Members of the Hunter Valley's queer community have defended a "life-saving" youth gender-affirming clinic, while a parent of a child treated at the centre has raised concerns about its processes.
Maple Leaf House is a state-run clinic providing support for gender diverse youth, up to age 24.
NSW Health officials say children attending the clinic are thoroughly assessed before being given puberty-blocking medication.
During a budget estimates hearing for health, the committee chair Labor's Greg Donnelly voiced concerns about the practice.
Mr Donnelly, who has opposed same-sex marriage, abortion, allowing same-sex couples to adopt children and pushed for religious exemptions to assisted dying laws, criticised what is known as an "affirmative approach" to progressing children through a transition process.
Queer community defends clinic
Several parents of children treated at the centre have contacted the ABC in the wake of the story, some in support of the clinic's treatments and some against.
Parent representative of the Hunter Gender Alliance Robyn McLean, who is a mother of two gender diverse children in their 20s, said a lot of parents had been "quite distressed by the criticism".
"To them, it is a life-saving opportunity for their children to see these professionals and have the affirming help that they need," she said.
President of the alliance Jo Mills said the group completely supported the work of Maple Leaf House.
"We know from research here in Australia, and internationally, that children and young people who are able to access gender-affirming care have much improved outcomes in relation to mental health and overall wellbeing," they said.
"In particular, puberty-blocking treatment gives young people time to better understand themselves and their gender identity, rather than experiencing puberty and then going through much more invasive treatment at a later age."
Trans woman and vice president of the Australian Professional Association for Trans Health (AusPATH) Clara Tuck Meng Soo said NSW needed more multi-disciplinary diagnosis and support clinics, similar to Maple Leaf House.
"Transgender children and adolescents ... have incredibly high levels of mental health problems. A recent study showed that 50 per cent or more attempted or thought about self-harm," Dr Tuck Meng Soo said.
"We know from research that has been done that the provision of services [like this] ... makes a huge difference in mental health."
Not all feedback good
During the estimates hearing, Greg Donnelly claimed the "rapid movement" in relation to an affirmative approach was different to a "cautious approach" that was part of the official guidance in Sweden, France, Finland and the United Kingdom.
Rachel (real name withheld to protect the identity of her child) is a parent of a child treated at the centre, and said she was concerned at the speed in which her son was recommended to start hormone treatment.
"We got into our first appointment for the blockers and the endocrinologist came into the room and said, 'So when do you want to start hormones?'," she said.
"She said, 'We have got your parents' consent now', and I said 'No, no, you have got consent for the blockers, that is it'.
"It was a big push with not much consideration for maybe this isn't the end game here, it is not a one size fits all."
Rachel said her son later changed his mind on treatment, and she claimed it had adversely affected his mental health.
"Coming down off the blockers has caused all sorts of mental health issues, a massive crash," she said.
Hunter New England Health, which manages the clinic, said all children underwent a specialised assessment involving consultation with specialists in psychological medicine, adolescent medicine and endocrinology.
"Young people are only ever considered for puberty-blockers once this assessment has taken place," a spokesperson said in a statement.
Dr Tuck Meng Soo said psychologists were able to perform the necessary diagnosis.
"You do need mental health professionals who have training in this area, but I believe that a psychologist or a clinical psychologist can do a proper assessment," she said.
"Critics of this clinic often say, 'Oh it's all about putting a child in the gender-affirming treatment'. But the thing about this clinic is that it actually adopts a patient-centred approach."
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