29 April 2026

Communication, training and understanding are vital parts of providing the appropriate care that many Medical Radiation Professionals do day-to-day, across Australia and beyond.

When practicing in rural regions and caring for First Nations patients, these components can be especially vital in building the confidence and knowledge needed, to guide and provide appropriate care.

A Diagnostic of Training to Provide Culturally Appropriate Care

ASMIRT Varian Award Winner and Senior Researcher at Perth's Curtain University, Georgia Halkett, spoke on the needs and challenges facing the MRP, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples communities.

At #ASMIRT2026, Professor Halkett shared the results of their MRP survey, revealing how the increased workload from workforce shortages have formed barriers, to develop the training, understanding and connection with community MRP's want and need to provide appropriate care to First Nations Peoples.

"There is lots of different types of training, but the engagement has not been big." Professor Halkett explained.

"Some of the barries to undertaking training included the workload for people, lack of time, workforce shortages, lack of access, lack of funding, and other commitments. The list goes on."

Reflections on Rural and Regional Strengths and Challenges

Likewise, Senior Lecturer in diagnostic radiography at Charles Stuart University, Dr Shayne Chau reflected on similar sentiments during the "Navigating Remote Challenges" presentation - such as chronic staff shortages and "The Generalist Reality" - emphasising the importance of training and CPD for regional MRPs.

"Rural radiographers are not working in a single modality, their work could be spanning across general radiography, mammography, CT, MRI and Ultrasound." Dr Chau said.

"Essentially, you're just covering a lot of areas and often within the same shift and sometimes performing twice the expected workload."

Peering beyond the presentations, author Marie McInerney spoke with leading Indigenous Health Researcher at the University of Queensland, Gail Garvey - a colleague of Professor Halkett - on the conversations around cancer care for First Nations Peoples.

Reflecting on presentations and more from ASMIRT2026, Marie dives into the wider narrative of practicing MRP's in our regions in a reflective article from Croakey Health Media.

Dr Chau and Professor Halkett's presentations are proudly available online, in full, as part of the ASMIRT eLearning platform. Find them online and enroll below: