Graduate Certificate in Genomics and Health
Course code: GC-GENOHLT
March
AUD $12,992 (2026 indicative first year fee). Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) are not available
Access Melbourne is available
March
AUD $34,000 (2026 indicative first year fee)
IELTS 7.0: with no band less than 7.0
Course structure
Overview
If you work in a clinical, health, education, public health, research or laboratory science related field this course will provide an opportunity to upskill your genomics knowledge. It will also provide recent graduates an opportunity to gain skills for employment in genomics-related industries.
The 50 point Graduate Certificate will introduce you to the basics of human genetics and its function in clinical and research practice. The course will provide an understanding of the complexity of the human genome, and tools to access information and inform risk assessment for patient care. You will learn the principles of ethical and legal frameworks as applied in the context of genomics in healthcare practice.
Lifelong learning
This introductory Graduate Certificate lays the foundation for further study in clinical genetics and genomics and is suitable for students with no, or limited, prior genetics training. You will finish the certificate with the ability to identify future learning needs in order to maintain an expert working knowledge in genomics.
Explore this course
Explore the subjects you could choose as part of this certificate.
Complete all of the following
| Accordion | |
|---|---|
| Foundational Counselling Practice · 6.25 pts |
In this subject, students will explore key counselling and communication theories within a professional healthcare context. With a focus on person-centred therapy, they will develop essential counselling and communication skills, including attending, reflecting, questioning, emotional processing, and confrontation. The subject will also encourage students to examine the complexities of human interaction, cultivating awareness and responsiveness to culture and diversity. Through experiential activities, students will enhance their self-awareness and critically evaluate their practice. |
| Societal Implications of Genomics · 12.5 pts |
This subject will examine the ethical, legal and social implications (ELSI) of genetics and genomics. It will be organised into 3 overarching topics:
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| Human Genetics & Genomics in Healthcare · 12.5 pts |
This subject will introduce students to the complexity of the human genome, and tools used by genetic counsellors to access information and inform risk assessment. Students will apply these tools in examining the molecular basis of single-gene and mitochondrial genetic diseases, including diseases caused by chromosomal imbalances and rearrangements, and autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, sex-linked, and triplet repeat disorders. This curriculum is based on the genetic knowledge requirements of the Human Genetics Society of Australasia (HGSA) Board of Censors for Genetic Counselling, which governs the certification of genetic counsellors in Australia. The subject will be delivered via a combination of on-line content and case-based face-to-face tutorials. |
| Healthcare Research-Principles & Designs · 12.5 pts |
This subject will prepare students for undertaking clinical research within hospital, community and primary health care settings. Students will develop skills in how to design and conduct empirical research in an ethically appropriate manner. Content includes: development of a research question, study design and methodology, and ethical issues in health care research. This subject will be conducted as a mix of face to face seminars, online tasks and intensive workshops. |
| Clinical Genome Variant Analysis 1 · 6.25 pts |
Clinical Genome Variant Analysis 1 is designed to provide students with an understanding of the basic principles of genome variant analysis. The subject will be taught as a blended (online and face-to-face) subject. The syllabus will introduce the bioinformatics pipeline associated with whole exome and genome sequencing and variant interpretation. Principles of variant classification and reporting will also be covered. The subject is a prerequisite for GENE90025 Clinical Genome Variant Analysis 2. Combined, these subjects provide a sound foundation for participation in multidisciplinary clinical discussions on genomic testing and analysis, and would be a useful introduction for laboratory scientists and clinical staff training in variant interpretation. Students must be enrolled in the Master of Genomics and Health or have completed undergraduate subjects in Biology (1st year or equivalent) and Genetics (2nd year or equivalent). |