Truffle season is once again upon us – here’s where you can indulge in some of Canberra’s finest experiences.
Unfolding from mid-June until August, truffle season has long been one of the most delicious experiences on Canberra’s calendar, seeing top restaurants and producers test their skills to treat foodies to their paddock-to-plate creations.
It’s not only an opportunity to enjoy the rare fungus (known as ‘black gold’) but to celebrate the cool climate region we call home.
From truffle hunts to special dinners, here’s where to get your fix of Périgord truffle this winter.
Beltana Farm (Pialligo)
There’s nothing like truffle season at Beltana Farm. Home to a truffle farm of over 800 trees, this year they are hosting four ways to immerse yourself in the season.
Start with the annual opening night celebration at the Dark Truffle Fest on Friday 3 July where you’ll eat truffles under the evening sky, and then every Saturday and Sunday from 4 July you can join a guided hunt and long lunch with Hunt and Lunch.
If that’s not enough, that evening you can also book into the first Twilight Hunt & Outdoor BBQ of the season. Held every second Saturday, you’ll participate in a golden hour hunt followed by truffled snacks from the outdoor BBQ and a glass of bubbles as night settles in.
Finally, from Saturday 11 July, Beltana Farm is running an intimate truffle masterclass limited to just 20 guests with The Truffle Kitchen. Held every second Saturday, you’ll pull a fresh truffle out of the ground and learn how to shave it, how to store it, how to pair it, and how to cook with it at home.
It’s only right to visit The Truffle Farm during truffle season. Surrounded by a picturesque oak tree forest and boasting captivating views of Mount Majura Winery’s lush vine-covered trellises, here you can immerse yourself in a true farm-to-fork adventure.
Book in for a traditional truffle hunt or indulge in either the Hunt + Brunch or the Hunt + Degustation. Both take you on an exhilarating truffle hunt experience where you’ll learn about the history of the farm before diving into a decadent truffle-focused meal.
This truffle season, Capitol Bar and Grill has partnered with The Truffle Farm to curate an unmissable one-night-only experience on Friday 26 June. Block out the day because from 2.30 pm you’ll be chauffeured to The Truffle Farm for a truffle hunt to dig up some black gold.
Then, you’ll be driven back to the city where you’ll eat a seasonal menu inspired by the day’s hero ingredient. Think: truffle smoked mushroom casarecce with whipped ricotta, Flinders Island lamb rump with truffle butter and a truffle infused Tiramisu to finish.
Turalla Truffles near Bungendore is hosting a degustation lunch cooked and curated by Chef Kim De Poorter on Sunday 28 June – a must-try for any truffle obsessive.
Held in the Water Through Reeds Art Gallery, you’ll eat your way through sourdough toast with truffled chicken liver pâté, truffled brie with frisée salad and truffle profiteroles served with Jasper & Myrtle gelato and chocolate.
Can’t make it on the day? Keep an eye out – they’ll also be selling fresh truffles at the EPIC Farmers Market every Saturday until mid-August.
For those who can’t resist a wine pairing, the Truffled Brie and Wine Tasting at Mount Majura Vineyard is a must-do.
Using fresh truffle from their neighbours at The Truffle Farm to infuse a deliciously rich triple-cream brie-style cheese, for $40 per person you can taste your way through a flight of three 80ml matched glasses. Bookings are essential for this decadent experience.
Think you can’t get a good truffle experience in a hotel? Think again. On Saturday 11 July the Mercure Canberra is hosting an exclusive Truffle & Wine Dinner in collaboration with the award-winning Macenmist Black Truffles & Wines.
Celebrating the finest flavours of the season, for $180 per person you’ll dig into a decadent five-course degustation menu with each course heroing fresh, locally sourced truffles, and paired with wines from Mount Majura Vineyard.
During the dinner, you’ll also hear a presentation from Macenmist Owner Barbara Hill and meet a working truffle dog up close.
Under bakery light rye with truffle butter, duck fat noodles with Shiitake truffle dashi and fillet mignon with mash, asparagus and truffle jus. Those are just some of the dishes on the menu at Heywood’s first-ever Truffle Dinner.
Taking place on Friday 10 July, you’ll indulge in five curated courses, each of which will be paired with a Nick O’Leary wine. With limited spots available, be quick to book your spot.
