and your healthcare needs. Our role is to gather information, weave this together with research and clinical experience to provide options and recommendations so that you can make your own choices. Respect for your bodily autonomy and decision making is a central value for GHA.
Multi-disciplinary
We have brought the experts together so you benefit from a range of health disciplines who talk to each other so you don't have to worry about telling your story over and over or communication gaps. Clinical guidelines all recommend multi-disciplinary care as best in this field. GHA includes
- Psychology, Social work, Speech Pathology, Clinical nursing
-Medical specialists:- Sexual Health Physicians, Paediatric Endocrinologists and Adolescent Physicians.
Based on research and practice expertise
We aim to support the unique needs of each person and our approach is informed by decades of clinical experience, peer reviewed research and leading Australian and international guidelines. Check our our resources page for links to quality information and our evolving 'Geek out' section for a deep dive on topics.
Informed Consent
We emphasize informed consent and shared decision-making throughout the care journey. All clients are provided with comprehensive information about potential interventions, including benefits, risks, and alternatives, to empower them in making decisions that align with their values and goals. Reports/letters about you are shared with you
understanding your options
Informed consent
For adults and older adolescents who are ready to access gender-affirming medical treatments, we offer an informed consent model with a prescribing doctor. This involves comprehensive bio-psycho-social assessment that incorporates an assessment of readiness for hormones and commencement of treatment where indicated.
Meet Our Team
You are the expert, we are your Expert team
A holistic wellbeing focus
Multi-disciplinary care supports looking at all aspects of a person's health and wellbeing, not just focusing on what one health practitioner can do for you. Our wellbeing relies on a healthy body and mind and is influenced by our family, friends, homes, workplaces, past experiences, minority stressors and future opportunities. GHA believes you are the expert in yourself and our expertise is here to support your journey and wellbeing.
Geek Out
Insights from GHA practitioners, GHA clients
and peer reviewed research
faq
Frequently Asked Questions
You can refer yourself. Contact us directly to schedule a navigation appointment. We can recommend the referral type that is best to reduce your out of pocket costs in future appointments so you can claim medicare rebates for some of our services. Private health insurance may offer rebates with or without a referral, it's best to check with your provider.
Your first visit is a chance for us to get to know you and your goals. Clients tell us that navigating trans healthcare can be challenging and we are here to help you create your personalised care plan so will start with questions to get to know you, your health history, goals and letting you know what we offer.
Absolutely. We provide affirming care for people of all gender identities and expressions, including non-binary, gender fluid, agender, and gender nonconforming individuals.
No, like any medicine or healthcare intervention there is a process of assessment, discussion of options, risks and benefits which is important for you to make informed decisions about your health. At GHA we tailor information to your developmental age and brain wiring (neuro affirming) and because everyone’s journey is unique we will work with you to determine the best path forward. We call this individualised care
At GHA we have brought together mental health and medical specialists to work as a team so you don’t need to ‘get a letter’ from a psych to access a medical specialist. This communication between the team is managed in a multidisciplinary care review meeting every week. We can talk more about how multi disciplinary teams work at your navigation appointment.
Yes and no, most of our services attract some amount of medicare rebate if you have been referred. When you have your care pathway mapped out you can check with your health insurer whether they can provide a rebate instead.
We recommend gathering any relevant health professional letters, and if applicable, mental health reports or diagnostic reports or documentation that you think are helpful in forming a complete picture of your health and wellbeing. We will also ask for the names and contact details of other health professionals you see for us to contact if you give us your consent.
