Australian transgender and gender diverse children can now access stage two
hormonal treatment without seeking court authorisation, due to a landmark
court ruling in Re Kelvin.16 However, the removal of the requirement of court
authorisation does not extend to children in the out-of-home care or youth
justice systems.17
Since 2008, the number of infant deaths (children less than one year of age) has
decreased. Since 2001, the death rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
infants also decreased, but it is still almost twice the rate of all infants.18 There is
still no regular national report on all causes of death for Australian children
under the age of 18 years.
Although the teenage birth rate is at a historic low, teenagers in rural and
remote areas experience young parenthood at four times the rate of their
metropolitan counterparts.19 Surveys of young people show that contraceptive
knowledge is low.
The misuse of drugs and alcohol is a major cause of preventable disease and
illness in Australians. Government-funding remains primarily focused on law
enforcement and treatment.20 Lack of data for children under the age of 18
years is a significant issue in terms of assessing drug and substance abuse.21
The practice of male circumcision is sometimes conducted for non-therapeutic
purposes and infants are unable to give consent, giving rise to human rights
concerns.22 Better data that distinguishes between therapeutic and nontherapeutic male circumcisions would enhance our understanding of male
circumcision in Australia.
16