Let’s Keep Yarning About Genetics

New Medicare Item numbers 73451 and 73452 have come into effect as promised on 1 November 2023. These allow individuals who are pregnant or planning pregnancy, along with their reproductive partners, to freely access three-condition reproductive carrier screening.  The screening test will cover three genetic conditions that are relatively common: cystic fibrosis (CF), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and fragile X syndrome (FXS).  The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) and Royal Australian College of General Practitioners now recommends that all couples planning to conceive or who are in early pregnancy receive information about reproductive genetic carrier screening.

Let’s keep Yarning about Genetics is a webinar AH&MRC held in conjunction with HETI in August 2023. In the webinar Bethany Wadling who is as far as we know, the only Indigenous genetic counsellor in Australia provides an overview of reproductive genetic carrier screening, pre and post counselling considerations and how to access relevant support services and resources. Also, speaking, and answering questions is Edwina Middleton who is the program lead and senior genetic counsellor at the Centre for Genetics Education at HETI.

We hope this webinar will offer valuable insights and knowledge on this topic for staff working in ACCHO’s.