Proposed educational guidelines for the Northern Territory have exposed some serious concerns, including the facilitation of transitioning treatments of children without parental knowledge or consent. 

The proposal has been scrapped but no updated policy has been provided. 

The draft guidelines – sent to some groups last year for consultation – offered schools advice on how to help children who were questioning their gender.

“Circumstances may arise where a child requests to change their name and gender without the support of their parents and without consulting a counsellor or medical practitioners,” the draft guidelines say.

“The decision to proceed should be made based on the school’s duty of care for the child’s wellbeing and their level of maturity to make their own decisions about their needs. In general, if the child is under the age of 14, parental consent is necessary.

“A child aged 14 and above may be considered a mature minor who has the capacity to make their own decisions. This will depend on their level of maturity, understanding, intelligence, level of independence and ability to express their own wishes.

“Seek the advice of a colleague, health-promoting nurse or the school psychologist if unsure of whether a minor is competent.”

The NT government insists it does not agree with the policy and has made statements to distance itself from the alarming advice claiming it was “absolutely 100 per cent not government policy”.

Binary spokeswoman, Kirralie Smith, said parents need to beware.

“Victoria and other Australian states have toyed with, or implemented, very similar policies,” she said.

“Any government policy that denies parental rights must be exposed and opposed.

“There is no place in our society for this kind of government overreach into our families. Children must be protected from radical extremists. The education system is no place for such radical activism.”