Placement poverty likely to affect three quarters of medical radiation science students, survey finds

23 July 2025

Three quarters of medical radiation science students are not confident they can manage supporting themselves financially while undertaking up to 56 weeks of unpaid practical placements, a survey has found.

The study of student members of the Australian Society of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy reported significant financial hardship while on placement, from students sleeping in their cars, to regularly going without food.

Nearly 25 per cent of students are concerned they have no options to support themselves and some are considering dropping out altogether.

Practical placements frequently require students to undertake stints in rural or interstate areas for weeks or months, often requiring them to pay double rent (if they can find somewhere to stay), utilities, and greater transport costs during this time.

Even though the professions - radiography, radiation therapy, and nuclear medicine technology - are listed on several States and Territories’ Critical Skills Shortage lists these students are often burnt out even before they get to graduate.

Survey findings:

• 90 per cent of students say they’re “always tired” due to juggling work and placement
• 73 per cent cannot apply themselves academically as they would like to
• 67 per cent cannot apply themselves to the placement as they would like to
• 84 per cent are regularly stressed and
• 34 per cent say the situation is negatively impacting their self-confidence*

President of the Australian Society of Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy, Naomi Gibson, praises the introduction of the Commonwealth Practice Payment Scheme, which opened to nurses, midwives, teachers and social workers on 1 July, but wants to begin dialogue again with Government to include Medical Radiation Science students in the program.

“Including medical radiation science students in the Practice Payment Scheme will cost the government $15.5m per annum. This is to support critically needed graduates in professions that undertake 30 million medical images a year and 70,000 cancer treatments.

The contributions these future professionals will make to detecting disease and treating cancer over a lifetime, will pay in many many multiples,” Naomi says.

*This survey is based on the 88 per cent of medical radiation science students who support themselves financially while studying.

The ‘Student Clinical Placement Survey’ went to 1,970 medical radiation science students in July 2025, with 388 having participated at the time of writing. The survey remains open.

Media enquiries

Simone Costa
simone.costa@asmirt.org
0421 046 102