GenoCare— with Dr Ali Archibald & friends

Unexpected news in pregnancy can be profoundly destabilising for families — but while the birthing parent is often the focus of care, fathers and non‑birthing partners also experience shock, fear, grief and uncertainty. In this episode, Ali is joined by psychologist Mathew Aquilina , Clinical Team Manager at the Gidget Foundation, to explore the emotional experiences of partners during pregnancy,...

In this episode, Ali is joined by senior genetic counsellor Tamara Mossfield to unpack preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A) — a type of embryo testing used during IVF to look for differences in chromosome number. This is the third episode in a series on genetic testing in IVF. Tamara explains what PGT-A is, how testing is performed, what the different results can mean, and why de...

What do we now know about the genetics of motor neuron disease (MND), and why is genetic testing becoming an increasingly important part of MND care? In this episode, Ali is joined by genetic counsellor Nikki Gelfand , who specialises in MND genetics. With new research, updated clinical guidelines and emerging gene-targeted therapies changing the landscape of MND care, Nikki explains what clinicia...

In this episode, Ali is joined by Samntha Payne, co‑founder and CEO of Pink Elephants, Australia’s leading organisation supporting people through early pregnancy loss. Sam shares her personal journey, the evolution of Pink Elephants, and the systemic, cultural and clinical changes urgently needed to better support women, partners and families experiencing miscarriage.   Together, Ali and Sam explo...

In this episode, host A/Prof Ali Archibald is joined by Agnes Nsofwa, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Australian Sickle Cell Advocacy Association , to explore sickle cell disease, its genetics, diagnosis and treatment, and the importance of advocacy and support for people living with the condition. Drawing on her experience as both an advocate and a mother of a daughter with sickle cell d...

In this episode, host Ali  speaks with Jo Isbister-Smith, clinical genetic counsellor at Australia’s first dedicated mental health genetics service, to explore the emerging field of psychiatric genetic counselling — why it’s needed, what it offers, and how genetics and environment interact in shaping mental health. This conversation offers clarity, reassurance and practical insight for individuals...

What type of NIPT do I choose? In this episode, host Ali is joined again by Alice Poulton, genetic counsellor and researcher, to unpack one of the most confusing aspects of prenatal screening: the fact that not all NIPTs are the same. Building on earlier episodes that covered how NIPT works and how labs process samples, this conversation dives into the variation between NIPT options, what is scree...

Letters at Queensland Children's Hospital took an average of eight days to finalise. After the AI scribe rollout, 14 minutes. That is the headline. Another interesting finding is that the expected business case — overtime savings — did not materialise, because clinicians were already doing the extra hours without claiming them. The burden was real. It had simply never appeared in a budget. In this...

Guest: Katherine Rose, Genetic Counselling Manager, Newlife IVF Host: A/Prof Alison Archibald Test enough genes and everyone is a carrier for something. In over 90% of reproductive couples screened for more than 1000 genes, at least one partner has a carrier result. That is manageable using a couple-based screening approach. In a donor program, where a genetic counsellor must match one donor's rep...

Ever wondered what actually happens to a blood sample after it's taken for NIPT? In this episode of the GenoCare Podcast, Ali is joined by Nicola Flowers, clinical scientist and group leader for NIPT at Victorian Clinical Genetic Services (VCGS), for a behind-the-scenes look at how non-invasive prenatal testing works inside the laboratory. Nicola has spent more than a decade immersed in NIPT. She...

Living with Fragile X-Associated Primary Ovarian Insufficiency Guest: Karen Lipworth At work, mid-way through the day, Karen Lipworth took a phone call telling her she'd gone through menopause — in her 30s. No warning, no support in the room, and no explanation of why . It would take a third fertility specialist, and years of wondering whether she was imagining it, before anyone finally tested her...

Advances in prenatal screening have fundamentally changed pregnancy care. As access to NIPT continues to grow, ensuring patients and healthcare professionals understand its strengths, limitations and appropriate use has never been more important.   In the latest episode of the GenoCare Podcast, Ali is joined by Melbourne-based genetic counsellor Alice Poulton to provide a practical overview of NIP...

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...