Information for health professionals – Make a referral; Education

The Gender Clinic is a state-wide specialist team of gender specialists providing assessment and individualised client centred care for trans, gender diverse and non-binary people.

We also access ancillary services through key partnerships such as Endocrinology, Speech Pathology, Gender Affirming Surgery, Gynaecology, Fertility Preservation and more. Below is a guide on how to refer to the Gender Clinic.

Important information

Updated 04/08/2023
The Gender Clinic currently has a long wait list: in July 2023, we were booking appointments for clients whose referrals were received in February 2022. Additional clinical staff have been employed and we are seeing a gradual reduction in waiting times.

We offer telehealth or in person appointments at the Pride Centre. Please advise the admin team if you would like to enter the building via a private side entrance, rather than the main front entrance.
Surgeons providing gender affirming surgeries have very long wait lists for new clients. Please contact them directly if you need further information. The Gender Clinic can provide financial assistance to clients who we have referred for surgery.

If you urgently need support, please see our resources pages for TGDNB Peer Support and Clinical Support.

Support can also be found at the following phone support services:

  • Switchboard Victoria run two phone contact lines, open every day:
  • Lifeline (Lifeline Australia 13 11 14) provide all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.

Please note: we no longer accept referrals by fax, email or post. All referrals must now be forwarded through this link: Secure eReferral by HealthLink.

Find up-to-date information about how to send a referral to Monash Health Specialist Consulting Clinics at this link:  eReferrals page. 

Inclusion Criteria

  • 16 years or older
  • Resident of Victoria
  • Medicare or Private Health Insurance
  • Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident Visa

For referrals for patients under 16 years old please send to Royal Children’s Gender Service. We can also provide services to Asylum Seekers and to some border towns in NSW (e.g. Albury/Wodonga). If you are unsure whether your patient is eligible for services via Gender Clinic please contact us on (03) 9556 5216 or e-mail genderclinic@monashhealth.org

Intake Criteria

We encourage referral of TGDNB people who require any of the following services:

  • Laser hair removal for persons assigned male at birth (provided at $50 per session at Monash Medical Centre)
  • Voice therapy (provided at no cost by La Trobe University voice clinic)
  • Endocrinology secondary consultation (where advice is sought if a client is already taking hormones)
  • Mental health assessment prior to gender affirming surgery as per WPATH standards of care
  • Financial support for gender affirmation masculinising chest surgery or feminising genital surgery
  • Medical and mental health support for any client who experiences regret and/or may wish to de-transition / re‐transition.

We also accept referrals of clients who would like to see a mental health professional to:

  • gain a deeper understanding of their gender, and
  • explore available options to manage any dysphoria they may be experiencing.

For clients who only wish to commence hormone therapy we encourage referral to one of the clinics listed below that provide care under the informed consent protocol, unless they have complex needs or who would benefit from more comprehensive mental health assessment and support, particularly if they present with concerns beyond the scope of your usual practice.

This may include clients who currently present with:

  • Psychotic disorders (such as schizophrenia) or severe mood disorders (including major depression and bipolar disorder)
  • Trauma related disorders such as PTSD, Borderline Personality Disorder
  • Dissociative Disorders (including Dissociative Identity Disorder)
  • Body Dysmorphic Disorder
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Cognitive impairment (including acquired brain injury, dementia and intellectual disability)
  • Significant psychosocial factors (such as lack of support or unrealistic expectations), and
  • Impaired or unknown capacity to give informed consent due to any of the above.

If you are unsure whether you should refer a client, we are able to provide secondary consultation.

Unfortunately, we are unable to manage your client’s mental health condition or crisis presentation, except as it is related to their gender incongruence. We are instead able to direct you to the most appropriate mental health service.

List of informed consent clinics

Equinox (Fitzroy)  equinoxadmin@thorneharbour.org   www.equinox.org.au 9416 2889

TGDiCH (Ballarat and Preston) 8470 1111 info@yourch.org.au Trans and Gender Diverse in Community Health Program – Your Community Health (yourch.org.au)

Kardinia Health (Geelong) 5202 9333  admin@kardiniahealth.com.au 

Northside Clinic (Nth Fitzroy) 9485 7700  http://northsideclinic.net.au/ 

TG Health Clinic (Prahran) 0493 108 844  https://tghealthclinic.com.au/

Other clicncs are listed at auspath.org.au/providers/#VIC

Referral information required

Secure eReferral by HealthLink is now our required method of referral; we no longer accept referrals by fax, email or post.  Find up-to-date information about how to send a referral to Monash Health Specialist Consulting Clinics on the eReferrals page on our website.

Please include the following information:

  • Patient’s title, name and preferred pronoun
  • Date of Birth
  • Medicare Number
  • Contact with other service providers such as mental health
  • Patient’s contact details such as address, phone number and e-mail (where available)
  • Any interpreter needs and if so for which language
  • Diagnostic impression. Include a brief assessment of current functioning, co-occurring conditions and risk issues.

A confirmation letter or email will be sent by our admin staff once a complete referral is received. Please note due to a high demand for our service there may be a waiting time of up to 12 months. Please discuss with your patient prior to sending your referral and consider whether a private practitioner is a better option. Gender Clinic staff will then contact your patient to arrange an intake assessment. A report detailing our findings will be sent to you outlining the next steps you can take with your patient.

For clients under 18 years old.

NB: Upgraded the status of this heading, consistent with the website heading convention.

Where a GP is referring a young person under the age of 18, it is helpful to include detail of whether the young person was accompanied by a parent / guardian, and if so, who this was. A contact telephone number is required and the person’s name and relationship to the young person should be included where the telephone number is that of a person other than the young person. Where the young person attends by themselves a contact telephone number should be sought and the young person advised that this is the number that they will be contacted on; any concerns about contacting the young person via this means should be identified and alternatives recorded (for example, contact email address). General comments about family knowledge of the referral and / or perceived / reported support should be included.

Secondary Consultation

Gender Clinic provides secondary consultation to health professionals working with trans, gender diverse or non-binary patients. All health practitioners working with gender diverse people who have complex needs, who may have an atypical gender presentation and/or have complex physical and psychiatric co-morbidities can access this service. If you are interested in this service please contact Gender Clinic via e-mail genderclinic@monashhealth.org

Guidelines, education and training

Online group and community of practice

GPDU for Gender Affirming Healthcare provides a Facebook forum for GPs to ask other GPs questions about how to assist their trans, gender diverse and non-binary clients https://www.facebook.com/groups/483154695810266

Victorian Trans and Gender Diverse Health Community of Practice is a multidisciplinary monthly session run by Thorne Harbour Health, which include a presentation from an expert panel member and a case discussion. Contact tgdich@thorneharbour.org for more information.

HealthPathways Melbourne 

A referral guide for GPs in Melbourne.

HealthPathways West

A referral pathway for GP’s in Western Victoria.

Orygen Trans and Gender Diverse Mental Health Toolkit

These resources aim to build the knowledge and skills of youth mental health professionals to work inclusively and affirmatively with TGD young people and their families, and to create culturally responsive environments for TGD people engaging with mental health services.

TGDNB Online Training Module

A training module teaching TGDNB inclusive practices for Health Professionals

LGBTIQ people talk about their experiences accessing health care

A video by North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network