Clinical psychologist at Sound Psychology, Dr Madeline Fernbach, said the practice normally has weekly enquiries about the service which they now offer. The assessment determines if someone who identifies with the opposite gender does so because of gender dysphoria or other reasons, such as florid psychosis. Depending on results, hormonal treatment or other types of treatment can be prescribed. 

“Sound Psychology Ballarat is the only place that I know of in the Western region that does gender assessment for hormone treatment.There may be someone in Geelong but I haven’t heard much about that. I do know that people from Horsham and Colac have come to me to have it done,” Dr Fernbach said. 

“In the past, it has been the domain of psychiatrists who specialise in gender issues. These are either private psychiatrists or from the Royal Children’s Hospital or the Monash Gender Dysphoria Clinic. There are more agencies in Melbourne emerging.”

Dr Fernbach said she has been doing assessments, which can take two or three sessions, for about 12 months. 

“Mostly the people are in such a state of extreme distress about their identity, that a service like this is incredibly useful and precious to them.”

While the centre means that Ballarat residents can be assessed faster than at clinics in Melbourne, Dr Fernbach said the wait can sometimes be up to a few weeks. 

Sound Psychology also offers a support group for transgender people and a parents and partners workshop. Dr Fernbach said these had gone incredibly well, with participants interested and engaged. 

“I found sound psychology quite easy via Google searches and Facebook. But I do feel services in the overall area are quite limited making wait times longer,” Ace Gibbons, who has used assessment and group services at Sound Psychology said.

“Services offered could be cheaper but that's down to the government and Medicare rebates.”