GenoCare— with Dr Ali Archibald & friends

After the Test: Managing Genomic Results at Scale Most of the genomics conversation is about the science — the sequencing, the panels, the conditions. But once a result lands, a different problem takes over: the manual, repeatable workflow wrapped around every report. Opening PDFs, classifying results, drafting cover notes and patient letters, chasing partner testing, fielding "have my result...

Genetic testing doesn't have a science problem. It doesn't have a reimbursement problem. And it definitely doesn't have a demand problem. Workforce and workflow issues continue to impede access. How can technology help? Ali sits down with GenoCare co-founder Sam Holt to unpack everything that happens before a test is ordered — intake, family history, education and informed consent. It&...

Episode Summary Most people approach reproductive genetic carrier screening with little prior experience of genetic conditions. But what about the families who already know? In this episode, host Alison Archibald speaks with genetic counsellor and PhD candidate Giorgina Maxwell about her published Master of Genetic Counselling research — exploring how couples who have already experienced a genetic...

For years, concerns about life insurance discrimination have influenced decisions about whether to pursue genetic testing. Patients have delayed testing, declined participation in research, or worried about how genetic information might affect their future access to insurance. In this week's GenoCare Podcast episode, Ali speaks with Dr Jane Tiller — genetic counsellor, lawyer, researcher, and the...

What does a genetic counsellor actually do inside an IVF clinic? Far more than most people realise. In this episode, Ali speaks with Rebecca Dickson, Genetic Counselling Manager at Genea, one of Australia's leading fertility services, about the expanding role of genetic counselling across the entire fertility journey — from carrier screening, genetic testing related to infertility and donor concep...

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is one of the most common inherited, life-shortening childhood conditions — but its story is changing. In this episode, Ali is joined by Professor John Massie, respiratory physician and CF specialist, to unpack what cystic fibrosis is, how it affects the body, and how advances in treatment are transforming outcomes for many people living with CF. Together, they explore: How CF...

In this episode of the GenoCare Podcast, Ally sits down with clinical psychologist Frances Bilbao, founder of Mums Matter Psychology, to explore the emotional impact of pregnancy, perinatal mental health, and the growing complexity of genetic testing during pregnancy. The conversation dives into: Why pregnancy and early parenthood can be one of the most psychologically vulnerable periods in a pers...

Episode Summary Genomics is ready. But are our health systems, clinical teams, and education frameworks ready to support it at scale? In this second episode with A/Prof Amy Nisselle, host Alison Archibald explores what it actually takes to embed genomics into routine clinical practice — from the evolving role of genetic counsellors to AI-powered tools that are changing the way patients and clinici...

Episode Summary Genomics is moving into mainstream healthcare — but only if the right people understand it. Not just geneticists, but GPs, nurses, medical specialists, allied health practitioners, and patients. In this episode, host Alison Archibald speaks with A/Prof Amy Nisselle about the science and art of genomics education — who needs it, how to design it well, and why it's one of the most po...

Ali recently appeared on the the StongHer podcast, hosted by Hannah Gair. The podcast empowers, elevates, and unites mothers raising children with disabilities Exploring the raw, real, and often unspoken side of caregiving—identity loss, emotional burnout, invisible labor, daily challenges, and the fierce resilience it takes to rise through it all. Hosted by Hannah Gair, a mother, advocate, and ad...

Informed consent is the cornerstone of ethical genetic testing — but in a world of increasing genomic complexity, time-poor clinicians, and mainstreaming at scale, how do we make it work in practice? Ali speaks with Dr Lisa Dive, bioethicist at UTS, about what informed consent really means in the context of genetic testing — and why the standard model of ticking boxes and signing forms falls well...

Reproductive genetic carrier screening is often misunderstood — and that’s part of the problem. Despite now being recommended for all individuals planning or in early pregnancy, many clinicians still associate it with family history or specific ancestry. That thinking is outdated — and it’s limiting access to care. In this week's Genocare podcast, Ali is joined by CMH Nurse Emma to step back and u...

GenoCare Podcast – Show NotesReproductive Genetic Carrier Screening: From Niche to Mainstream Guest: Kirsten Boggs | Senior Genetic Counsellor & Researcher Host: Ali (Dr Alison Archibald) What if you could know — before pregnancy — whether your child is at risk of a severe genetic condition? That's the promise of reproductive genetic carrier screening. And it's no longer a niche offering for t...

Pregnancy is often described as a joyful time. But for many women and their partners, the reality is can be more complex — and when an unexpected genetic testing result enters the picture, the emotional stakes can rise dramatically. In this episode, GenoCare Co-Founder A/Prof Ali Archibald is joined by Kathy Solanki — credentialed perinatal mental health nurse, midwife, and member of the GenoCare...

In this episode of the GenomeCare Podcast, we explore prenatal genomic sequencing and how technologies like whole exome sequencing and whole genome sequencing are transforming diagnosis when differences are detected during pregnancy. Ali interviews genetic counsellor Dr Sarah Long , who works in the public hospital system in Western Australia and has extensive experience in prenatal genomics, clin...

Receiving unexpected news about your developing baby during pregnancy can be one of the most profound and destabilising experiences a person goes through. Yet our healthcare systems are largely set up to deliver the test — not to support what comes after. In this episode, A/Prof Alison Archibald speaks with Pieta Shakes — credentialed mental health nurse, researcher at James Cook University, and f...

Prenatal diagnosis can be a complex experience. In this episode, we speak with Jill Kennedy , a senior genetic counsellor working in the public hospital system in Western Australia, about what prenatal diagnosis is, why it may be offered, and what the process involves. Jill explains the common pathways that lead to prenatal diagnostic testing, including carrier screening, non-invasive prenatal tes...

Fragile X syndrome is one of the most common inherited causes of intellectual disability — yet it’s also one of the most complex genetic conditions to understand. In this episode, Associate Professor Ali Archibald explains Fragile X in clear, practical terms, unpacking how the condition is inherited, what carrier screening looks for, and why results can vary so widely between individuals and famil...

In this episode, Ali speaks with Emma , a Credentialed Perinatal Mental Health Nurse at GenoCare, about the emotional and psychological impact of genetic testing during pregnancy — and where mental health nursing can fit alongside genetic counselling. Emma shares her background in midwifery and perinatal mental health, and explains why genetic test results can feel destabilising, particularly for...

We flip the script in this episode with Ali interviewed by Emma, GenoCare Perinatal Mental Health Nurse. Emma and Ali discuss why GenoCare was created and how genetic care in Australia is evolving. Ali explains what genetic counsellors do, how access to genetic testing has expanded rapidly, and why support pathways haven’t kept pace. We discuss the growing gap between demand for genetic informatio...

When genetic testing reveals new information, the impact rarely stops with one person. In this episode, we’re joined by Associate Professor Belinda Dawson McClaren , researcher and academic at The University of Melbourne to explore how families share genetic information — and why these conversations can be complex, emotional, and deeply important. We discuss whether people have an obligation to te...

Pre-implantation Genetic Testing (PGT-M): What Clinicians and Patients Need to Know In this episode, A/Prof Alison Archibald , Certified Genetic Counsellor and Co-Founder of GenoCare, is joined by Alice Weeks , Genetic Counselling Manager at No.1 Fertility, to explore pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT) with a focus on PGT-M . They discuss how patients typically arrive at PGT-M following carrie...