Nation-leading ACT legislation will protect the rights and choices of intersex people in medical settings, following the passing of the Variations in Sex Characteristics (Restricted Medical Treatment) Bill.

The new legislation establishes legal protections and processes to support informed decision-making about major medical treatments for intersex people. It also aims to involve the person themselves in decision-making about permanent medical treatments affecting their bodies.

The legislation is complemented by a suite of actions to increase the capacity of the health system to support care in this area.

For the first time a dedicated care coordinator within Canberra Health Services has been appointed to support doctors, intersex people, and their families. The changes will increase the level of support for patients and families, including for their treatment decision-making, and provide critical connections to peer support services.

New supports and resources are being prepared to support health workers. This includes training materials to help all health professionals understand their responsibilities, and to give them new information resources, to implement the new scheme. There will also be steps taken to raise community awareness of intersex variations and their care.

The ACT Government is making a significant investment to help ensure that the reform is a success, and that intersex people get the best possible care and support.

The ACT is the fourth jurisdiction in the world, and the first in the southern hemisphere, to introduce law-based reform of this type. It is the first in the world to introduce an integrated package that combines law reform with new services and a new model of care. The reform has been developed through extensive consultation with the community and health sector.

The reforms become operational from around December 2023, with full implementation in 2024.

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