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Why the Australia Institute Supports The Voice to Parliament

 — Organisation: The Australia Institute — 

The Australia Institute is a longstanding supporter of a constitutionally enshrined Voice, as articulated in the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

Research is the cornerstone of the Australia Institute’s work. There is a significant body of research—led by First Nations people—about the Voice to Parliament, where it came from, how it is likely to work, and how it would help solve the chronic gaps between outcomes for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, and to this substantial body of work we simply want to add our support.

The Voice will deliver on the call made in the Uluru Statement from the Heart. It will enrich our democracy and help make Australia a more just nation.

The need for the Voice to be constitutionally enshrined
We recognise the need for the Voice to be constitutionally enshrined (and not merely legislated) because every federal government body ever established to represent the interests of First Nations Australians has been abolished. The most recent example is the abolition of ATSIC, which was legislated out of existence in 2005. Nearly 20 years have passed without a viable replacement, and Indigenous disadvantage has only worsened. Reconciliation depends on listening to the voices of First Nations people, and the channels of communication must not be so easily severed. One noteworthy exception to this pattern is the Torres Strait Regional Authority, which has effectively represented the interests of Torres Strait Islanders since it was established in the 1990s.

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A Better Stage 3

 — Organisation: The Australia Institute — 

Re-examining the policy presents the Albanese government with the opportunity to deliver bigger and fairer tax cuts to most Australians while providing scope for greater spending on infrastructure, programs or benefits

The post A Better Stage 3 appeared first on The Australia Institute.

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The Hidden Political Expenditure of Australian Corporations

 — Organisation: The Australia Institute — 

Most do not outline clear policies to address political donations, political expenditure or the revolving door between politics and business. Neither the law nor stock exchange rules require them to do so, and few do it willingly.

These are some of the key findings of one of the most detailed and extensive analysis of corporate political expenditure in Australia ever conducted.

The Australia Institute commissioned corporate governance and responsible investment solutions provider ISS-ESG1 to assess the corporate expenditure disclosures, policies and oversight of 75 of the 100 largest companies on the Australian stock exchange (ASX).

The post The Hidden Political Expenditure of Australian Corporations appeared first on The Australia Institute.

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Submission: 2022 Victorian State Election Inquiry

 — Organisation: The Australia Institute — 

Reforms to Victoria’s Legislative Council should ensure proportionality and representativeness by adopting a state-wide electorate. Victoria’s political finance laws seem to unfairly disadvantage challengers, to the benefit of incumbents.

The post Submission: 2022 Victorian State Election Inquiry appeared first on The Australia Institute.

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Submission: Money and Power in Victorian Elections

 — Organisation: The Australia Institute — 

Two of the changes with the most serious ramifications are the imposition of a donation cap (around $4,000 each four-year electoral cycle) and a dramatic increase in public funding.

This submission focuses on the effects of the 2018 changes on political influence and power.

The post Submission: Money and Power in Victorian Elections appeared first on The Australia Institute.

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Going Backwards

 — Organisation: The Australia Institute — 

Hundreds of thousands of NDIS participants rely on this workforce to provide personal support and care on a daily basis.

The NDIS workforce is large and growing, currently employing about a quarter of a million workers, mostly women. Pay, working conditions and career opportunities in the disability support workforce are critical to the future of women’s economic equality in Australia.

It is a decade since the NDIS was first piloted, yet the promise for workers, that the scheme would translate into ‘greater pay, … better working conditions … (and) enough resources to do the job properly’ has not been fulfilled.

Rather, conditions of work in the NDIS are poor and deteriorating.

The design of the NDIS, with its market basis and poor and uneven regulatory oversight, has undermined fair pay and working conditions for disability support workers and is threatening workforce stability.

This briefing paper reviews this evidence and argues for significant reforms to address urgent problems arising from these design flaws and regulatory failures.

The post Going Backwards appeared first on The Australia Institute.

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Submission: Climate Change Authority Modelling

 — Organisation: The Australia Institute — 

The Australia Institute has provided input to the Climate Change Authority’s (CCA) consultation on Economic Modelling.

Considering that Australia’s current Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) toward the Paris Climate Agreement is “insufficient” against our fair share for a 1.5°C or 2°C warmed world, research supporting an ambitious 2035 NDC is hugely important.

We are concerned, however, that the modelling project as outlined in the consultation paper Economic modelling of potential Australian emissions reduction pathways is too narrow.

