Introduction

This guideline relates to gender diversity in paediatric patients. For more information please visit: Adolescent Medicine:Gender Service

The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH) Gender Service supports the physical and mental health of trans and gender diverse children, young people and their families. Gender diverse identities are a part of human diversity, throughout history and across cultures. Some trans people experience Gender Dysphoria, which is the distress that results when a person’s gender identity does not match with their gender assigned at birth. Gender affirming care, which includes support from caregivers, health professionals and schools, can help reduce the dysphoria that some experience. Research evidence reports that gender affirming care is acceptably safe and can improve wellbeing for trans children and adolescents.

When to refer

• Patients <16 years of age (at the time of referral) residing in Victoria
• Children and young people who are questioning their gender identity and are wanting to learn about the options for affirming their gender identity
• Not all trans children and young people need to come to the RCH Gender Service – for those seeking peer connection or family support only, please see our website for options. Many trans young people are content and thriving, and do not need or want health professional support
• Please note, the RCH Gender Service is not a crisis service or a tertiary-level mental health service. Should you have urgent concerns for the mental wellbeing of a young person, or if the young person requires intensive mental health support, please contact your regional Victorian Mental Health Service or refer to the local Emergency Department if acute care is required

Wait time for appointments

Specialist Clinic wait times

Services available closer to home

Other services available in Victoria for those over 16 years:

• Monash Health Gender Clinic
• Other community based medical services: Northside Clinic, Equinox Gender Diverse Health Centre, TG Health Clinic, Eleanor Clinic , Your Community Health East Reservoir 
• The Orygen Transgender & Gender Diverse Service via Headspace centres in Sunshine, Glenroy, Melton, or Werribee
• Inclusive private practitioners can also be found via the AusPATH provider’s page and the Victorian Inclusive Practitioners

Referral criteria/required information

• Reason for the referral to the RCH Gender Service
• Clinical information to assist triage, specifically whether the young person is pre-pubertal or post-pubertal. This must include wether the person;
  • has experience menarche for those assigned female at birth,
  • has experienced voice deepening for those assigned male at birth.
• Information regarding care access barriers to assist triage, specifically;
  • Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander status
  • The involvement of child protective services
• Investigations (blood tests) are not necessary. If done, please include these in the referral.
• Names of other health professionals involved in supporting the young person, if known.

How to refer

Specialist Clinics Referral

Gender Services Referral

Please complete the above and submit via:

Facsimile (03) 9345 5034

Email screferrals@rch.org.au

Urgent referrals: Consider the need for referral the mental health services. Mental health referrals can be to private psychologists, or to public services via Victorian Mental Health Services

Information for families

Please refer families to the RCH Adolescent Medicine:Gender Service for information on parent, caregiver and family support options. 

The RCH Gender Service works in collaboration with Transcend Australia to provide support for families.

Resources and links

• Kids Health Info:Gender diverse children and youth
• Kids Health Info:Gender identity and sexuality – teens and young people
• Adolescent Medicine:Gender Service

Acknowledgements

The development of this guideline was coordinated by the Department of Adolescent Medicine (Donna Eade and Alice Baker, and approved by Head of Department, Cate Rayner). Guideline reviewed in August 2025.