A brief explanation of the role of a genetic counsellor compared with a clinical geneticist, and guidance on which appointment type is right for different situations. The booking form asks patients to choose between the two, so this question is helpful upfront
Not always. Clarity Genetics can usually accommodate telehealth appointments. However, if a physical assessment is required, you will need to attend an in-person appointment at our rooms.
Yes. A GP referral is preferred and is valid for 12 months. Specialist referrals are accepted and are valid for 3 months. If ongoing management is required, a GP referral may be requested after the initial appointment to ensure access to Medicare benefits.
Typical content would include: any previous genetic test results, relevant medical reports, information about your family medical history, and details of relatives affected by the relevant condition. For telehealth appointments, a quiet space and a reliable internet connection are helpful.
Answer to be supplied by Claire and Ken. For reproductive and prenatal appointments in particular, partners often attend together. For telehealth, partners can join from a remote location if needed. Worth noting any practice policy on additional attendees.
Answer to be supplied by Claire and Ken. Should cover the consultation fee structure, Medicare rebates where applicable, private health fund coverage, and any out-of-pocket costs to expect. Patients value clarity on cost upfront.
Clarity Genetics requires at least 24 hours’ notice to cancel or reschedule an appointment. Please contact us by phone or email, and we will do our best to accommodate your request. Cancellations or rescheduling requests made within 24 hours of the appointment will incur a fee equal to percentage to be confirmed of the appointment cost.
Results are usually discussed in a follow-up consultation rather than sent as a simple report, timeframes vary depending on the test (some take a few weeks, others a few months), and the referring clinician also receives a copy where appropriate.
The Financial Services Council has a moratorium on the use of genetic test results in life insurance underwriting for coverage limits up to a certain amount. More information can be found here on the Centre for Genetics Education website.
In September, 2024 the Australian Government announced its intention to completely ban the use of genetic test results in life insurance underwriting through legislation. This means that advice about the implications of genetic testing on life insurance will soon be changing. This is estimated to occur in October 2026.
We collect information from you that is necessary to provide you with accurate clinical genetic assessment and genetic counselling. This may include collecting information about your health history, family history, reproductive history, and your ethnic background. If you provide incomplete or inaccurate information to us or withhold personal health information from us we may not be able to provide you with the services you are seeking.
We will usually collect your health information directly from you. Sometimes we may need to collect information about you from a third party such as a relative or another health service provider. We will only do this if you have consented for us to collect your information in this way.
Sometime your health information will be shared with other health professions in the interest of providing you with the service you requested. This includes writing back to your referring doctor and/or general practitioner.
We will not share your health information with anyone else without your consent or unless required or authorised by law. If the situation arises where we may need to disclose your health information without your express consent, we will be guided by the NHMRC privacy Guidelines “Use and disclosure of genetic information to a patient’s genetic relatives under section 95AA of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth): Guidelines for health practitioners in the private sector”.
We will take reasonable steps to protect your personal information from misuse, loss, unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.
In all regards, we will work within the framework of the HGSA and ASGC Code of Ethics. These can be viewed at the HGSA website: http://www.hgsa.org.au