Chef Christophe and Josephine Gourmet Tours (Bungendore)
Take a road trip this winter to Bungendore for a truffle experience a tour that blends French heritage with Australian charm.
Led by Chef Christophe (who is a recipient of France’s prestigious National Order of Agricultural Merit) and his wife Josephine, during the event you will forage for black truffles alongside their spirited Border Collie, Largo, before enjoying a rustic French brunch. Expect delights such as egg brouillard on a warm baguette, lashings of shaved fresh truffle on top, a fresh salad, and your choice of tea or coffee.
With only 12 spots available for each session, make sure to book ahead.
Did you know that Australia’s only biodynamic truffle farm is located just over an hour from Canberra? A small family-run, certified organic and biodynamic truffle farm in the southern tablelands of New South Wales, Elvesgate hosts an immersive truffle-themed experience that’s worth booking.
From a hunt with their truffle labrador Billy, to feasting by the family-built firepit, each aspect is carefully curated by the couple. And personally, they had us at dessert – smooth truffle ice cream, with crisp shards of hazelnut meringue.
They’re open for only two weeks during July, and limited sessions are available. Book early so you don’t miss out.
The 100 per cent Aboriginal-owned business founded by Pakana artist and designer Kartika Medcraft-Smith has unveiled its first wearable art collection – a colourful celebration of community, culture and Country.
Established in 2021, Pakana Dreaming was founded by the proud Leterrermairrener and Plangermaireener Pakana woman from North-East Tasmania as a way to pass her cultural knowledge on to her children.
The label had its inception in Kartika’s original artworks and hand-painted earrings, but it wasn’t long before she expanded to office décor, fine art prints, and wearable cultural pieces. The launch of the Pakana Dreaming collection during Reconciliation Week marks a milestone moment for the brand.
Designs are deeply rooted in storytelling, drawing on vibrant artworks that express intergenerational themes of motherhood, movement, ceremony and survival.
“I initially created these artworks as a way to share my ancestral stories with my three sons, so they built knowledge and awareness of their history and ancestors,” explains Kartika.
“Putting it on clothing felt like the best way to ensure the stories, culture and history of our mob was wrapped around us and guiding us in our day to day lives.”
It was only after the support and encouragement from family, friends and other Blak businesses that Kartika felt empowered to launch the collection into the world.
And it felt only right to mark the occasion by gathering 14 First Nations women and children on the Gungahlin Hill for the final photoshoot.
Representing more than 11 Aboriginal Nations from across Australia, Kartika says that the gathering embodied the true meaning of ‘Canberra’, which is derived from the Ngunnawal word for ‘meeting place.’
“I gathered these incredible women and babies as a way to show that Aboriginal culture isn’t just one thing – it’s made up of lots of different groups, stories, and identities,” she says.
“The location was significant to me as it was the location of some memories of a very unhappy and tumultuous time in my life. This photoshoot, this location and these women and babies were a way for me to reclaim that space and create positive, beautiful memories to take forward. It was important to show how we are many people from many places, but we are one incredible community.”
The Pakana Dreaming collection was created with the support of a YWCA Canberra 2026 Great Ydeas Small Grant, and has also received an invitation to showcase at the 2027 Fashique Runway in Brisbane.
Kartika hopes this is just the beginning when it comes to attending events like this.
“I hope to bring everyday affordable wearable art to the growing Blak fashion industry and learn and grow in the sector. It’s not about money; it’s about healing, sharing, pride and healing for me,” she says.
“I want people to feel empowered, proud and part of something special when they wear these pieces. It isn’t just about me, my family, my culture. It’s Australia’s stories, it’s Australia’s culture, it’s for everyone to feel proud and empowered by.”
The Pakana Dreaming collection is made from a recycled polyester and cotton blend, and includes a blazer, culottes, long-sleeve wrap dress and a button-down shirt. Each item was designed with the wearer in mind – empowered women like those who gathered for the photoshoot.
The collection is a celebration of collaboration, shot by Gamilaroi photographer Jess Whaler and styled with handcrafted pieces by Weave & Clay by Bagirram – even the ochre painted on the models was sent from Kartika’s home Country. It’s wearable art with deep meaning for Kartika, and – she hopes – many others.