The consultation paper lays out that the Authority “does not propose to use this modelling exercise to assess the economic effects of physical climate change impacts, or the benefits (avoided economic costs) of greater reductions in global emissions.”

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Profit-Price Inflation: Theory, International Evidence, and Policy Implications

 — Organisation: The Australia Institute — 

The report, compiled by Dr Jim Stanford (Economist and Director of the Centre for Future Work), with contributions from several other economists at the Centre and the Australia Institute, confirms that higher corporate profits still account for most of the rise in economy-wide unit prices in Australia since the pandemic struck.

The good news is that corporate profits have begun to moderate, as global supply chains are repaired, shortages of strategic commodities dissipate, and consumer purchasing patterns adjust after the pandemic. This has occurred alongside a reduction in inflation of over half since early 2022 (falling from a peak of 8.9% annualised in early 2022 to 3.4% by June 2023). This further confirms the close correlation between corporate profits and inflation — but both profits and inflation need to fall further.

The report also reviews the methodology and findings of over 35 international studies confirming the existence of profit-led inflation across many industrial countries (including Australia). The methodology and findings of these studies are very similar to that utilised by the Australian Institute and the Centre for Future Work in previous research on profit-led inflation.

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Food Waste in Australia

 — Organisation: The Australia Institute — 

Based on industry average profit margins, food retailers make $1.2 billion profit from this waste.

This gives the major supermarkets a strong incentive to resist policy changes that would reduce food waste, such as reform of best-before labels.

Opinion polling for this report shows that a clear majority of Australians support various regulatory reforms to reduce food waste—including, notably, overwhelming support (78%) for reforming use-by and best-before date labelling and 72% support for relaxed cosmetic standards. While there is clear support for regulatory changes, 81% of respondents also see reducing food waste as at least partly the responsibility of individual consumers.

This emphasis on individual responsibility will sound familiar to observers of many policy debates: the way in which the responsibility for addressing systemic problems is either allowed to fall on, or actively re-routed onto, individuals and their actions, rather than on the implementation of systemic change by governments and industry. This will need to change if Australia’s food waste targets are to be met.

The post Food Waste in Australia appeared first on The Australia Institute.

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Climate of the Nation 2023

 — Organisation: The Australia Institute — 

For many Australians, 2023 has been defined by the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. The spiralling costs of consumer goods, along with persistently high petrol and energy prices, have left households struggling to make ends meet.

Nevertheless, even with the overwhelming and understandable distraction caused by inflation and ever-growing interest rates, climate change remains at the forefront of the nation’s consciousness. Over 70% of Australians say that they are concerned about climate change and its impacts, including the potential it has to compound existing cost-of-living pressures.

Concern about climate change remains high despite cost-of-living crisis

In 2023, Climate of the Nation asked for the first time about Australians’ concerns regarding the impact of climate change on the cost of living. Three in four (75%) say they are concerned about more expensive insurance premiums, and the same proportion (75%) are concerned about disruptions to supply chains making it harder to buy necessities.

The top three climate impacts of concern are more droughts and flooding affecting crop production and food supply (80%), more bushfires (79%) and the extinction of animal and plant species (79%).

Australians oppose new gas, coal and oil projects and fossil fuel subsidies

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Submission: Consultants: corrosive and conflicted

 — Organisation: The Australia Institute — 

The NSW Government should reduce its use of consultants and have firmer rules for the consultants it does use.

NSW Parliament should consider limiting political donations from contractors, an order for papers for consultants reports and requiring consultants to appear before Estimates.

The Australia Institute’s submission makes the following recommendations:

  1. Oversight of the NSW Government’s use of consultants be strengthened.
  2. Include public sector capacity building in consultancy contracts.
  3. Improve data on the NSW Government’s use of consultants.
  4. Publish a clear and strict revolving door policy for public servants.
  5. The NSW Parliament issue a standing order for papers, for the production of consultant reports and advice.
  6. The NSW Parliament consider whether consulting firms could be called before Budget Estimates when they have taken government work.
  7. The NSW Government and Parliament review whether a ban on political donations and other contributions from big government contractors, including consulting firms, would be appropriate and, if so, how it might be implemented.

The post Submission: Consultants: corrosive and conflicted appeared first on The Australia Institute.

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NeuRizer underground coal gasification project – economic considerations

 — Organisation: The Australia Institute — 

Coal gasification is a polluting, costly and outdated technology. The NeuRizer proposal would bring no economic benefit and significant environmental risks. It should not receive federal or state government approval.

