Lara Fitzgerald

Genetic counsellors are allied health professionals who undertake a range of roles, including having supportive and informative discussions with individuals and families around the possibility of genetic issues or conditions that might affect them, their pregnancies/children, or other family members.

Lara has extensive experience working as a genetic counsellor and has dual roles with Repromed Adelaide and the Paediatric and Reproductive Genetics Unit (PRGU) at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.  Lara completed a Bachelor of Science with Honours (University of Adelaide) and a graduate diploma in genetic counselling (University of Melbourne) and commenced working as a genetic counsellor with the Victorian Clinical Genetics Service in 1998.  This role introduced her to many areas of genetic counselling, including working with the Monash IVF Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis program whilst in its early years.

Lara has a special interest in reproductive and prenatal genetic counselling, particularly in supporting decision making for couples around reproductive genetic carrier screening (RGCS) and Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT). She is committed to providing an empathic and non-judgemental service and works with clients to aid their understanding of potential genetic health issues and incorporate this information into their decision making and journey with Repromed.

Lara is a member of the Human Genetics Society of Australasia (HGSA) and the Australasian Society of Genetic Counsellors (ASGC).  She was awarded FHGSA certification in genetic counselling through the HGSA in 2002 and has ongoing clinical registration status via the HGSA Register of Genetic Counsellors.  Lara is committed to genetic counsellor supervision and training and is currently deputy chair of the HGSA Certification Committee in Genetic Counselling.