“It is never too late to try something new, to follow your own path, to have the confidence to step out of your comfort zone and do what makes you happy. You never know who’s watching and who you might inspire to do the same,” says Kartika.
The projects are underway. Here’s what a day in the city could look like once they’re done.
7.30 am on a Tuesday morning, and the light rail is already busy. From Gungahlin, it runs the length of Northbourne Avenue, the way it has since 2019 – past the coffee shops opening their doors, past the commuters plugged into podcasts – before something new happens at Alinga Street. The light rail doors open, then close again, and the journey continues.
Light Rail Stage 2A extends the network from the city centre to Commonwealth Park, following London Circuit West through City West and NewActon to the lake’s edge. Three new stops – Edinburgh Avenue, City South, and Commonwealth Park – bring this end of the city within reach for the first time without a car, bus or bike.
The tracks run wire-free along a redesigned London Circuit, past new green corridors planted with established trees and footpaths – part of streetscape upgrades that accompany the new route.
By 9 am, the Constitution Avenue end of the city is humming. UNSW Canberra City – built on the corner of Constitution Avenue and Coranderrk Street – is designed to draw around 6,000 students and educators into the inner city, and you can feel it. The campus brings together education, research and industry in fields like cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and public policy, extending the knowledge corridor that runs from here up to Russell. For local students, that means studying in critical fields without leaving Canberra. For the cafés, bookshops and lunch spots nearby, it means a precinct that’s buzzing throughout the week.
Come midday, it’s the lake that pulls people out of their offices. The Acton Waterfront has been in the making for years – now the boardwalk is completed and a neighbourhood is planned to connect the city centre to the water’s edge. One day, it will be home to shops, businesses, cafes, recreational activities, and accommodation.
Ngamawari, the new park, has been built on land reclaimed from Lake Burley Griffin. Named by Ngunnawal community representatives, Ngamawari – meaning ‘cave place’ in Ngunnawal language – carries the history of limestone caves flooded during the lake’s creation. It’s a place to soak up a bit of Canberra’s story while you eat your lunch on the grass.
Artist impression of Ngamawari’s adventure playground. Image: City Renewal Authority.
Light rail now stops at Commonwealth Park, and the planned Canberra Aquatic Centre – intended to be accessible to everyone from lap swimmers to young families – adds another reason to spend time in this sprawling urban oasis.
By 7 pm, people are streaming into the Canberra Theatre Centre precinct. The new lyric theatre will seat 2,000 – big enough to finally make Canberra viable for national and international touring productions that have historically bypassed us. Major musicals, opera, ballet, international acts: the kind of shows Canberrans currently travel to Sydney or Melbourne to see. The nearby restaurants and bars are full, and the night is just getting started.
The show ends around 10 pm. People spill out onto the Civic streets, some heading to New Acton for a nightcap, others picking up the light rail on Northbourne for the ride home.
While this is a look into a possible future, it’s not a fantasy. These projects are funded, approved and under construction – the lyric theatre and Light Rail Stage 2A are both planned for completion in 2028, with UNSW Canberra City Stage 1 to follow. The Canberra Aquatic Centre is in early design, and the Acton Waterfront neighbourhood is in active planning. By 2030, the question won’t be whether Canberra has changed. It’ll be which part to visit first.
No set and no props – just one woman telling a story about protecting and caring for her best friend in the only way she knows how.
From the local company that brought you Never Closer, comes Kerosene – a blistering and honest portrayal of love, loneliness and obsession in the suburbs.
Off the Ledge Theatre is bringing Benjamin Nichol’s searing monodrama to Canberra Theatre Centre from Thursday 16 until Sunday 19 July, marking the play’s first staging outside of Melbourne.
First debuting in 2021 (produced by Theatre Works) and receiving rave reviews, before transferring to fortyfivedownstairs in 2023 and receiving a similar reception – winning a couple of Green Room Awards at the 2022 ceremony in-between – Kerosene is a homage to the blind loyalty that accompanies lifelong friendships and the realities of what it means to grow up young, quiet and forgotten in modern day Australia.
Kerosene follows well-meaning, teenage misfit Millie, who yearns for love and acceptance, finding instead rejection and humiliation at every turn – except from her sad, soft old grandfather, and her best friend Annie.