The post NeuRizer underground coal gasification project – economic considerations appeared first on The Australia Institute.

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Community-owned wind: Lessons from Denmark

 — Organisation: The Australia Institute — 

Renewables and wind in Australia, % of total power

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The 8th Deadly Innocent Fraud of Economic Policy

 — Organisation: Understanding MMT — 

Myth:

  1. Raising interest rates works to slow the economy, increase unemployment, and bring down inflation.
  2. Reducing interest rates works to support the economy, reduce unemployment, and increase inflation.

Fact:

The Fed has it backwards.

Rate increases cause government deficit spending to increase and support the economy, reduce unemployment, and support inflation.

And cutting rates reduces government deficit spending which reduces economic growth, employment, and inflation. 

When the Fed announces a rate increase, the only thing that changes for the government is that the Fed increases the interest it pays out to the economy (on reserves and on reverse repurchase accounts). The Treasury pays out more interest to the economy on new securities that it issues, called Treasury bills, notes, and bonds. 

Furthermore, as the rate increases are not done in conjunction with offsetting tax increases, the increase in government interest expense is all new deficit spending that’s added to the US government’s budget. In short, Fed rate hikes continuously flood the economy with new money. 

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The Real Cost of War

 — Organisation: Understanding MMT — 

The Claim:

Completely False
100%
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Does the Government Create Money?

 — Organisation: Understanding MMT — 

The Claim:

Completely False
100%
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Webinar – The Multisolving Way

 — Organisation: Multisolving Institute — 
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Intergenerational Effects of Government Borrowing

 — Organisation: Understanding MMT — 

We hear a lot about the supposed intergenerational effects of government borrowing. Apparently, if the government borrows ‘too much’ now, it will impose a financial burden on future generations. People living in the future will have to pay for our government’s current spending in excess of taxation. For example, current Fed Chair Jerome Powell argues, ‘Over the long run, of course, it [government debt] does [matter]. You know, we’re effectively … borrowing from future generations. And every generation really should pay for the things that it, that it needs. It can cause the federal government to buy the things that it needs for it, but it really should pay for those things and not hand the bills to our children and grandchildren’.

So, is such a view justified? Fortunately, the answer is no. The argument expressed above is based upon a profound misunderstanding if the actual nature of the monetary system in general and government debt in particular. It is founded on the erroneous view that the US government is a currency-user and needs to acquire funds from taxes to pay the value of bonds when they mature. It is also based on the idea that at some point in the future, the total level of outstanding government debt needs to be paid down to zero (or at least reduced in size). From this perspective, future taxpayers will be handing over their money to pay down the public debt, which will become especially troublesome if the public debt gets ‘too big’ now.

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Modern Monetary Theory, As I Understand It

 — Organisation: Understanding MMT — 

Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) is a framework for understanding government fiscal policy, taxation, and money creation and how they affect the economy. It offers a way of thinking about deficits, debt, and the role the government can play in achieving public purpose. Tax liabilities come first, allowing government spending that provides an initial injection of currency that enables tax compliance and directs economic activity. This spending initiates aggregate demand and contributes to macroeconomic conditions.

Modern Money Systems and Differing Currency Regimes

Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) reveals how the monetary operations and policy limitations vary for governments under different monetary regimes such as flexible exchange rates (examples include the U.S., Japan, the Euro area, and the UK), fixed exchange rates (such as those in, Bulgaria and Saudi Arabia), currency boards (like Hong Kong), and dollarization scenarios (seen in Ecuador and El Salvador). MMT explores the differences in policy options that governments experience without self-imposed restrictions compared to those operating under a variety of restrictions, including fixed exchange rates and monetary unions.

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Is a Universal Basic Income the Answer to Rising Inequality?

 — Organisation: Understanding MMT — 

Dr Steven Hail discusses universal basic income versus genuine job guarantee schemes to offset accelerating technological change and rising inequality.

WE LIVE IN AN ERA of inequality, relative poverty, social exclusion, insecurity and underemployment.

e are told that accelerating technological change will wipe out millions of jobs and drive us even further towards a society of “haves” – in their well-paid jobs made productive by cheap, robotic work-mates and “have-nots”  driven out of paid employment by the androids.

For many, the obvious answer to all this is a universal basic income (UBI) — an unconditional payment made to all adults, so that they can still function as consumption machines and at least survive – even though there are no jobs left for them to do.

