Operates high energy x-ray and other radiation and electron generating and monitoring equipment to administer radiation treatment for medical purposes in conjunction with Radiation Oncologists or other specialist Medical Practitioners. Registration or licensing is required.
Previously referred to in ASCO as:
2391-13 Radiographer - Radiation Therapist
新西兰注册。（此领域绝对紧缺技能资格：专门从事医疗放射疗法或医学影像学的保健科学学士学位）
NZ registration.(Qualifications in this area of absolute skill shortage are:
a Bachelor in Health Science specialising in Medical Radiation Therapy
OR specialising in Medical Imaging)
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.
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.
How much can I expect to earn?
Full-time employed Radiation Therapist earn an average of $1344 per week. The
[average annual salary for this job is $69888 excluding super.]
Personal requirements
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.
This job also involves:
Full use of hands/fingers
Use of precision or semi-precision tools or instruments or deft hand movements
are required for these occupations. Included are jobs where poor co-ordination
or incomplete use of hands or fingers may make tasks dangerous or difficult to
undertake.
Mainly indoor work
Workers performing these jobs would usually be expected to spend more than
three-quarters of their day indoors, in an office, factory or other enclosed
area protected from the weather.
Reading or writing
These jobs require moderate or better reading and writing skills. Workers may
be expected to prepare, understand or act on written materials, such as
letters or reports. People may wish to avoid these jobs if their reading or
writing English skills are limited to a small range of words or phrases and
symbols. Jobs remaining may still require very basic reading or writing
skills.
This occupation offers jobs at the following skill levels:
Professional Jobs
Jobs in this group usually require completion of a recognised Bachelor Degree,
or extensive relevant experience. Some jobs also require post-graduate study,
such as a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma or Master Degree.
Study requirements
At school, you can study these subject(s) to get a good foundation for this
occupation:
Mathematics
School subjects that include some aspect of MATHEMATICS provide a useful
background to these jobs. In some cases a mathematics-related subject is a
pre-requisite for entry to courses that provide the training for the job.
Physics
School subjects that include some aspect of PHYSICS provide a useful
background to these jobs. In some cases a physics-related subject is a pre-
requisite for entry to courses that provide the training for the job.
Duties and tasks of a Radiation Therapist
Radiation therapists may perform the following tasks:
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).