So, when Annie turns up bruised and bloodied on the doorstep, Millie sets out to honour her childhood friend in the only way she knows how: revenge.
“This play is about so many different things that it feels impossible to condense into 50-minutes, and yet Ben does such a fantastic job of fleshing out the character of Millie and the world around her, that we feel everything she is feeling and are drawn in by everything she does,” explains director Lachlan Houen.
“The script asks the question of how love can become dangerous, and what happens when it does.”
In the vein of Angus Cerini’s The Bleeding Tree, Kerosene features an act of female-led revenge that reframes how society perceives “these kinds of narratives”.
Starring local breakout emerging actor Winsome Ogilvie, Lachlan says that there’s an expectation that acts of violence – particularly in vengeance – are perpetrated by a man.
But Kerosene asks a powerful question: ‘What if it’s a woman?’
“Within the exploration of this comes an act of domestic violence and coercive control that feels achingly realistic, and what I love about the piece is that it’s not taking these things for granted,” he says.
“I was immediately struck by the intensity of Millie’s voice and how she navigates love and connection when it feels like the world is against her. I can’t wait to start exploring this work and bringing it to life for Canberra audiences,” adds Winsome.
Running for a strictly limited season at the Courtyard Studio, no matter the cost, no matter the consequence, one thing is for sure: Kerosene will set the stage on fire.
Young Australians are driving significant changes in news consumption across social media and generative AI.
The Digital News Report: Australia 2026 released by the University of Canberra’s News and Media Research Centre reveals young Australians are more interested in news and are consuming more of it, with Australians under 35 reporting for the first time higher interest in politics than older generations.
But the research bodes badly for legacy media, showing younger Australians are turning their backs on traditional news sources.
The report found that 60 per cent of Australians aged 18–24 have never used newspapers, 53 per cent haven’t listened to the radio, and one quarter have never turned on the TV for news. In contrast, almost half (48 per cent) of that age group choose to get their news from TikTok.
While they might not be using traditional platforms, their interest in news and consumption of it have risen sharply since 2023 (47 per cent, +12; 49 per cent, +13).
The findings also highlight the major role that creators and influencers now play in Australia’s news landscape. More than half of under-35s say these creators meet their news needs, and 43 per cent of Australians overall get news from them. Among these users, most find influencer-led news more entertaining (59 per cent), relatable (55 per cent) and easier to understand (56 per cent) than traditional news.
“Young Australians are not disengaged from news – they are reshaping how news is accessed, consumed and understood,” said Professor Sora Park, lead author of the report and Director of the News and Media Research Centre (N&MRC).
“We are seeing a generational shift away from fixed routines and traditional platforms towards more fluid, platform-driven and personalised news habits. Younger Australians are signalling a desire for news that feels accessible, authentic and engaging.”
More young Australians are also paying for news.
University of Canberra Professor Sora Park, lead author of the report and Director of the News and Media Research Centre.
Despite cost-of-living pressures, under-35s now use more news sources than older Australians and are far more likely to pay for them with 27 per cent of 18–24s and 41 per cent of 25–34s paying for news, compared with just 16 per cent of those aged 65+. Among those who pay, under 35s also drive Australia’s world-leading position in paying for digital-only news brands (47 per cent versus 34 per cent globally).
The report reveals that younger people are more likely to pay for news that matches their views, but they also see news as a social good. Under-35s are twice as likely as older Australians to say they pay for news so others can access it for free (30 per cent versus 15 per cent). Those aged 25–34 are twice as likely to say public service media benefits Australian society (68 per cent) as people aged 55+.
Generative AI is a growing part of the news ecosystem. Nearly one in ten Australians (9 per cent, +3) now use AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity for news. Growth is fastest among under-25s (16 per cent, +4).
Among users of AI chatbots for news, almost half (49 per cent) use them to follow up on news stories, while others use them to summarise information, explain complex issues and verify information they encounter elsewhere online. Overall, AI news users value the chatbots’ ability to aggregate, explain, and simplify news.
However, trust in news via AI chatbots (19 per cent) and social media (21 per cent) is very low compared to the news generally (43 per cent), with 49 per cent saying they distrust news found on AI. Concern about misinformation also continues to rise, with 77 per cent (+3) of Australians worried about what is real or fake on the Internet.
“AI is becoming another layer in how Australians navigate information,” Professor Park said.
