ANZSCO 2512-12Australia

Medical Radiation TherapistJune 2017

Labour Market Research and Analysis Branch

Department of Employment

Current labour market ratingNo shortage

Previous labour market rating (May 2016)No shortage

Comments

There is some surplus capacity in this labour market with employers readily filling their vacancies and evidence of some recent graduates experiencing difficulty gaining initial employment.

Survey results[1]

  • Almost every surveyed vacancy was filled in 2017, consistent with the results over the past five years (Figure 1).
  • There were 11.8 applicants per vacancy, on average, of whom 10.9 were qualified and 7.8 by employers to be suitable.

Figure 1: Proportion of vacancies filled (%), average number of applicants and suitable applicants per vacancy (no.), Medical radiation therapist, 2007 to 2017

Source: Department of Employment, Survey of Employers who have Recently Advertised

Key to ratings: S = Shortage NS = No shortage

  • The small number of vacancies which remained unfilled were for senior radiation therapists in regional locations and, while they attracted qualified applicants, they lacked the required level of experience.

Reasons applicants were unsuitable

  • A lack of experience was the overwhelming reason employers considered applicants to be unsuitable for their vacancies.
  • A relatively small number of applicants were unqualified and others had a poor work history.

Demand and supply trends

  • Entry to this occupation is through the completion of a relevant bachelor’s degree or post-graduate qualification recognised by the Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia.[2]
  • This is a relatively small occupation with almost 2400 registered radiation therapists in March2017 (up by 11.6 per cent or around 250 since 2013).[3]
  • Many employers commented that there are large numbers of graduates in medical radiation therapy.
  • A number noted that some recent graduates face difficulty gaining initial employment and that this limits their ability to gain the required experience to be competitive for available vacancies.
  • Some indicated that they recruit graduates and a small number suggested that they are retraining medical radiation graduates in sonography (which is an area of skill shortage).

Other issues

  • Employers highlighted the need for advanced clinical skills to improve patient care and treatment.
  • The ability to develop and check treatment plans was also noted as an important attribute for radiation therapists, and one which determined the suitability of candidates for many of the surveyed vacancies.
  • Teamwork and a focus on interpersonal skills to enable appropriate communication with patients and their families were also raisedby many contacts as being important attributes for medical radiation therapists.

Labour Market Research and Analysis Branch

Department of Employment

[1] The methodology underpinning this research is outlined at Skill Shortage Research Methodology | Department of Employment - Document library, Australian Governmentand can also be accessed by the QR code.

[2] Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia, Approved Programs of Study

[3]APHRA, Medical Radiation Practice Board of Australia, Registrant Data, March 2017 (includes non-practising radiation therapists).