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Due to the unique legislation in South Australia
(Sexual
Reassignment Act 1988), medical practitioners
and hospitals are restricted in their treatment of
people with transsexualism. While South Australia
was the first Australian State to make provision
for correcting a birth certificate, medical
practitioners and/or hospitals must be authorised
by the SA Health Commission to carry out
reassignment procedures of any kind.
The South Australian Gender Dysphoria Unit,
located in the inner Eastern suburbs of Adelaide,
is the only provider in South Australia where there
are medical professionals accredited to assess
patients seeking treatment for sex affirmation
treatment.
Men who commence treatment in South Australia
are required to see a South Australian Gender
Dysphoria Unit psychiatrist for for 12 to 24 months
prior to beginning hormone treatment. This is a
costly process and requires appointment with a
second psychiatrist in the Unit to confirm
diagnosis and one session with a psychologist at
around $300 for full testing and psych profile to
exclude mental health issues.
Men are required to undergo a real life test for
6-12 months before they can obtain a referral for
chest reconstructive surgery. After surgery,
monthly appointments with the psychiatrist must
still continue.
Men who move to South Australia discover that
unlike the rest of Australia, their health care
cannot continue under a GP without first obtaining
permission from a South Australian Gender Unit
psychiatrist to ‘allow’ the process to
continue.
Negatives
- Extremely limited choice of medical
professionals;
- Long waiting list for first appointment (can
be up to 6 months);
- The preferred medical professional is a
gynaecologist rather than an endocrinologist
when you start hormone treatment;
- Monthly therapy appointments are mandatory,
whether needed or not;
- Distance to appointments can be a problem
for some people, especially those in the
country.
Positives
- Short waiting periods for assessment
(hormones and surgery);
- Ability to have a say in your treatment
options;
- Never too long between appointments if
something comes up and appointments need to be
rescheduled;
- Testing is used as a guideline only
(personality tests etc are performed by the
external psychologist).
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"I have
been treated with absolute respect and
dignity by the Gender Dysphoria Unit...I
have been feeling totally supported
throughout the entire process and not
pushed to follow anyone else's schedule
but my own."
—
Patient,
South Australia Unit
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Monash Gender Dysphoria Clinic, Victoria
