30 April 2025
ASMIRT Board Director Nigel Anderson has spoken to ABC South East NSW Breakfast Radio about what it takes to set up a new radiation therapy service. The ABC contacted ASMIRT for its expertise after the NSW government released information on the Eurobodella Regional Hospital. The hospital is currently under construction, with its radiation therapy department projected to open in 2027.
Available on ABC Listen, the interview begins one hour and 17 minutes into the Breakfast program.
Nigel talked ABC journalist Christien de Garis through the equipment and staff needed to establish radiation therapy services. He emphasised that radiation therapy is a multi-disciplinary service, with radiation therapists working alongside radiation oncologists, medical physicists, cancer nurses and a myriad of allied health services. He also spoke about safety and quality assurance.
When asked about workforce issues, Nigel said that while there are challenges getting staff into regional areas - an issue across present in multiple healthcare fields - the challenges aren't insurmountable.
"It's all about building a service which is attractive to staff. If you build the right site, they will come," he said.
"Speaking as a radiation therapy manager myself, I know that people get excited about these new challenges and opportunities to work in a new environment, with new tools... A new site like this is really exciting for staff members - to be part of something that's brand new and develop it from the ground up."
Nigel also spoke about ASMIRT's work to attract more young people to the professions.
"As a Board at ASMIRT we've been at the forefront of looking at strategies to get people into medical radiation practice. Right back to the tertiary levels and the high school levels, we've been talking about these exciting professions and what they have to offer," Nigel said.
This year ASMIRT has released videos about careers in medical imaging, radiation therapy, and nuclear medicine technology.
