We are a specialist clinic providing gender affirming care to people aged 16 and above living in the ACT. We are co-located within the Canberra Sexual Health Centre.
You need a referral from a GP or nurse practitioner to use this service.
About this service
We are a team of doctors, nurses, and psychologists. We aim to provide non-judgemental, safe, and inclusive gender care.
Our services are free and short- to medium-term. For long-term care, you will go back to your GP.
We provide:
- Gender affirming hormone therapy (GAHT)
- Transgender-inclusive sexual health care and education
- Short- to medium-term psychology support, including gender identity exploration and support with the transition process at any stage
- Help to link in with other services such as peer support and mental health services
- Advice on pathways for gender-affirming surgery, fertility preservation, speech pathology
- Some support for partners, families and parents
We do not provide:
- Gender affirming surgery
- Diagnosis or treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Crisis mental health care
- Long-term psychological support for mental health conditions
Who we care for
We care for trans, non-binary, and gender-diverse people who:
- are aged 16 and above, and
- live in the ACT, and
- are seeking gender-affirming medical care.
We cannot accept referrals for people who:
- are under age 16 (please refer to the Paediatric Gender Service at Canberra Health Services)
- do not live in the ACT
- are receiving paediatric gender care (e.g. puberty blockers)
How to access this service
You need a named referral from a GP or nurse practitioner. We will get in touch with you once we receive your referral.
What to expect
Appointments
Our service is appointment only and there is often a waitlist. Once your referral is reviewed, we will contact you to arrange your first and follow up appointments.
Your first appointment will be a long appointment (up to 2 hours) to help us get to know you and explore your goals and needs. You will meet with one of the doctors and sometimes also a nurse or psychologist. Our team work closely together to provide holistic gender care, and this means that you may continue to engage with different members of our team throughout your time with us.
Our follow-up appointments are usually 60-minutes long. You will often be asked to complete blood tests prior to attending a medical appointment.
Accessing Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy (GAHT)
Our service follows national and international guidelines (see our FAQ) to ensure we provide quality, safe, and evidence-based care to all clients and that we meet the legal standards of gender care in the ACT.
In line with these guidelines, for young people under age 18 wanting to start hormone therapy, we need:
- a detailed report (often called a WPATH assessment) by a psychologist or psychiatrist confirming:
- a diagnosis of Gender Dysphoria in Adolescence and
- that the young person has the maturity and capacity to consent to gender-affirming hormone therapy
We strongly encourage you to find a psychologist or psychiatrist who can complete this report for you prior to attending AGS, as this can reduce delays to treatment. AusPath provides a directory of select gender-affirming clinicians. Please reach out to us if you require help with this process.
- We will also need written consent by the young person and all legal guardians before treatment can start. This will be completed with our team at AGS.
Adults age 18 and over do not usually require a psychologist or psychiatrist report, but may be referred to a mental health clinician if we feel it will support your decision-making and wellbeing.
Our team will work with you to understand how we can help you access hormone treatment if it is one of your goals. If you are already seeing a psychologist or counsellor, we encourage you to stay linked in with them while you commence hormone therapy, as it can be helpful to speak to someone about the changes that may occur during treatment.
What to bring
- Medicare Card or ACT Services Card
- Any letters or correspondence from your GP
- Any reports from psychiatrists, psychologists, or other mental health clinicians
Where we're located
We are located within the Canberra Sexual Health Centre, Building 8, Level 4, Canberra Hospital.
See here for directions to the Canberra Sexual Health Centre and Canberra Hospital.
When you arrive, you will be greeted by our friendly reception team.
For enquiries, please call (02) 5124 2184:
- Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays between 9:00am and 4:30pm
- Wednesdays between 12:30 and 4:30pm.
Need another way to contact us?
If talking on the phone is hard for you, you can email us instead. Send your message to TCHSexualHealth@act.gov.au and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
Resources
Support Services
Peer Groups
- A Gender Agenda
- Minus 18 (age 12 to 19)
- Bit Bent (age 10 to 25)
- Queer Youth Together (age 12 to 24)
- SPECTRUM (age 16 to 25)
- LGBTIQ.Directory
For Parents and Caregivers
Mental Health Helplines
- QLife: 1800 184 527 3pm - midnight
- Lifeline: 13 11 14 24 hours
- Access Mental Health: 1800 629 354 24 hours
- Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 24 hours
- Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636 24 hours
- Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800 24 hours
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you perform physical examinations?
The AGS medical team do not perform physical examinations of genitals or chests unless clinically requested (e.g., if you have a sexual health concern) and only with your consent. We understand that talking about bodies can be difficult for many trans and gender diverse people. We provide choices about the most comfortable way to establish information about your physical body.
What if I just want to ask questions?
You are very welcome to call us to discuss our service and whether it is appropriate for your needs.
What if I'm unsure if medical treatment is for me?
There is no right or wrong way to be trans or gender diverse, and pursuing medical treatment is not a requirement. We can provide information regarding the treatment options and help you consider the risks and benefits, but the choice of whether to start or stay on treatment is always up to you.
What can I and/or my family do while waiting for an appointment?
Reviewing resources and information can be helpful for some people. We recommend having a look at the ‘Resources’ section below.
Consider contacting Gender Pathways, run by A Gender Agenda, to get more information about support options and connect with the gender diverse community in the ACT.
If you are under age 18 and want to start hormone therapy, we encourage you find a psychologist or psychiatrist who can provide a report confirming a diagnosis of gender dysphoria and your ability to consent to hormone treatment (see section on “What to expect’ above).
Please complete any blood tests requested by your GP as part of your referral.
What guidelines does the AGS use?
We are guided by the:
- Australian Standards of Care and Treatment Guidelines for Trans and Gender Diverse Children and Adolescents (Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, 2023)
- Australian Standards for Informed Consent for Gender Affirming Hormone Treatment (Australian Professional Association for Trans Health, 2025)
- Standards of Care for the Health of Transgender and Gender Diverse People (World Professional Association for Transgender Health, 2022)
Information for Referrers
Please see Community HealthPathways for detailed referral criteria and information.
Referrals should be addressed to one of the following:
- Dr Fabiola Martin
- Dr Sarah Martin
- Dr Luke Cannon.
We can only accept referrals electronically via Healthlink.