Trans people, surgeons and advocates argue a better system of public funding for the surgeries could cut costs for patients and hospitals, as well as address availability concerns.

A Department of Health spokesperson confirmed it had received an application requesting the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) consider publicly funding gender-affirmation surgery and consultations under Medicare.

Surgeons have told the ABC the lack of specific Medicare item numbers for gender-affirming surgeries means costs are unpredictable and not transparent, and some procedures aren’t covered.

Dr Goossen wants to see federal or state governments fund a certain amount of surgeries per year, like in New Zealand, reducing the need for patients to spend tens of thousands of dollars on the procedures.

To address the surgeon shortage, Dr Hart said the relevant medical societies and colleges could do more to introduce trainees to gender dysphoria theory and basic gender-affirming procedures.

“They spend years saving for surgery, and there’s often no option but to access their super and, of course, that has long-term implications down the road for their financial situation,” the researcher, who is trans and non-binary, said.

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