Answers to Questions

Women's and Children's Hospital Gender Clinic

308 The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) ().18 October 2023).

1. How many and what proportion of children referred to the Women's and Children's Hospital gender clinic are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders?

2. How many and what proportion of children who are prescribed puberty blockers by the Women's and Children's Hospital gender clinic are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders?

3. How many and what proportion of children prescribed gender-affirming hormones by the Women's and Children's Hospital gender clinic are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders?

4. How many children being seen at the Women's and Children's Hospital gender clinic are currently under the protection of the state through the Minister for Child Protection, the Guardian for Children and Young People, the Child and Young Person Visitor, the Training Centre Visitor, the Minister for Human Services, or other such ministerial, commissioner, or similar position?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector): The Minister for Health and Wellbeing has been advised:

The Women's and Children's Hospital gender diversity clinicians accept referrals from general practitioners, psychiatrists, psychologists, and mental health professionals across South Australia for any child or young person up to the age of 17 years.

Adolescents who are under 16, or who lack decision-making capacity, require a parent/legal guardian to be aware of the appointment and to attend with them.

The Women's and Children's Health Network (WCHN) is accredited by the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS) against the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) standards.

Decisions as to treatment are clinical decisions made by clinicians registered by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, who must adhere to the codes and guidelines issued by national boards, for instance the Medical Board of Australia and the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

Statistics relating to the WCHN services are provided to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare for regular reporting.

As per standard practice, statistics relating to very small cohorts of patients are not regularly released as it may tend to be identifiable information as per section 93 of the Health Care Act 2008 and section 106 of the Mental Health Act 2009.