December 2022

Issue 33 - December 2022

From the Chair
Priority news
- Call for Victorian practitioners to sit on administrative tribunal
Board news
National Scheme news
Keep in touch with the Board

From the Chair

Cara Miller

Our last newsletter for 2022 is short and sweet. Importantly, there a few upcoming vacancies we wanted to let you know about. The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal is seeking expressions of interest from medical radiation practitioners as specialist members. We are also looking for practitioners to provide advice and expertise about assessing professional skills knowledge and capability using our national exam questions.

Also, with the national focus on health workforce, the latest statistics for medical radiation practice are out.

Before signing off for the year I want to acknowledge the important work of all registered medical radiation practitioners. Thank you for your contribution to the care and safety of patients over the past 12 months.

To all practitioners who will be giving up time with their own families over the Christmas period to provide care for patients and communities, a very big thank you.

Season’s greetings and best wishes for 2023.

Cara Miller

Chair, Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia

Priority news

Call for Victorian practitioners to sit on administrative tribunal

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) has vacancies for registered medical radiation practitioners in Victoria to sit as specialist members of the tribunal.

As a specialist member you will sit with other tribunal members and apply your professional knowledge and expertise to matters about registered medical radiation practitioners.

Integrity, sound judgement, fairness, communication skills and good interpersonal skills are essential for the role.

If you feel that you could contribute effectively to deciding matters about professional practice and conduct, the Board encourages you to apply.

For information about the tribunal please visit the VCAT website.

For more information on how to apply for the roles please email: attorneygeneral.appointments@justice.vic.gov.au

Board news

Recruitment of practitioners to review national exam content

As part of its ongoing commitment to a quality exam, the Board is looking for people to participate in a working group to review the national exam. The working group will provide advice and expertise to the National Exam Committee about the content and currency of questions used in the national exam for medical radiation practice.

If you are a registered medical radiation practitioner with good knowledge of the Professional capabilities for medical radiation practice and experience in supervising, training, teaching or assessment, then we would love to hear from you.

As an important part of the exam review process, the Board is seeking First Nations medical radiation practitioners who can contribute to review of exam content in their relevant division of registration, and in particular can provide perspectives and expertise on the cultural safety content of the exam.

Visit our Vacancies page under the About us tab on our website, to find out more.

Latest workforce data released

The Board’s quarterly registration data to 30 September 2022 has been published. At this date, there were 18,586 registered medical radiation practitioners (including 15 on the pandemic response sub-register). There are 14,556 diagnostic radiographers (78.3%), 2,735 radiation therapists (14.7%) and 1,280 nuclear medicine technologists (6.9%).

There are 123 practitioners who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Straits Islander.

Increasing the availability of clinical placements

As many of you may know or have heard, there are ongoing discussions across Australian governments and the health sector about workforce. While there is a focus for some health professions on short-term measures, domestically trained practitioners are the mainstay for health workforce supply in Australia.

We recognise that there are some workforce pressures for medical radiation practice. Indeed, the National Skills Commission (soon to be taken over by Jobs and Skills Australia) predicts that all areas of medical radiation practice will experience strong demand over the next few years.

To meet that strong demand, the graduate pipeline for medical radiation practice must be maintained, and where possible, increased. Access to quality clinical training is an important part of this pipeline.

We encourage practitioners, clinical educators and department managers to discuss what can be done at the local level to increase the availability of clinical training places. The addition of just one extra clinical placement block per year can have a significant effect.

To speak with someone at an approved university provider about their needs, see contact details on the ASMIRT website.

Students and graduates, check out our videos

Congratulations to those of you who are about to finish your studies and start practice as a registered medical radiation practitioner.

Whether you’re a graduate or a continuing student it’s important to understand the requirements and expectations of your profession. Here is a video that provides a quick overview of your professional obligations as a registered practitioner.

We also recommend that you have a look at the Professional capabilities and Code of conduct and the supporting videos on See something, Say something, The deteriorating patient, and Cultural safety.

National Scheme news

Click on the image below to read the National Scheme newsletter. The next issue is due out this month and you can subscribe on the website.

Keep in touch with the Board

Visit our website for the mandatory registration standards, codes, guidelines and FAQs.
Visiting the website regularly is the best way to stay in touch with news and updates from the Board.
Lodge an enquiry form via the website by following the Enquiries link on every web page under Contact us.
For registration enquiries, call 1300 419 495 (from within Australia) or +61 3 9285 3010 (for overseas callers).
To update your contact details for important registration renewal emails and other Board updates, go to the Ahpra website: Update contact details.
Address mail correspondence to: Cara Miller, Chair, Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia, GPO Box 9958, Melbourne, VIC 3001.