Imagine waking up in the morning and feeling every bit yourself before you walk into the bathroom and stand in front of that mirror.

Imagine having to get ready for your day just like everyone else except you have to make sure you'll "pass" for your true self, that strangers won't be able to notice the parts of your body you're so desperately trying to conceal.

Imagine ordering your morning coffee and, despite all the effort you've put into your hair, make-up and outfit, the person behind the counter says "thank you, Sir". 

Imagine going to your daily gym session and constantly worrying that your shirt might ride up or that you'll have to spar today and someone might get close enough to notice that you don't need to wear a cup or feel what your binder is so tightly constricting. 

Imagine meeting new people and having them ask you what genitalia you have between your legs like it's a normal question or wondering out loud how you and your partner have sex and fully expecting an explanation. 

This is a tiny portion of what the Transgender community experience every single day and we could alleviate some of this pain, stress and anxiety by including much needed and prohibitively expensive medical procedures on the Medicare list.  

Currently those who identify as Transgender receive close to zero rebates in relation to procedures required for Gender Reassignment. There is also no way to have these procedures covered under private health insurance. This means that if you should require Gender Reassignment Surgery due to the significant impact Gender Dysphoria has on one’s life you are required to pay up to $100,000 out of pocket depending on the procedure.

As you may know Gender Dysphoria has significant impacts on the mental health of those diagnosed and often results in self-harm, drug and alcohol abuse and even suicide. I cannot understand why the procedures needed to alleviate some of this burden are not covered under the Medicare Rebate Scheme. This condition is not a choice, it is not something a person brings on themselves and it certainly isn’t a path easily travelled.

It is almost impossible in today's society to save $100,000 in order to have the procedures that are so desperately needed by those suffering. The stress of trying to find this sum of money whilst also trying to support young families, buy homes and care for our older generations is almost too much to bare and I firmly believe there should be more support for our Transgender community.

Most Transgender people go to work every day, pay their taxes and contribute to society just like everyone else and it is discriminatory that their medical requirements are not covered by Medicare. Gender Dysphoria is a medical condition just like anything else. When someone loses their breasts to cancer Medicare covers the costs of reconstructive surgeries, when someone has a natural occurring hormone deficiency medicare covers treatment costs and when someone has a mental health condition Medicare also covers the costs involved in appropriate treatments. Gender Dysphoria is unpreventable and incurable and should therefore be included in the Medicare Rebate Scheme for those suffering with it. 

I would really like to start seeing change and get some clear answers on when these changes will be happening!