In a sense, a UBI can certainly be afforded by currency-issuing governments. Those governments are hardly going to run out of the currencies they issue.

But there are some problems with a UBI:

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Where Does the Magic Money Tree Grow?

 — Organisation: Understanding MMT — 

The term ‘magic money tree’ is much beloved by the critics of modern monetary theory (MMT). Their story of the magic money tree begins with money’s traditional creation myth; money springs from barter and represents a cost-saving alternative to barter [1]. In the story, money is a private-sector invention, and only later do governments get in on the act. According to their fable, private sector business generates money from ‘productive’ activity. The state siphons off some of this ‘proper’ money in the form of taxation in order to fund public services.

This is an often wasteful and invariably inefficient process. The government can, of course, borrow money from the private sector, but this brings its own dangers; borrowing must be repaid, and it places a burden on future taxpayers. Of course, the higher borrowing will raise interest rates, adding to the supposed intergenerational burden. This was famously noted by Margaret Thatcher.

“The state has no source of money, other than the money people earn themselves. If the state wishes to spend more it can only do so by borrowing your savings, or by taxing you more. And it’s no good thinking that someone else will pay. That someone else is you.”
“There is no such thing as public money. There is only taxpayers’ money.”

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Modern Monetary Theory Opens a Range of Economic Possibilities

 — Organisation: Understanding MMT — 

NEARLY 30 YEARS AGO, a New York fund manager named Warren Mosler noticed a discrepancy between what he saw day-to-day in his interactions with the Federal Reserve and the way almost all academic economists write about money. The way they write, you would think currency-issuing governments need to tax before they can spend — Mosler noticed it is the other way around.

Getting this wrong is not trivial. It biases policy narratives. It misleads politicians into thinking that there is something inherently good or sustainable about budget surpluses. It misleads them into worrying about finding the money to meet their commitments when that is the wrong question to ask.

Mosler wrote a book called Soft Currency Economics and reached out to the leading lights of the profession, eventually discovering a group who were interested enough to discuss his ideas. The group called themselves post-Keynesians, although, in fact, they are the modern-day economists who remain closest to the works of the great 20th-century economist John Maynard-Keynes.

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Social Security is Not a Ponzi Scheme

 — Organisation: Understanding MMT — 

This post was previously published in 2011 and 2017 at other locations. It is republished here with permission and references President Trump’s then OMB Director, Rick Mulvaney.

Mulvaney spread the myth among the American public, and there is a good possibility that if a re-elected Trump decides to push the line that the austerity hawks are selling, then he, too, will begin to call Social Security “a ponzi scheme” too.

And then he will use that meme as a rationale for delivering the $2.8 Trillion in its special Treasury bond accounts to the private sector. Now, here is my previous post on the “Ponzi scheme” fairy tale.

Rick Perry’s loose talk about Social Security being a Ponzi scheme, is generating a lot of contrary ink, or electronic bits as the case may be. Cullen Roche has provided an excellent analysis, accompanied by a great discussion which begins this way.

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Jerome Powell Spreads National “Debt” Myth

 — Organisation: Understanding MMT — 

The Claim:

Completely False
100%
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Webinar – FLOWER: Visualizing Solutions for Equity, Climate, and Health

 — Organisation: Multisolving Institute — 
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Healey-Driscoll Administration Launches Climate Science Advisory Panel; Dr. Sawin named as panelist

 — Organisation: Multisolving Institute — 

Massachusetts Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll launched a Climate Science Advisory Panel through the new Massachusetts Office of Climate Science (OCS). Multisolving Institute Director and Founder Dr. Elizabeth Sawin has been named to serve as a panelist.

“The creation of the Climate Science Advisory Panel will be a tremendous resource as we integrate climate action into every agency in state government,” said Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer. “We must commit to following the latest scientific findings and expand our whole-of-government approach to tackle future extreme climate events. The guidance provided by these experts will ensure that we have the latest data to promote public awareness of climate change and to make the best decisions for our communities.”

Read the full press release here.

The post Healey-Driscoll Administration Launches Climate Science Advisory Panel; Dr. Sawin named as panelist appeared first on Multisolving Institute.

