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This week on Tranzmission, Ez and Bette speak with specialist sexual health physician Dr Stuart Aitken, one of Queensland’s most experienced clinicians in gender‑affirming care. Stuart reflects on the origins of the Queensland Children’s Gender Service, how the first multidisciplinary gender clinic for trans youth was built, and what it took to shift a health system that had never been designed with trans young people in mind.
Stuart also discusses current research connected to the establishment of the gender clinic, including work from psychologist Olivia Donaghy’s PhD — a series of four studies developed alongside the clinic’s creation GeMS: Gender Mapping Study 2017–2021. Bette & Stuart explore how this research fits into the broader evidence base and why it matters for young people and families seeking care.
It’s a thoughtful, in‑depth discussion with one of the country's leading clinicians who helped shape the landscape of trans health in Queensland, and a look at what comes next for young people, families and the community.
🔗 If you'd like to listen back to the unedited episode - with the music - head to our On Demand website. And don't forget to follow our socials at Facebook and Instagram.
Timestamps and Links:
- 00:00 - Acknowledgement of Country
- 00:20 - Welcome to Tranzmission: Where Trans Voices Are Welcome
- 02:01 - T.I.T. Together In Transition - There's Prizes!
- 03:24 - Community News and Events
- 08:29 - Dr Stuart Aitken: Introduction
- 11:12 - Dr Stuart Aitken: Origins of the Gender Clinic & Early Landscape
- 15:51 - Clinician Pathways: AusPath, Gender Affirming Network, GP's Down Under, and Other Local and Supportive Clinicians
- 17:40 - Dr Stuart Aitken: Career Journey, Motivation & Personal Commitment
- 21:45 - Dr Stuart Aitken: Ministerial Consent, Puberty Blockers, and Barriers to Care
- 30:59 - Research w/ Bette: 'Screening adolescent transgender-related distress: Gender preoccupation and stability questionnaire demonstrates excellent criterion validity with multi-disciplinary, pediatric gender specialist assessment' - Donaghy, Cobham, Lin (2024) and ARCTYC
- 49:47 - Dr Stuart Aitken and Olivia Donaghy's Partnership
- 52:44 - Dr Stuart Aitken: Activism, Advocacy, & the Future of Gender‑Affirming Care - 'Fostering Gender-IQ: Barriers and Enablers to Gender-affirming Behavior Amongst an Australian General Practitioner Cohort' - Franks, Nia et al. (2024)
Clinics Mentioned in Podcast
- Gender Health Australia
- Gladstone Road Medical Centre
- Stonewall Medical Centre and Sexual Health Clinic
- Holdsworth House Medical Brisbane Closure and future Stonewall Medical Centre in Windsor
Community News and Events Links
News:
- Star Observer: Amnesty Removes Anti-Rights Report After Backlash From JK Rowling And Gender-Critical Groups by Patrick Lenton
- Q News: {Hopes for new Tasmanian ban on conversion practices}(https://qnews.com.au/hopes-for-new-tasmanian-ban-on-conversion-practices/) by Rodney Croome
- ABC News: Queensland hospital settles dispute with psychiatrist Dr Jillian Spencer over gender care by Janelle Miles and Emma Pollard
- Q News: Rainbow Families set the record straight, perfectly unpacking online hate by Dean Arcuri
Events:
- Trinket Trove's Instagram in Indropilly
- Gay Skate Wear It Purple @Skateaway Albany Creek, Thursday 23 August, 5pm
- Trans Joy Meanjin @New Farm Library Meeting Room, Sunday 26 July, 1:30pm
- T.I.T. Together In Transition @The Cave Inn, Thursday 23 July, 6 - 10pm
- INBD: I’m Not Binary Day community celebration @Newmarket Hall Sunday 4 October, 2 - 10pm
Support Services
- QLife - 1800 184 527
- QC LGBT Mental Health Services
- Open Doors Youth Services Inc.
- LifeLine - 13 11 14
- Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636
- How to Support Transgender & Gender-questioning Youth
- Transgender Map
Get Involved
💿 This week's playlist:
- Baby Mullet (@baby_mullet) - Never Knew
- LXRP (@lxrpforever) - Pinata
- The Snouts (@thesnoutsband) - Sunset
- Pearly Stars (@pearlystarsband) - Sympathy
- Kitty Of The Valley (@kittyofthevalley_) - Krautrock
- My Guardian Angel (@myguardianangel333) - Bluebird
- Spice World (@spiceworld_____) - Connie
- Laura Jane Grace (@laurajanegrace) - Shelter In Place
- Rae Spoon (@raespoon) ft. Cassia Hardy (@cassia.hardy )- Can't Fail Me
- Maddie Morris (@maddiemorrismusic) - Live Off Roses
4ZZZ's community lives and creates on Turrbal, Yuggera, and Jagera land. Sovereignty was never ceded.
Produced and recorded by Ez for Tranzmission at 4zzz in Fortitude Valley, Meanjin/Brisbane Australia on Turrabul and Jaggera Country and edited by Tobi for podcast distribution for Creative Broadcasters Limited.
