The Genomics and Specialist Therapies Program is dedicated to shaping policy and providing evidence-informed recommendations on genomic health and specialised therapies within Victoria's public healthcare system.
By reviewing emerging advancements in health and offering strategic guidance, the program ensures that best practices and innovative treatments are appropriately integrated to benefit patients across the state.
The program is comprised of several key components, each designed to play a role in advancing health technology and specialist therapies within Victoria's public healthcare system. The components collectively support the evaluation, implementation, and access to innovative genomic healthcare, medical technologies, and therapies, ensuring that Victorian patients benefit from the latest advancements in healthcare.
About genomic medicine in Victoria
Genomic medicine is a field of healthcare that uses an individuals' genetic information to guide clinical care. This approach enables more accurate diagnosis, personalised treatment plans, and improved disease prevention by identifying genetic differences and how they affect health and disease.
Genomic medicine is being integrated into routine clinical care to ensure patients have access to the latest advancements in genetic testing and targeted therapies.
To guide the integration, the Genetic and Genomic Healthcare for Victoria 2021 provides a framework to support the safe and effective use of genomics into healthcare to benefit the health and wellbeing of Victorians.
Victoria's public genetic services provide access to diagnostic testing, counselling, and risk assessment through metropolitan hubs and outreach programs. For more information about these services, see Public genetic services in Victoria.
About specialist therapies in Victoria
Specialist therapies are advanced medical treatments that target specific conditions. This group of therapies require specialised expertise, equipment and facilities that go beyond standard models of care. These therapies can include innovative medicines, gene therapies, cellular therapies, or other innovative interventions.
Such therapies are essential for managing conditions that cannot be treated adequately with normal approaches, and they often involve multidisciplinary teams and rigorous clinical protocols to make sure they are safe and effective for patients.
In Victoria, specialist therapies are delivered through designated programs and centres to ensure patients with complex or rare conditions can access treatments available within the public healthcare system. This includes:
- Highly Specialised Therapies program - a national program that supports access to high-cost and highly specialised therapies delivered in selected public hospitals.
- Nationally Funded Centres program - a national program that supports national access to certain high-cost, low-volume procedures.
Health services may offer new technologies and specialist therapies at their discretion; however, alignment with principles of responsible delivery to ensure patient safety and best practice standards is recommended. See Health Service Responsibilities for Technology for more information
Reviewed 12 December 2025