“But trust remains central. Audiences continue to place greater value on journalism they perceive as credible, transparent and accurate. The data also suggest that low trust in AI could be contributing to the growing concern about online misinformation.”
Social media is now the main gateway to online news
Social media continues to grow as a central source of news for Australians. The report found social media (56 per cent) is now the second most-used source of news, sitting just behind television (57 per cent) and ahead of online news websites and apps (52 per cent).
For the first time, social media (32 per cent) has also overtaken direct visits to news websites (31 per cent) as the main pathway for Australians to access online news.
“As the government grapples with its News Bargaining Incentive legislation, this year’s data underscores the increasing role digital platforms, including AI, are having on Australians’ access to news,” Professor Park said.
“The challenge for news organisations is to adapt to constantly changing audience behaviours without undermining their economic viability or compromising the quality and credibility of news that underpin public trust.”
You can access the full Digital News Report: Australia 2026 here.
The Digital News Report: Australia 2026 is produced by UC’s News and Media Research Centre in partnership with the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism at the University of Oxford. The Digital News Report delivers comparative data on trends in news consumption in 48 countries and across six continents. The Australian online sample size is 2,025.
A refrigerator becomes a cryogenic wellness resort. A Volkswagen Beetle powers an underground energy revolution. A grandfather clock becomes a time machine.
Across more than 15 large-scale installations, RELICS: A New World Risesblends sculpture, design, storytelling and nostalgia to create an unmissable exhibition that appeals to LEGO® lovers of all ages.
And it’s coming to Canberra.
Already seen by more than half a million people across Australia and New Zealand, the record-breaking miniature worlds exhibition is coming to Canberra Museum + Gallery (CMAG) from 19 September 2026 to 31 January 2027, marking the final Australian stop before the exhibition heads to the United States.
The brainchild of Perth duo Jackson Harvey and Alex Towler – who you might remember as the winners of Channel 9’s reality competition show LEGO® Masters in 2020 – the exhibition came about when they were commissioned by WA arts organisation FORM to create an exhibition at The Goods Shed gallery in Perth.
The childhood friends were presented with a totally blank canvas and were thrilled by the opportunity. But as they began to plan what would become a fully immersive art experience, they never expected that it would become the most successful ticketed show at the South Australian Museum in all its 167-year history.
“When we walked into the space, we were really struck by how interesting it was. It was an old freight unloading train station, an industrial-style building that was quite big, and cavernous…straight away, we realised we probably couldn’t fill the space with just LEGO®,” explains Alex.
“We started playing with the idea of mixing it with old objects, and from there the narrative grew and the ideas came pretty quickly.”
Telling the story of a world long abandoned by humans after mass-consumption led to an exhaustion of all its natural resources, RELICS: A New World Risesfeatures a series of discarded objects blossoming with LEGO® civilisations. It explores an imagined future – although one that might not be as far removed as we might think.
“LEGO® has this incredible storytelling opportunity. So rather than limiting ourselves to the micro scale of LEGO®, we wanted to create more of a sense of stepping into a world,” explains Jackson.
“That was the world we wanted to bring people into…where we end up if we don’t change some of our behaviours, particularly around recycling and reuse of materials and mass production of consumer goods.”
Alex and Jackson are constantly adding new elements to RELICS: A New World Rises, constantly building and updating the exhibition. And while Alex admits that they really built it for themselves, it’s something all ages will enjoy.
“Kids love it because it’s colourful and playful, and the LEGO® is really engaging in its own sense, but the nostalgia that the older objects bring and the depth of the storytelling that we tried to weave into it really appeals to the older audiences too,” he says.
“We’ve had these great moments of intergenerational connection. We have a jukebox from the ‘40s, and watching grandparents explain to their grandkids what a jukebox is, and how they used to stand around it, and listen to it, and the sort of stunned, confused looks on the kids’ faces – the exhibition is full of moments like that.”
Attendees are also invited to imagine their own future world.
During its run at CMAG, the RELICS Design Competition will challenge entrants to create a miniature brick civilisation inside an everyday, used or second-hand object, inspired by Canberra and the surrounding region.