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Multisolving: Making Systems Whole, Healthy, and Sustainable

 — Organisation: Multisolving Institute — 
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Multisolving for Resilience: RITA Summit Recap

 — Organisation: Multisolving Institute — 
On August, 7th Multisolving Institute Director Beth Sawin joined a panel on Community, Reciprocity, and Sustainability at the Loka Initiative’s Resilience in the Anthropocene [RITA] Summit. She spoke about four principles that can build resilience to environmental shocks in communities. We share her remarks below:

I have four principles for building community resilience I’d like to offer today. I’ll get to those four quickly, but first— two pieces of background so they make more sense. I live in Vermont, and we have been getting slammed with climate change impacts. Some have made the national news, but the disasters are ongoing.

Picture a small mountainous state, with settlements in river valleys, especially for less affluent Vermonters. Then picture a very rainy June, waterlogged soils. Then picture in one weekend in early July, six to nine inches of rain in just a few days — that’s when four to five inches is normal for the whole month. That’s the flooding that made national news. We’ve had storm after storm since then, including one that dropped another six inches on part of the state. It rained all night last night.

In my thoughts, you’ll hear this reality in Vermont but please know I’m offering the specifics to illustrate general principles that I believe apply everywhere. So please listen, beyond the specifics, for what these examples might mean for your place.

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Multisolving: How Do You Know It When You See It?

 — Organisation: Multisolving Institute — 

Multisolvers work at all scales and across many sectors. Yet they have four practices in common.

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Disaster Recovery Efforts Can Serve More than One Goal

 — Organisation: Multisolving Institute — 

This opinion piece from Dr. Sawin stems from the devastating July 2023 floods that took place in Vermont.

“A multisolving recovery would ensure that every dollar and every hour of investment serves more than one goal,” Sawin said.  “It would design for the future that’s coming, not the past we once knew. It would expand the idea of recovery to include nature and community, as well as bridges and roads.”

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Elizabeth Sawin speaks on multisolving in two new podcasts

 — Organisation: Multisolving Institute — 

In two new podcasts, Multisolving Institute Founder and Director Elizabeth Sawin talks multisolving and system thinking. Read below to learn more.

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Climate Leadership and Multisolving: A Conversation With Katharine Wilkinson of The All We Can Save Project

 — Organisation: Multisolving Institute — 

Join Multisolving Institute Founder and Director Beth Sawin on Thurs., July 28 at 12pm ET for a conversation with Katharine Wilkinson, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the The All We Can Save Project. Grounded in Dr. Wilkinson’s expertise in and vision of a leaderful and feminist climate movement, the conversation will explore the ways in which the climate crisis is also a leadership crisis. What type of leadership is needed today? How can we each find our unique contribution?

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Racial Equity and Multisolving: A Conversation With Nathaniel Smith of Partnership for Southern Equity

 — Organisation: Multisolving Institute — 

Join Multisolving Institute Founder and Director Beth Sawin on Wed., May 4th at 12pm ET for a conversation with Nathaniel Smith, who serves as Founder and Chief Equity Officer of the Partnership for Southern Equity (PSE). PSE advances policies and institutional actions that promote racial equity and shared prosperity for all in metropolitan Atlanta and the American South. Nathaniel is also a member of the Multisolving Institute Advisory Board.

In the webinar we will explore Nathaniel’s definition of racial equity, why racial equity must be a central focus of multisolving, and learn more about PSE’s approach to advancing racial equity in health, energy, economic opportunity, and land use. This webinar is the first in Multisolving Institute’s series of conversations about multisolving with leaders in the US and internationally.


Register for Webinar

Read below to learn more about Nathaniel Smith and the work of PSE.

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Trans Women in Sport: What Does the Science Say?

 — Organisation: Trans Health Research — 

Authors: Dr Sav Zwickl, Eli Ward-Smith, and A/Prof Ada Cheung


Content warning: This blog contains reference to exclusion of, and discrimination against, trans people in sport.


 

A trans woman jogging outdoors, wearing headphones

A trans woman jogging. Credit: FG Trade via iStock.


In recent years, significant attention has been directed at trans women in sport. This has included the spread of misinformation and disinformation including inaccurate depictions of trans athletes in the media. In turn, some international, national, and local sporting bodies have developed policies regarding trans women that are based on opinion rather than scientific evidence.


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Yes, Trans People Are Still Being Refused Health Care in Australia

 — Organisation: Trans Health Research — 

Authors: Dr Sav Zwickl and Tomi Ruggles


Content warning: This blog focuses on anti-trans discrimination in healthcare settings, including personal stories from trans individuals about their discrimination experiences.



