Queensland children with gender dysphoria are not being rushed or coerced into receiving puberty blockers or hormones, a review has found.
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But the state's Children's Gender Service is struggling with the number of kids receiving care and waiting to see a clinician.
An independent review of the service found there are 547 children across the state receiving care, 40 per cent from regional areas, while 490 are on waitlists.
Waiting times are between 25 and 577 days depending on the urgency for care.
Pressure from the extensive waitlists and ongoing debate around the care children with diverse gender experiences should receive is weighing on the service's operations.
However, the review found the service remains dedicated to its young patients and had an "unwavering focus and commitment" to the health care provided.
Gender-affirming care for young people has come under scrutiny globally with the controversial Cass review in the UK ultimately leading to the National Health Service restricting the use of puberty blockers in kids.
The Queensland review found about a third of children receiving care have undergone a comprehensive assessment and have been prescribed puberty blockers or gender-affirming hormones.
There was no evidence children or their families were hurried or coerced into receiving medical treatment like blockers or hormones.
The review said children are entitled to robust care regardless of the debate around puberty blockers and hormones and long term effects.
"The service ... supports the right of the child or adolescent with diverse gender experiences to express themselves and access health care".
Health Minister Shannon Fentiman said the care provided at the service was life-changing and often life-saving for children.
"I welcome the findings of this report, which shows based on the best available evidence, that our Queensland Children's Gender Service is considered one of the best in the country," she said.
Care is effective from "referral to discharge", the review found, and is in line with national and international guidelines.
The review made 25 recommendations including increasing staffing and implementing specific metrics to manage the waitlist.
It also recommended a network approach by partnering with hospitals to provide services statewide and eventually having Queensland's Children's Hospital operating as a tertiary centre for complex cases.
Ms Fentiman said the government accepted all the recommendations and would work to implement them.
The government also announced a funding boost of $2.6 million in the wake of the review bringing the total budget to $5.2 million each year.
Australian Associated Press