Open to children, teenagers and adults, the competition invites participants to transform familiar objects – everything from lunchboxes and shoes to old radios and teapots – into inventive worlds of survival, creativity and reuse. Shortlisted entries will be displayed at CMAG for the duration of the exhibition, with winners announced by Jackson Harvey and Alex Towler on opening day.
For those interested in learning more about RELICS: A New World Rises, there will also be additional program highlights.
Inside RELICS: Preview with the Creators will take place on Friday 18 September, including drinks, canapés, an illustrated talk, Q&A and exclusive exhibition access, while Inside RELICS: Meet the Creators on Sunday 20 September will see Jackson and Alex discussing the exhibition, their creative process and LEGO® Masters journey.
The pre-sale waitlist opens on Tuesday 16 June, with waitlist members receiving exclusive access to pre-sale tickets for both the exhibition and associated programs from Wednesday 29 July to Wednesday 5 August – including a 10 per cent discount in the CMAG store and a free paint-your-own mini figurine experience during their exhibition visit.
Described as “the love child between an antique shop, The LEGO® Movie, and Blade Runner” and made with at least 2,500 mini-figures, the macro story of the exhibition is mesmerising. But it’s the micro moments that make it so inspiring.
“When people walk out the door, there’s a couple of things that we hope that they take away with them,” says Jackson.
“If nothing else, at least, just to be creatively inspired, to feel empowered to go and try and connect with that sense of creativity and play in their own lives.”
“But for audience members who do engage with some of those deeper themes around sustainability and consumerism, we really hope that it prompts people – if they haven’t already – to reposition their thoughts around how we use, reuse, recycle, and throw away all the stuff that we’re mass producing.”
The RELICS waitlist is now open – register for first access to the best exhibition and events tickets, in-store discounts and a free ‘paint your own mini figurine’ when you visit.
THE ESSENTIALS
What: RELICS: A New World Rises
When: 19 September 2026 to 31 January 2027
Where: Canberra Museum & Gallery, 176 London Circuit, City
Web: cmag.com.au
Is there anything more comforting than curling your fingers around a warm, beautifully crafted ceramic mug on a chilly winter morning?
It’s even better when that mug comes with a beautiful story of local connection.
If you’ve stepped into Braddon’s Café June recently, you’ve probably spotted their gorgeous custom pink and green granite scalloped mugs served with your coffee or tea order. They’re the result of a special collaboration between Café June’s owner, Komal Khubani, and local ceramicist Flynne Tytherleigh.
When Komal set out to redesign her café space (which you might remember as Elemental), she wanted to create a warm, community-focused sanctuary. Naturally, generic tableware simply wouldn’t do: she needed something with soul to complement their cosy interiors and range of Adore Tea.
“I discovered Flynne’s ceramic designs on social media and reached out to her to see if she could make me some mugs for the café to match our interiors, which could also be available for customers to purchase and take home,” Komal says.
“The mugs were the perfect finishing touch.”
For Flynne, shaping these pieces is much more than just a craft. She originally turned to the pottery wheel as a creative outlet and a therapeutic escape from the chronic pain of endometriosis.
She says the calming process of turning clay in her tiny balcony pottery studio in Griffith allowed her to channel her energy into creating something tangible.
“I wanted to explore non-medicinal avenues, and I wasn’t one to keep still, so I tried pottery,” Flynne explains.
“It helped me relax and the pain became secondary. It’s bloomed into a little business now; I do quite a few corporate orders with custom mugs that say ‘personality hire’ or ‘in retrospect, yikes.’ People just love handmade gifts.”
Café June’s owner, Komal Khubani, and local ceramicist Flynne Tytherleigh.
Balancing her studio time with a day job as a public servant, each of Flynne’s pieces is a true labour of love. Bringing the Café June vision to life was no small feat, but one she was passionate about fulfilling.
“For Café June, I made 20 mugs over a long weekend which turned into five days straight,” Flynne says. “I used kiln firings, underglaze, shaped them with an angle, added the scalloped edging and hand-wrote ‘June’ on each one to create a unique look.”
“It was important to me because I really want to support small business, and I also just loved the vibe at Café June; with their flowers, art and cosy interiors, it felt like I was stepping into my older sister’s kitchen. It was clearly a space Komal had poured her heart into.”
For both women, the partnership represents the very best of our local creative community.
“There are so many creatives in Canberra, whether they do it as a side hustle to a corporate job like me or full-time, and this shows you can do both,” Flynne says.
