Trans-Affirmative Healthcare Pilot Clinic
A qualitative evaluation of service users’ and clinical advisors’ experiences.
Gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) significantly improves the quality of life for many gender-diverse people. However, it is currently difficult to access in Aotearoa. The lack of dedicated funding for transition-related services and shortage of trained health professionals, combined with increasing demand for GAHT, means people wait up to three years to be prescribed hormones in secondary care settings. Long wait times and lack of holistic support can have significant negative effects on gender-diverse people’s mental health and wellbeing.
This report presents findings and recommendations from a qualitative evaluation of the Trans-Affirmative Healthcare Pilot Clinic at Victoria University of Wellington's Student Health and Counselling Services (Mauri Ora). The pilot clinic provides gender-diverse students with an alternative, quicker way to access gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) based in a primary healthcare setting. The pilot clinic represents significant healthcare development in Aotearoa and is based on international best practice. This report provides stakeholders and healthcare providers with recommendations for future development of gender-diverse healthcare provision in Aotearoa.