UTS upskilling healthcare professionals in genetic counselling skills

The Graduate School of Health launches a new Graduate Certificate in Genetic Counselling Skills, with the first cohort of students expected to start in August 2024.

Genetic and genomic healthcare, precision medicine, and personalised medicine are becoming integrated into healthcare globally. A rapid upskilling of the health workforce is needed if we are to realise the potential of genomic medicine to improve health at population levels globally.

The Graduate School of Health is excited to launch the Graduate Certificate in Genetic Counselling Skills – a dynamic, adaptable online program focused on practical skills-based learning to enhance the communication of genetic and genomic information.

The Graduate Certificate is designed to meet the needs of working healthcare professionals, laboratory scientists, researchers, policy analysts and others.

“A conversation with Dr Annie Hasan, President of the Board of Genetic Counselling India, inspired me to consider how we could leverage the UTS Genetic Counselling expertise in innovative, interactive online learning to contribute to building genetic counselling workforce capacity beyond Australasia,” says Program Director Associate Professor Alison McEwen.

“Discussions with professional leaders and industry stakeholders across Asia and beyond helped shape the new program.”

About the Graduate Certificate in Genetic Counselling Skills

Students will learn core communication and genetic counselling skills, along with practical applications of genomic healthcare. Each subject runs over six weeks, combining online learning activities completed in your own time with a weekly ‘live and online’ class on Zoom.

Students can choose one subject as a micro-credential or build 8 subjects into a Graduate Certificate. Students will develop confidence in clinical genetic counselling skills during the two Virtual Clinical Placement subjects, working with actors to run simulated clinics.

The program is designed to be accessible to anyone with an undergraduate degree (with completion of one genetic or genomic subject) or documented relevant work experience outlined in a CV. A familiarity with human genetics and working with people will assist students to succeed in the program. Learners who want to complete the subjects as microcredentials can enrol without needing the prerequisite.

Electives in Cancer Genetic Counselling, Laboratory Genetic Counselling and Education, Ethics and Social Issues in Genetic Counselling provide opportunities for students to choose their focus areas.

Learning activities and assessments are designed to encourage students to contextualise their learning to their workplaces and healthcare systems. Graduates will take their skills back to their workplaces, contributing to the expansion of evidenced-based genetic counselling care by a range of health professionals and medical specialists. Graduates will be prepared to contribute to the development of genetic counsellors in countries where the profession is expanding.

For detailed admission requirements or subject descriptions, visit the Graduate Certificate in Genetic Counselling Skills Handbook.