Radiation Therapist
What the work is
Operates high energy X-ray and other radiation and electron generating and monitoring equipment to administer radiation treatment for medical purposes.
Would you enjoy the work?
These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.
- Administers radiation therapy to patients using complex equipment, according to prescribed treatment plans
- Collaborates with Medical Oncologists and other Health Professionals to develop individual treatment plans that provide the greatest effect on disease, with minimal effect to healthy tissue
- Monitors patients closely throughout treatment to ensure comfort and addresses concerns
- Explains procedures to patients and families about radiation therapy procedures and potential side effects
- Ensures radiation therapy equipment is properly maintained and calibrated
- Keeps up to date with advancements in radiation therapy technology and techniques
Try it
A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in the medical imaging department of a fictional regional hospital. They are fictional.
The kind of days you could have
Good days
- A scared child leaves the room laughing about having their bones photographed
- Your clear image helps the doctors find an answer quickly
- A patient who dreaded the machine tells you that you made it easy
Hard days
- A patient in pain who cannot hold the position you need
- Back-to-back requests from the emergency department while a queue builds
- Wearing heavy protective gear and working in a darkened room all day
Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.
Work a mission
Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.
Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 263132, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.