Current activities

Expansion of the Victorian Family Cancer Genetics Service

Since 2008-09, additional recurrent funding of $2 million has been provided by the Victorian Government to enhance capacity and capability of familial cancer centres under Victoria’s Cancer Action Plan 2008-11 (VCAP).

The additional funding is being used to expand clinical services for families at risk of inherited cancers, especially those living in rural Victoria.

It is also being used to increase the testing capacity of cancer genetic laboratory services.  This will result in significantly expanded capacity for early identification and management of high risk individuals and their families.

For more details about the familial cancer centres please see:
www.health.vic.gov.au/cancer/integratedcancerservices or
www.cancervic.org.au/familycancer

Increased funding for genetic services in 2009-10

In 2009-10, additional funding of $1 million will be provided to increase public genetic health service diagnostic and predictive capacity.  The additional funding will be used to:

• enhance the testing capacity of cytogenetic services to aid the diagnosis of cancer

• increase clinical and laboratory services for people with or at risk of thalassaemia

• build the capacity of mainstreamed genetics services to diagnose, test, counsel and support individuals and their families who are affected by heritable cancers and other genetic conditions.

Senate Community Affairs Committee Inquiry into Gene Patents

The Senate Community Affairs Committee is currently conducting an inquiry into gene patents.   This topic is of particular relevance to the areas of healthcare and biotechnology.  Details of the Inquiry process, including the Terms of Reference, are available from the Senate Committee website (www.aph.gov.au/senate/committee/clac_ctte/gene_patents).  The Committee is scheduled to report back to the Senate by the last sitting day of 2009. 

The Department of Human Services coordinated the Whole-of-Victorian-Government submission to this inquiry.

A refreshed genetic services strategy

Genetic service development is currently guided by the Genetics Services Strategy for Victoria 2005-2009, which is due to sunset in 2009.  Planning is currently underway to replace this document with a refreshed strategy that will guide the ongoing integration of genetic health services within the broader public healthcare system for the next five years.