Projects Public & Preventative Health

Genetics Strategy for Victoria

Projects Public & Preventative Health

Genetics Strategy for Victoria

Projects Public & Preventative Health

Genetics Strategy for Victoria

  • Services

    Evaluation & Advisory

  • Status

    Complete

  • Client

    Department of Health & Human Services

  • Jurisdiction

    Victoria

The Victorian Government provides funding and support to genetic services and familial cancer services. Funded services include Genetic Health Services Victoria (GHSV), the Victorian Family Cancer Genetics Service, Victorian Thalassaemia Services and Victorian Cancer Cytogenetics Service.

The Department engaged AHA to develop a Genetics Strategy for Victoria.  The resulting strategy document is available at the Department’s website

The project’s aim was to ensure that Victoria is well equipped to meet current and emerging challenges and needs and continues to provide high quality genetics services.

In broad terms, the project involved:

  • Examining current arrangements for public sector genetics services in Victoria
  • Assessing current and future needs
  • Identifying areas for improvement within available resources
  • Developing a strategic plan to guide service planning, development and funding for the subsequent five year period.
The unique ability of genetic testing to predict the level of individual risk for inherited medical conditions based on an individual's genome enables those individuals, in conjunction with their healthcare professionals, to decide on interventions that may delay or in some instances even avoid onset of some medical conditions. Thus, genetic services have the potential to ease (if not avoid) immense individual suffering.