Dr Jillian Spencer is a hero and must be highly commended for holding the line in the face of aggressive actions by her employer and Children’s Health Queensland (CHQ) who have treated her in an appalling manner.

Dr Spencer has won her battle and CHQ have admitted they were wrong.

The senior psychiatrist has endured three long years of legal action to have her name cleared and her actions justified. As an advocate for children Dr Spencer questioned the lack of data and research to support harmful medical interventions for gender distressed youth. She was stood down and lost her job for attempting to safeguard children.

Finally CHQ have admitted their wrongdoing and made a confidential settlement. Let’s hope this encourages other medical practitioners to do the right thing and also stand up to gender ideologues within the health care industry.

The CHQ HHS acknowledges that these are matters of legitimate professional and public debate, and that clinicians play an important role in raising concerns about patient safety and clinical practice. Dr Spencer has been a strong advocate for change in Queensland in the model of care for children and adolescents experiencing gender dysphoria. One of the features of the clinical approach that Dr Spencer has sought is the delay in medical interventions for such patients until adulthood, including puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones, because they are serious decisions regarding their body and long-term health.

CHQ HHS accepts that Dr Spencer’s concerns were grounded in her training and background as an experienced child and adolescent psychiatrist.

In 2025, in accordance with the Health Service Directive titled ‘Treatment of Gender Dysphoria in Children and Adolescents with Hormone Therapy’ dated 28 January 2025 and Ministerial Directions titled ‘Treatment of Gender Dysphoria in Children and Adolescents with Hormone Therapy’ dated 28 October 2025 and 15 January 2026, the State Government effected a temporary pause on the use of puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones in the treatment of new patients in Hospital and Health Services across Queensland.

CHQ HHS acknowledges that health practitioners must take a clinical approach to the treatment of gender dysphoria that focuses on the best available research and the child’s best interests rather than directing a child down a pre-determined treatment pathway. Health practitioners must employ a holistic clinical approach that comprehensively assesses all relevant factors – including any comorbidities or other mental health conditions – and use information gathered from that process to determine the best available mode of treatment and care for the patient.

CHQ HHS also acknowledges Dr Spencer’s service and her contributions to child and adolescent psychiatry during her tenure.