A trans person sitting on a hospital bed, their hair tied back, looking sadly at their doctor

A trans person sitting on a hospital bed, while their doctor looks at a digital tablet. Image credit: FG Trade via iStock.


The Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights clearly states that all people in Australia have the right to be treated with dignity and respect and to have their culture, identity, beliefs and choices recognised and respected when receiving health care.  This includes trans and gender diverse (trans) people.


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Why is There a Shortage of Oestrogen Patches in Australia... Again?

 — Organisation: Trans Health Research — 

Author: A/Prof Ada Cheung



A woman sitting and applying a HRT patch to her leg

A woman applying an oestrogen patch to her leg. Image credit: svetikd via iStock.


Many cisgender and trans people rely on oestrogen hormone therapy – but the recurring national shortages of patches look set to continue.


Since 2020 or so, there have been recurring national shortages of oestrogen transdermal patches in Australia.


These easy-to-use skin patches are applied to the skin like a sticker and deliver oestrogen directly into the bloodstream. They contain the hormone oestradiol, an oestrogen that is naturally produced in the human body and in people recorded female at birth, it has a major role in maturing and maintaining the reproductive system. Oestradiol is also important for bone health, heart health, and maintaining mental health and wellbeing.


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Non-Binary People and Gender-Affirming Hormones and Surgeries

 — Organisation: Trans Health Research — 

Authors: Dr Sav Zwickl, Tomi Ruggles, and Joël Murray


Content Warning: Brief mention of healthcare discrimination, gender-affirming surgeries using medical terms for body parts, and mental health. There is also a photograph of a non-binary person holding a syringe, about to inject testosterone.


Note: It is generally recommended that non-binary people are not divided up according to their sex recorded at birth, as this can shift the focus from gender towards sex in a way that can undermine non-binary identities and experiences. However, in some cases, this categorisation is important, including where there are notable differences based on sex recorded at birth that warrant acknowledgement and discussion.



A bearded non-binary person hugging their non-binary partner. Both people are smiling.

A non-binary person hugging their agender non-binary partner. Image credit: Levi Meir Clancy via Unsplash.


Non-binary is a broad umbrella term for people who have a gender that does not fit exclusively into the woman/man gender binary. This includes a broad range of genders, including genderqueer, genderfluid, bigender, and agender.

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Behind the Scenes of our World-First Fitness and Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy Study

 — Organisation: Trans Health Research — 

Authors: Eli Ward-Smith and Dr Sav Zwickl.


Content Warning: This blog contains reference to exclusion of, and discrimination against, trans people in sport, and mention of minor medical procedures.



In recent years, significant attention has been directed to trans and gender diverse (trans) people in sport. Misinformation and disinformation about trans athletes are rife, and this has been highly damaging to trans people and their allies.


Part of the challenge in contesting this misinformation and disinformation is the lack of scientific evidence regarding whether gender affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) has a positive or negative impact on athletic performance. Our recently published reviews on the impact of GAHT on physical performance and sports participation clearly outline the limitations and gaps in research in this area.


This lack of evidence has allowed the spread of misinformation in the media about trans people in sport to continue, and sporting bodies have developed policies based on opinion rather than evidence.



What are we doing to address the gap in research?


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Why Are Trans People at Higher Risk of Long COVID?

 — Organisation: Trans Health Research — 

Authors: Eli Ward-Smith and Dr Sav Zwickl.


Content Warning: Mention of mental health; discussion of COVID-19 vaccination and COVID-19 illness.



Two people walking together, holding hands

A non-binary person and a woman walking together, holding hands. Both are wearing face masks. Image credit: Disabled and Here.


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End of 2023 Review

 — Organisation: Trans Health Research — 

2023 has been challenging as the trans community face unprecedented levels of anti-trans discrimination and violence. With so much of the harmful rhetoric based in misinformation and disinformation, this year we have prioritised science communication and have spent significant time and energy engaging with government, community organisations and other key stakeholders such as sporting bodies, to ensure accurate, evidence-based information directs policies that impact trans people.


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Trans Health Research at the 2023 AusPATH Conference

 — Organisation: Trans Health Research — 

Content Warning: This blog includes mention of mental ill-health and suicidality. 



The Australian Professional Association for Trans Health (AusPATH) is the national peak body for people working to improve the health, rights and well-being of trans and gender diverse (trans) people. This year, the biannual AusPATH Conference was held in Melbourne from 2-4 November.


