Gender Affirming Surgeries

Host: Host: Ez (he/him)

This week on Tranzmission, Ez (he/him) sits down with Associate Professor Nicola Dean (she/her), one of Australia’s most respected reconstructive surgeons and a leading voice in improving access to gender‑affirming healthcare. Nicola’s career spans decades of surgical excellence and advocacy. As former President of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS), Nicola has worked at the forefront of strengthening surgical standards and pushing for equitable access to care including gender‑affirming surgeries (GAS). Nicola and Ez unpack: What gender‑affirming surgery actually looks like in Australia right now, The realities of the surgical workforce and pathways into this specialty, Common myths, misinformation, and disinformation surrounding GAS, The future of gender‑affirming care in Australia, Ongoing advocacy to get GAS included on the MBS (Medicare Benefits Schedule). They also discuss the latest developments with the MSAC application and why community input matters — you can read the report and make a submission here. A big, thoughtful, and nuanced conversation about surgery, systems, and the future of gender‑affirming care in Australia.

AusPATH Updates

Project 491 continues to grow — now supporting 48 families, with over $54,000 already provided in direct assistance. If you know someone impacted by the Queensland Government’s ban on access to gender‑affirming care, they can be referred for support. Find an informed‑consent provider via the new AusPATH Provider Page, Recommend clinicians to join the network, Host a fundraiser via the Crowdraiser tool, Reach out for support or enquiries, More info: 👉 https://auspath.org.au/ Follow: @auspathorg

Featured & Related Resources:

• Exclusive interview with Prof. Mark-Bram Bouman & A/Prof Nicola Dean
• Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons
• ASPS YouTube Channel
• The Plastic Surgeon & I podcast Our Bodies Our Stories - Ez chats with Dr Alys Saylor

Tranzmission Event:

• Join us at T.I.T. – Together in Tranzition a Project 491 fundraiser 🎟️ Tickets @ https://events.humanitix.com/t-i-t-together-in-transition

🔗 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
• 01:37 - Community News and Events - Links in notes
• 07:40 - T.I.T. Together In Transition @The Cave Inn, Thursday 23 July, 6 - 10pm
• 08:34 - AusPath: Project 491 Update
• 10:21 - Interview w/ Associate Professor Nicola Dean
• 56:27 - MSAC application - make a submission here

Community News and Events Links

News:

• Pink News: Trans woman prisoners in Scotland to be removed from female jails by 'PinkNews Reporter'
• Out in Perth: The Netherlands has banned conversion therapy by Graeme Watson
• QNews: Australian Government declines all UN LGBTQIA+ rights recommendations by Dani Maher
• QNews: Victoria’s Inquiry into anti-LGTBQIA+ hate crimes begins hearings today by Dani Maher

Events:

• Diverse Voices Free Peer Support and Safespace @The Gabba Ward Office, Tuesday 30th June, 12:00pm–3:00pm
• Logan Pride March and Picnic @Logan River Parklands, Saturday 4 July, 10am - 2pm
• Trans Justice Meanjin Project 491 Fundraiser @echo and bounce, Sunday July 12, 5pm
• T.I.T. Together In Transition @The Cave Inn, Thursday 23 July, 6 - 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

• Trans Justice Project
• Meanjin Peoples Pride
• Parents of Trans Kids Speak Out
• Protect Trans Kids QLD

4ZZZ's community lives and creates on Turrbal, Yuggera, and Jagera land. Sovereignty was never ceded.

Produced and recorded by Ez at 4zzz in Fortitude Valley, Meanjin/Brisbane Australia on Turrabul and Jaggera Country and audio and cover image edited by Tobi for podcast distribution for Creative Broadcasters Limited.