Counsellors dismissed by Prime Minister Scott Morrison as "gender whisperers” have denied they are training teachers to spot potential transgender students in the classroom.

On Wednesday Mr Morrison tweeted: “We do not need ‘gender whisperers’ in our schools. Let kids be kids”. He posted a link to a Daily Telegraph story which claimed teachers were being coached on how to identify transgender children in the classroom, contributing to a surge in the number of children wanting to change sex.

However the Gender Centre, which was named in the story, issued a statement stressing it did not train school staff to identify transgender children.

Kimmi Everson, the vice president of the board of directors, said the organisation only provided training when contacted by schools asking for advice about students who already identify as transgender.

“The training that the Gender Centre then offers to staff is on how to accommodate the needs of existing transgender or gender diverse students within their specific schools,” she said. "The Gender Centre does not work with any school without the involvement of parents."