Master of Genetic Counselling

This subject will introduce students to the complexity of the human genome, and tools used by genetic counsellors to access information and inform risk assessment. Students will apply these tools in examining the molecular basis of single-gene and mitochondrial genetic diseases, including diseases caused by chromosomal imbalances and rearrangements, and autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, sex-linked, and triplet repeat disorders.

This curriculum is based on the genetic knowledge requirements of the Human Genetics Society of Australasia (HGSA) Board of Censors for Genetic Counselling, which governs the certification of genetic counsellors in Australia. The course will be delivered via a combination of on-line content and case-based face-to-face tutorials.

This subject will examine the ethical, legal and social implications (ELSI) of genetics and genomics. It will be organised into 3 overarching topics:

• The principles of ethical and legal frameworks will be introduced, and will be applied in the context of genomics in healthcare practice, with consideration of professional and personal values.
• The foundations of public health will be introduced and applied to public health genomics programs, particularly genetic screening.
• Personal genomic testing will be discussed from multiple perspectives, including historical, ethical, regulatory and social.  How genetics is communicated and genetic literacy in the community will be explored.

This subject is designed specifically for Master of Genetic Counselling students, to provide an introduction to the core competencies and skills required for HGSA certification in genetic counselling. Students will identify and be able to apply the core competencies to a range of clinical case scenarios. Students will demonstrate competency in taking and documenting a personal and family history from a genetic counselling client in a role-play simulation.

In this subject psychoanalytic theory, systems theory, family theory and cognitive behavioural theory will be considered in relation to counselling practice. Counselling skills will be developed through structured role-plays to experience what it is like for the client in a variety of contexts and situations. Students will be encouraged to explore and appreciate the roles of self-awareness and the ability to critically appraise practice, in their development as counsellors.

This subject will prepare students for undertaking clinical research within hospital, community and primary health care settings. Students will develop skills in how to design and conduct empirical research in an ethically appropriate manner. Content includes: development of a research question, study design and methodology, and ethical issues in health care research.

This subject will be conducted as a mix of face to face seminars, online tasks and intensive workshops.

This subject will examine the roles of both genetic and environmental determinants in the expression of complex disease traits and cancer. Principles of genetic and genomic testing will be investigated and students will learn to apply these in clinical case-based scenarios.

This curriculum is based on the genetic knowledge requirements of the Human Genetics Society of Australasia (HGSA Board of Censors for Genetic Counselling, which governs the certification of genetic counsellors in Australia. The course will be delivered via a combination of on-line content and case-based face-to-face tutorials.

This subject is only available to students enrolled in the Master of Genetic Counselling

This subject will facilitate understanding of the role of support organisations and other health services in the provision of genetic health care. Placements will provide an opportunity to consider the broader context of how health and social issues faced by individuals and families with a history of a genetic condition can impact on a person. Issues of disability within families and the community will be explored. Students will complete a supervised placement (80-120hrs) within a relevant practice setting.

This subject is designed specifically for Master of Genetic Counselling students, to provide an introduction to the practice of genetic health care, and the role of a genetic counsellor in the delivery of genetic services. Students will demonstrate the application of core HGSA skills and competencies in genetic counselling to clinical practice in an intake role-play. Students will reflect on and critically analyse genetic counselling skills encountered through clinic observations at a genetic service.

This subject is primarily an experiential subject with a focus on the acquisition of skills. Issues of grief, breaking bad news and principles of interviewing with reference to individuals, families and couples will be studied. The impact of cultural, religious and family beliefs on a counselling session will be explored. Counselling skills learnt in Principles of Counselling 1 will be further developed through role-plays and discussion of presented case scenarios. On completion students will demonstrate self-awareness and the ability to critically appraise their counselling practice.

An original research project will be designed under academic supervision. Preparation for this subject begins in Semester 1 when students undertake Healthcare Research: Principles and Designs. Students will be encouraged to work with a research supervisor to develop an original research project and submit any necessary Human Research Ethics applications. Topics may reflect their own interests or relate to current research at clinical genetics or other health services.

This subject will be conducted as a mix of face-to-face and online seminars, meetings with research supervisors and attendance at relevant upskilling resources offered by the University of Melbourne.

This subject comprises three clinical placements in various clinical genetics settings. It is a co-requisite for WELF90009 Genetic Counselling Practice 1 and WELF90008 Genetic Counselling Practice 2. Together, the three subjects provide the opportunity to integrate theory into practice.

Students will learn through observation and supervised practice with an expectation of increasing practice over the three clinical placements, so that eventually the student will have responsibility for a small client load.

The skills to be achieved mirror the skills that are required for professional certification by the Human Genetics Society of Australasia (HGSA).

By the end of the subject students will have developed a professional portfolio that contains documentation of all placement related learning and assessment activities.

Three (3) placements throughout the year, undertaken at services providing genetic counselling in Victoria. At the discretion of the Program Director, student may undertake one of their clinical placements interstate or overseas. 

An original research project will be conducted and a monograph of 5,000 words completed under academic supervision. Preparation for this subject begins in Year 1 when students undertake Healthcare Research: Principles and Designs and new subject Research Project in Human Genomics 1.

Data collection commences in Year 2 and students are required to collect and/or analyse research data, interpret findings and write a monograph to be submitted at the end of Semester 2.

This is supplemented by fortnightly research tutorials, study in existing short courses and other relevant upskilling resources offered by The University of Melbourne.

This subject will apply principles of genetic counselling practice to model clinical practice in specialised areas of genetic medicine, including Inherited neurological conditions, cardiac arrhythmias and cardiomyopathies, blood disorders, bone and connective tissue disorders, metabolic conditions, dysmorphology, childhood syndromes and cancer. (This curriculum is based on the genetic knowledge requirements of the Human Genetics Society of Australasia Board of Censors for Genetic Counselling, which governs the certification of genetic counsellors in Australia.) The subject will be delivered via a combination of on-line content and case-based face-to-face tutorials.

This subject is a co-requisite for the year-long clinical practice subject (PAED 90020), and provides a forum for discussion and reflection of issues arising in the clinical placements, to allow development of the skills learned on clinical placement. Knowledge attained in year 1 will be reviewed and built upon through group discussion. Critical reflective practice will be enhanced through facilitated discussion and consideration of issues that are presented by students, arising in their clinical practice. Students will be encouraged to develop self-awareness, the ability to critically evaluate practice and to enhance practice and genetic knowledge skills through the use of regular supervision sessions and extensive reading.  Together with Genetic Counselling Practice 2 this subject will develop the skills of ethical reflective genetic counselling practice.

This subject will examine the role of genomics and precision medicine in pharmacological therapies, with a focus on emerging treatments for cancer (Module 1). It will introduce students to the principles of genomic variant curation and interpretation in a clinical setting (Module 2).

This subject is a co-requisite for the year-long clinical practice subject (PAED 90020), and provides a forum for discussion and reflection of issues arising in the clinical placements, to allow development of the skills learned on clinical placement. Knowledge attained in year 1 will be reviewed and built upon through group discussion. Critical reflective practice will be enhanced through supervision, and discussion and consideration of issues that are presented by students arising in their clinical practice. Students will be encouraged to develop self-awareness, the ability to critically evaluate practice and to enhance practice and genetic knowledge skills through the use of supervision and extensive reading. Together with Genetic Counselling Practice 1 this subject will develop the skills of ethical reflective genetic counselling practice.  Students will develop an understanding of the career pathways available to genetic counsellors and will demonstrate competence in preparation of a curriculum vitae and development of interview skills for future employment as a graduate of the Masters.