The second COSA newsletter is reproduced here. Thanks to Gillian Mitchell, Chair, COSA Familial Cancer Group.
Clinical Oncology Society of Australasia News
13 April 2012
Genetics Working Party
13 April 2012
The draft outcome statement of the second meeting of the GWP is now available.
How to Pay Your Membership Fees
28 March 2012
It is that time of year again! Membership fees are now due and payment is easy;
Simply click on the link to Back Office and log in using your registered e-mail address or membership number and password.
Once you are in the Back Office section, the link to membership payments is in the header of the page.
Remember to check and update your details from the home page of Back Office.
Members whose fees are paid directly by their Institution or employer are advised to email the Secretariat so the relevant form may be fowarded.
Encouraging Quality Pathology Ordering
28 March 2012
The final report from NCOPP and endorsed by the Department of Health and Ageing Quality Use of Pathology Committee is now available.
HGSA Council
8 March 2012
The Council is the decision making body of the Society and consists of the Executive plus representatives of each branch and special interest groups.
Genomic Technology Articles of Interest
1 March 2012
Two recent publications may be of interest to members.
The first is from the UK Department of Health and sets out a strategic vision for how the healthcare system in the UK – and particularly in the NHS – can benefit from the mainstream adoption of genomic technology. It also provides specific recommendations on the steps that need to be taken to realise this vision. The publication can be accessed here.
The second is a free text article from New England Journal of Medicine and is titled “Genomics, Intellectual Disability, and Autism” and can be found here.
Thanks to Vanessa Tyrrell for identifying these.
Rare Disease Day
1 March 2012
The Canberra Times published an article about a patient with Maple Syrup Urine Disease highlighting Rare Disease Day on 29th February 2012. The piece included mention of some resources ASIEM provides for parents and which can be accessed through our webiste and comments from Julie McGaughran and Kevin Carpenter. The full text can be viewed at http://www.canberratimes.com.au/entertainment/glad-to-have-a-helping-hand-20120228-1u0qb.html
AACB/HGSA Scientific Education Seminar
2 February 2012
In November 2011 the HGSA and AACB held a one day seminar on Molecular Diagnostics in the Routine Laboratory. Peter Taylor was the HGSA representative on the organising committee, read his report on the meeting here.
2011 year in review
19 December 2011
2011 has been a year of great change for the HGSA.
In February, Council took the decision on relocating the secretariat to Sydney. The decision was forced by the impending retirement of Mandy Valsinger who has served the Society for many years. Mandy ran the secretariat from her home in country Victoria in the town of Alexandra, and when Council decided to join the AACB in their new office it was in the Sydney suburb of Alexandria! The “I” we gained in our address turned out to be Ivory Stechiwskyj, our new executive officer. Ivory has rapidly become indispensable and the move to join AACB has been a great success.
At the same Council meeting we settled on the new logo and tagline for HGSA; ‘making sense of your genes”. The revamped look was launched on DNA day in April and we hope the modern take on the classic logo has met with your approval. We continue to work hard on improving the website and our communication with the membership but we would be delighted to hear any ideas or suggestions you have.
July saw the annual scientific meeting on the Gold Coast. The organising committee did a tremendous job in putting together the new format of integrated SIG sessions within a 3 day program and the feedback from delegates was overwhelmingly supportive with 87% of delegates saying they enjoyed the new style. We look forward to further refining the format for the meeting in Canberra.
In December the first meeting of the Federal Government Genetics Working Party took place. This group is charged with reviewing the current genetic testing arrangements in Australia, and providing advice to the Department of Health and Ageing on possible reforms by 30 December 2012. HGSA has two representatives and we will ensure the membership is kept informed of progress.
2012 will offer fresh challenges as we engage a consultant to undertake a comprehensive review of our Membership and Fellowship curricula, content delivery and examination processes in the laboratory disciplines. It is vital for the future of HGSA that our qualifications are attractive to candidates and at a standard comparable with those offered in other disciplines.
We are working with the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia to try and fill the gap left by the demise of the Cancer SIG. The first step on this road will see the creation of a Familial Cancer section on the members only section of the website and we will be posting the COSA newsletters and other news in this area.
Kevin Carpenter
President
Report on RCPA Bioinformatics Workshop
6 December 2011
In August the RCPA Genetics Advisory Committee and Faculty of Science held a full day workshop in recognition of the growing importance of bioinformatics within all subdisciplines of genetics.
