The Discipline of Genetic Counselling engages with experienced genetic counsellors, researchers and clinicians working in associated fields through our Industry Advisory Board (IAB). We are honoured that Associate Professor Clara Gaff, Executive Director of the Melbourne Genomics Health Alliance, chairs the IAB. The IAB provides guidance and consultation to the Discipline on learning and research activities.
During the planning stages for our programs, we consult extensively with the genetic counselling profession in Australia, New Zealand, Asia and beyond. Our experienced Curriculum Development Group (CDG) meets monthly to review all learning and teaching activities. The CDG includes genetic counsellors, researchers, a bioethicist, an expert in Indigenous health and an educational designer.
Links with clinical practice and academia
We have strong links with genetics and genomics colleagues in Australia, New Zealand and the UK via our clinical experience and existing networks. We regularly attend professional development activities across Australia and New Zealand. We participate in supervision of genetic counsellors doing their certification.
UTS is part of the Sydney Partnership for Health, Education, Research and Enterprise. The Discipline of Genetic Counselling is developing links with the Genome Connect and Cancer Clinical Academic Groups within SPHERE.
Dr Chris Jacobs was instrumental in the establishment of the Discipline of Genetic Counselling at UTS as one of the inaugural members of the team. Chris has recently relocated to the UK but maintains strong links with the Discipline as an Honorary Fellow. Chris has 19 years of clinical experience as a Genetic Counsellor. Chris is a Genetic Counsellor Registration Board (GCRB) Registered Genetic Counsellor and Registered Nurse. Chris is also an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in the Prince of Wales Clinical School and UNSW Medicine at the University of New South Wales, Sydney (UNSW). She is linked in with the Translational Cancer Research Network and is part of the Hereditary Cancer Flagship and the 2025 Workforce Capacity-Building Flagship.
Professional memberships
Between us, we are members of the following professional organisations and special interest groups (SIG):
Genetics and genomics
- Human Genetics Association of Australasia (HGSA)
- British Society for Genetic Medicine (BSGM)
- European Society of Human Genetics (ESHG)
- American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG)
- Asia Pacific Society of Human Genetics (APSHG)
- Human Genome Organisation
Genetic counselling
- Australasian Society of Genetic Counsellors (ASGC)
- Association of Genetic Nurses and Counsellors (AGNC)
- Association of Genetic Counseling Program Directors (AGCPD)
- National Society of Genetic Counsellors (NSGC)
Cancer
- HGSA Cancer Genetics (SIG)
- UK Cancer Genetics Group (CGG)