“I think this also shows there’s so much support and collaboration in this city, which is so important during these tough times.”
The ANU graduate, fertility specialist and gynaecologist is returning home to join the team at Genea Canberra with a mission to destigmatise fertility care.
For fertility specialist and gynaecologist Dr Anna Dalton, information is power.
It’s why she’s so passionate about helping both men and women in their fertility journey.
It’s also why she’s so thrilled to join the Genea Canberra team – and for her, the new role is a homecoming in every sense of the word.
As she prepares to provide her services to the city she once called home, Anna wants her future patients to know that seeking out information about fertility is one of the most empowering things you can do.
“I wanted to do reproductive medicine because it’s so impactful on people’s lives,” she explains.
“It permeates every aspect of their life, and it has a very big psychological impact, as well as physical. As a society, we’ve done a reasonable job teaching people how to avoid pregnancy, but we don’t teach them how to fall pregnant when they’re ready, and we don’t teach people about the finality of fertility for women.”
Growing up in Canberra, Anna always wanted to work in women’s health.
“I’m a feminist,” she says. “I wanted to improve healthcare access and education for women.”
She points out a sobering reality: even though women make up half the population, they are still underrepresented in clinical trials. For her, gynaecology and reproductive medicine are a way to help rebalance the scales.
“There’s multiple layers of things within our community and our society that we could do better, but my goal is to try and help patients to understand what their own bodies are doing and what their options are.”
“That’s why I love fertility medicine, because it’s very individualised. It’s also probably one of the only areas in women’s health where there’s quite big advancements every few years.”
Completing her medical training at the Australian National University in 2012 before relocating to Adelaide in 2013, Anna followed her passion to become a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.
After working across major metropolitan hospitals in Adelaide and Darwin and commencing specialist training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in 2016, joining the Genea Canberra team was the logical next step for Anna. Her head just happened to align with what her heart was telling her.
“Genea has really an excellent reputation for patient care as well as innovation and technological advancement in the laboratory, and the laboratory outcomes… I wanted to partner with a company that I think values the patient as the most important part,” she says.
“It’s a real national network; there’s a lot of accessibility. Even though we are in the ACT, I have colleagues that are interstate in Sydney, in Queensland, and in Melbourne. Even though we’re spread out across the country, it’s very accessible to contact colleagues, get information and discuss complex cases with them. That has been something that’s really blown me away.”
Bringing her diverse experience to the clinic, at Genea Anna will not only manage all aspects of fertility care (including fertility testing and IVF) but also perform clinical procedures like oocyte retrievals, embryo transfers, IUIs and surgical sperm retrieval.
With a strong interest in male factor infertility, Anna also believes those who carry sperm cells need to be involved in every step of the fertility process.
Part of her mission is to de-stigmatise infertility and encourage men to see fertility care not as an indictment of their masculinity, but as an opportunity to take charge of their health and their role in building a family.
“It’s about addressing the stigma of infertility, which has been a burden that’s generally been borne by women. While this is often a very heterosexual kind of discussion, there are many variations of what families look like,” she adds.
“For those individuals who do carry sperm cells, we want to get them involved in the discussion…so they feel like they have a place and a clear role. That’s really important.”
It’s obvious that being back in Canberra has strengthened Anna’s sense of purpose. And for anyone in Canberra who’s starting to think about fertility, Anna’s advice is simple but powerful: seek good information early.
She cautions against relying solely on stories from friends or siblings, or on the often-overwhelming mix of advice and anecdote circulating online. She also stresses the approachability of fertility specialists in the ACT.
“What is happening for your sister or your friend may be very different to what is happening for you,” she explains.
“You want information that’s personalised to your specific circumstances. It’s very reasonable for anyone to seek out information about their own fertility.”
Whether someone is actively trying to conceive, thinking about fertility preservation, or just beginning to ask questions, her door is open.
“It’s rewarding when people fall pregnant…but even if you don’t achieve a pregnancy, you may have really had an impact on that patient,” she says.
“Obviously for patients it’s often about that goal of pregnancy, but I think for the doctor it’s about treating the patient as a whole, and where possible, you’re trying to optimise their health as much as you can.”
For more information or to book an appointment, visit genea.com.au
