How to become a Radiation Therapist

Radiation therapists design, plan and administer radiation treatment to cancer patients, and provide related care to patients in conjunction with radiation oncologists or other medical specialists.

Personal requirements for a Radiation Therapist

Interest and ability in science
Attention to detail
Able to work neatly and accurately
Good oral and written communication skills
Able to work as part of a team
Aptitude for working with computers
Patient and empathetic towards others
Supportive and professional approach when treating cancer patients

Education & Training for a Radiation Therapist

To become a radiation therapist you have to study radiation therapy at university. To get into these courses you need to gain your Senior Secondary Certificate of Education. Prerequisite subjects, or assumed knowledge, in one or more of English, mathematics, biology, chemistry and physics are normally required. Universities have different prerequisites and some have flexible entry requirements. Contact the institutions you are interested in for more information.

Additional information

Depending on the length of the university course, some graduates are required to complete a year of clinical practice in an accredited radiation oncology department. Those completing a four-year degree with the necessary clinical component are not required to undertake this additional year. Before undertaking clinical placements required by courses, students will need to obtain a National Police Certificate, a Provide First Aid Certificate and immunisations, and undergo a Working with Children Check. Contact the institutions you are interested in for more information.It is a legal requirement for graduates to be registered with the Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia before practising as a radiation therapist in any state or territory of Australia. For full details, see the Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia's website. You must obtain a licence to operate radiation equipment from the appropriate state or territory authority.

Duties & Tasks of a Radiation Therapist

Radiation therapists:

Provide explanations and information to patients about radiation therapy treatment, its possible side effects and self-care procedures
Coordinate the various activities that make up the patient's treatment and care plan
Use simulators, CT scanners and other medical imaging equipment to identify and define the anatomy to be treated and those to be avoided
Devise a treatment plan that will deliver the optimum radiation dose to the target anatomy and minimise dose to unaffected anatomy
Calculate the treatment machine settings, associated equipment and computer verification systems to deliver the radiation dose as prescribed by the radiation oncologist
Administer the radiation treatment and record the delivered dosage into patients' record sheets
Monitor and assess the patient's wellbeing before, during and after the treatment, taking particular note of side effects of treatment
Participate in research and development activities and clinical trials
Supervise and train students allocated from universities in the practical aspects of radiation therapy
Commit to the Continuing Professional Development Program (which is mandatory for registration).

Tasks

Positions patients, screens and equipment preparatory to procedures.
Ensures patients welfare during procedures.
Calculates details of procedures such as length and intensity of exposure to radiation, size and strength of dosage of isotopes and settings of recording equipment.
Determines appropriate equipment to use.
Receives referrals to perform radiation treatment of patients.
Explains procedures to patients and answers patients' queries about processes.
Conveys findings of procedures to medical practitioners.

Working conditions for a Radiation Therapist

Radiation therapists work in hospitals and/or radiation oncology centres. They work in teams that include radiation oncologists, nurses, medical physicists, engineers and technicians, data managers and administrative staff. They are involved in the day-to-day treatment of cancer patients.

Employment Opportunities for a Radiation Therapist

Radiation therapy treatment centres can be found in major cities and rural locations. The career structure for radiation therapists allows for professional development and promotion in technical, research and managerial areas. Factors that influence demand for this occupation include government funding and health policy, advances in medicine and technology, ageing of the population and the incidence of cancer.

Specializations

Radiation Therapist

Radiation therapists design, plan and administer radiation treatment to cancer patients, and provide related care to patients in conjunction with radiation oncologists or other medical specialists.

Average age
35
Future Growth
N/A
Gender Share
75% female
Average full-time
39 hours
Weekly Pay
N/A
Skill level rating
Very high skill
Unemployment
Lower unemployment
Full-Time Share
71%
Employment Size
2,200
Employment by state
ACT: 2.5%
NSW: 32.8%
NT: 0.6%
QLD: 21.3%
SA: 6.3%
TAS: 2.8%
VIC: 26.2%
WA: 7.5%
Age brackets
15-19: 0%
20-24: 9.1%
25-34: 45.1%
35-44: 26%
45-54: 11.6%
55-59: 5.4%
60-64: 2.3%
65 and Over: 0.5%
Education level
Advanced Diploma/Diploma: 9.3%
Bachelor degree: 69.4%
Certificate III/IV: 0%
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate: 20.6%
Year 10 and below: 0%
Year 11: 0%
Year 12: 0.7%