New laws have come into effect in the Australian state of Victoria that now allow trans and gender diverse Victorians to alter the sex recorded on their birth certificate without having to undergo surgery. Due to the new laws an applicant still needs to sign a statutory declaration stating they believe their sex is the one nominated in their application. The application must also be accompanied by a supporting statement from an adult who has known the applicant for at least 12 months. Children will also be able to change their sex with the consent of a parent or guardian and changes only allowed once in any 12-month period. Overturning the requirement for an individual to undergo sex affirmation surgery before changing their birth certificate recognises that some trans and gender diverse people are unable to, or choose not to, undergo a serious and expensive medical procedure.