The Trans Health Research Team presented 12 oral presentations and 3 posters over the 3-day conference, sharing both recently published and yet-to-be-published research to an audience of over 500 attendees. 



A doctor standing at an AusPATH podium and presenting a slideshow about anti-androgens

Dr Lachlan Angus presenting his research on anti-androgens at AusPATH Conference 2023. 


Clinical research presentations


Endocrinologist and researcher, Dr Lachlan Angus presented his latest clinical trial findings, including a randomised controlled trial (RCT) comparing spironolactone and cyproterone in trans people commencing oestradiol, and a cross-sectional study looking at bicalutamide as an antiandrogen.


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Do Higher Oestradiol Levels Result in Better Mental Health and Wellbeing?

 — Organisation: Trans Health Research — 

Authors: Dr Sav Zwickl and A/Prof Ada Cheung.


Content Warning: This article contains brief mentions of psychological distress, life satisfaction and gender congruence.



An Asian transgender woman smiling and laughing, waving rainbow flags

A trans woman. Credit: Supitnan via Adobe Stock.


There is no consensus on optimal oestradiol levels for trans people using oestradiol gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT). International guidelines vary, suggesting goal oestradiol concentrations anywhere between 250 pmol/L and 1000 pmol/L, but these recommendations are based on expert opinion and the approximate range for cisgender women across the menstrual cycle, rather than clinical evidence.


Over the last few years, we have observed an increase in trans people in Australia seeking high doses of oestradiol, while their doctors understandably have reservations about prescribing oestradiol GAHT well above levels recommended in current Australian guidelines.


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A World-First Trial on Fast Access to Testosterone

 — Organisation: Trans Health Research — 

Authors: Dr Brendan Nolan and Dr Sav Zwickl.


Content Warning: Mention of depression, gender dysphoria and suicidality.



Trans Health Research recently published findings from our study on the impact of fast access to testosterone gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) on mental health and wellbeing in the peer-reviewed journal, JAMA Network Open.


Reandron testosterone packet and vial sitting on a desk

Reandron testosterone, which was used in this study. Credit: Steve Tritton via Shutterstock.


Results showed significant reductions in gender dysphoria, depression, and suicidality after 3 months with early testosterone GAHT use compared to standard care. Remarkably, over half of the study participants receiving testosterone experienced resolution of "thoughts of hurting themselves or that they were better off dead".


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Oestradiol Implants in Australia

 — Organisation: Trans Health Research — 

Authors: Dr Sav Zwickl and A/Prof Ada Cheung.


What are oestradiol implants?


An estradiol implant is a small, slow-release pellet containing the hormone oestradiol. Implants are inserted into the fatty tissue under the skin, preferably in the top of the buttock.


The Australian Informed Consent Standards of Care for Gender Affirming Hormone Therapy recommend a starting dose of 100mg every 6-12 months, and a maximum dose of 200mg every 6-12 months. In a recent survey, we asked trans people using oestradiol implants about the frequency of their implants, and the majority reported that their implant was replaced when their oestradiol blood concentrations fell below a certain level (57%), indicating the importance of regular blood tests. 15% of the people we asked, had their implant replaced 6 monthly, while 4% had it replaced every 9 months, and 8% yearly.


A trans woman speaking with a nurse who is wearing blue scrubs

A trans woman speaking with a nurse. Credit: Renata Angerami via iStock.



Why do so few doctors prescribe implants?


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Accessing Gender-Affirming Hormone Therapy in Australia

 — Organisation: Trans Health Research — 

Authors: Dr Julian Grace & Dr Sav Zwickl.


Content Warning: This article contains brief mentions of genitalia, and other body parts. When referring to specific parts of the body, we use anatomical/medical terms e.g., clitoris, breast.



I’m over 18 and thinking about gender-affirming hormone therapy. Where do I start?


There is a lot of information out there about gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT). Not all of it is correct, and some of it might be applicable elsewhere, but not in Australia. So, let’s start with the basics.


Trans and gender diverse people have all different types of feelings about GAHT. While some people want to start hormones and see big changes as quickly as possible, others want to take it slowly, and it may take years to decide that GAHT is right for them. Some people might pause their GAHT for different reasons (e.g., to achieve a pregnancy), some are happy to stop their GAHT after achieving certain physical changes, and others don’t want GAHT at all. All of these are valid pathways, and no one pathway makes a person more or less trans.


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Trans People Living with HIV in Australia

 — Organisation: Trans Health Research — 

Author: Joël Murray (they/them), living and working on unceded Wangal Country, Eora Nation.


Content Warning: This blog discusses topics of sex, sex work, injecting drug use, stigma, and identity-based discrimination.


A red ribbon, symbolising HIV awareness, on a red background

Credit: Maksym via Adobe Stock.



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From Melbourne to Chicago: Sharing Our World-First Clinical Research at ENDO 2023

 — Organisation: Trans Health Research — 
A group of people of varying genders standing together, all wearing suits and name lanyards.

Dr Brendan Nolan (center) with international trans health colleagues at ENDO 2023.


ENDO is the leading global meeting on endocrinology (hormone) research and clinical care hosted by Endocrine Society. The annual meeting provides an opportunity for endocrinologists, health care practitioners, and scientists to come together and showcase cutting-edge advances in research and medicine, with presentations spanning the spectrum of science, clinical care, and social implications.


Two people standing in front of a poster. The woman is smiling and gesturing to the poster. The man is smiling, with one hand in his pocket.

A/Prof Ada Cheung (left) with Dr Brendan Nolan (right) at ENDO 2023.


Two of our clinical researchers, A/Prof Ada Cheung and Dr Brendan Nolan, joined over 7,000 other attendees at ENDO 2023 in Chicago from June 15-18.


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Spotlighting Trans Suicidality at the National Suicide Prevention Conference 2023

 — Organisation: Trans Health Research — 
From left to right: Dr Angela Nicholas from the Centre for Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Dr Sav Zwickl from Trans Health Research and Leo Rhodanthe from DISCHARGED.

From left to right: Dr Angela Nicholas from the Centre for Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Dr Sav Zwickl from Trans Health Research, and Leo Rhodanthe from DISCHARGED.


Content Warning: This article contains mention of suicidality and discrimination faced by the trans community.



The National Suicide Prevention (NSP) Conference is an annual conference hosted by Suicide Prevention Australia. The conference provides a space for suicide prevention experts to showcase evidence-based solutions and robust discussion, and is widely regarded as the premier event in the suicide prevention calendar.


Despite almost half of trans people attempting suicide at some point in their lives, trans suicidality has been notably absent from previous years’ conferences.


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What has TRANSform Achieved in its First Three Years?

 — Organisation: Trans Health Research — 
Teddy Cook and Ariel Ginger presenting TRANSform research findings

Teddy Cook (ACON Health and TRANSform collaborator) and Ariel Ginger (TRANSform researcher) presenting research findings at the Australian Professional Association of Trans Health Conference in Darwin, 2022.



What is TRANSform?

TRANSform: An Australian longitudinal gender health study is an ongoing research project that aims to produce priority-based and community-led research to improve the health and wellbeing of the trans and gender diverse community.


Anyone who has a gender that is different to what was presumed for them at birth, currently living in Australia, and aged 16+ can join TRANSform. Since its launched three years ago, over 2,000 trans and gender diverse (trans) people from all over Australia have taken part, making TRANSform the largest ever trans research project in Australia.


Not only is TRANSform the largest project in terms of participant numbers but it is also the largest ever trans-led project in Australia. Trans people lead every stage of the research, from design to implementation, data analysis and reporting.


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Options for Oestrogen, Anti-Androgen, and Progesterone Hormone Therapy in Australia

 — Organisation: Trans Health Research — 

Authors: Stephanie Sheahan & Tomi Ruggles.


Content Warning: This article contains reference to genitalia, sexual arousal (erections), fertility, and sexual health. When referring to specific parts of the body, we use anatomical/medical terms e.g., penis, testicles, nipples, sperm etc.


Note: Not all people want the same changes from using oestrogen, anti-androgens, and progesterone, and not all bodies will respond the same to hormone therapy. All the body changes described in this article are typical but not universal. You can watch some videos showing the diversity of individual experiences at the bottom of this post.


A trans woman of colour with purple braided hair, wearing a purple top, smiling

Credit: Igor Alecsander.



What is oestrogen?

Oestrogen, or estradiol, is a sex hormone that is produced naturally in our bodies, and in people who were born with ovaries it is the main sex hormone. Testosterone is produced by the testicles, so people born with testicles will tend to have a naturally higher level of testosterone, and it will be their main sex hormone.


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