Radiation Therapy, Technology Meets Caring
Radiation Therapy
This programme is taught at the University of Otago, Wellington campus.
Interested applicants please contact rtenquiries.uow@otago.ac.nz to organise a visit to a clinical radiation oncology department. All other admissions information will be available here from 1 July annually.
Admission Guidelines
What is Radiation Therapy?
Radiation Therapy uses radiation to treat disease. Most patients
receiving radiation therapy are cancer patients. It’s a highly
skilled profession and because cancer affects so many people,
qualified radiation therapists are in demand.
 You’ll work as part of a specialised team, under the supervision
of a radiation oncologist – a specialist doctor who studies and
treats tumours. As a radiation therapist you are the person
within the team who plans a patient’s radiation treatment
using computer technology and clinical information. You are
also the person who gives the patient their radiation therapy
using a range of “high-tech” treatment machines.
Why Study Radiation Therapy?
You will learn more about cancer which
touches most families at some time or other, and you will have the opportunity to draw on your personal and intellectual strengths.
You will also play a vital part in the treatment,
and in the majority of cases, the cure of this
disease.
Due to the lengthy nature of the treatment – five days a week, often for four to six weeks,
you’ll be closely involved with the patients.
This means getting to know them and their
families quite well at what is often a stressful
time for everyone. But this has its own rewards. With recent advances in the early detection
of cancer, many patients are cured, so the job
satisfaction is immense.
You will be working in a field at the forefront
of research around the world. This means
keeping up to date with new ways of treating
diseases.
Background required and selection
Applicants will require NCEA Level 3 or
equivalent level education. The subjects given
preference for entry are: English or an English
rich subject, Mathematics (Statistics or Calculus)
and Biology or Physics. Upon acceptance into
the programme you will be offered a clinical
placement to ensure access to clinical training.
You must also have a current approved
comprehensive first aid certificate on entry to
the programme. From January 2011 you can submit a First Aid Certificate which includes NZQA Standards 26551 and 26552. However, until December 2013 a valid certificate which meets NZQA Standard 6400 will be accepted. This must be kept current
throughout the programme.
Selection
Selection into the degree involves consideration
of your academic ability and your suitability to the
profession as demonstrated at an interview. Places
on the degree are limited to the number of clinical
placements available.
What will I study?
The Course
The course is full-time and will take three years
to complete. In addition to the academic papers,
there is a large component of clinical work within
the degree, particularly in the second and third
year.
First Year
This year is spent at the University of Otago,
Wellington in a class of about 30 students. During
this first year, you will also spend two weeks in
the clinical environment of a radiation oncology
department.
You will need to complete the following papers:
RADT 111: Anatomy and Imaging
RADT 112: Cancer Cell Biology
RADT 113: Health and Human Behaviour
RADT 114: Healthcare Communication
RADT 115: Radiation Technology I
RADT 116: Radiation Therapy and Oncology I
RADT 117: Radiation Therapy Planning Concepts I
Second Year
Your first semester is based in a radiation oncology
department, where you’ll continue your education
in a clinical setting. Your second semester
is at the University of Otago, Wellington studying
academic papers.
You will need to complete the following papers:
RADT 211: Radiation Therapy Practice II
RADT 212: Principles of Research
RADT 213: Advanced Healthcare Communication
RADT 214: Radiation Technology II
RADT 215: Radiation Therapy and Oncology II
RADT 216: Radiation Therapy Planning Concepts II
Third Year
Your first semester is at the University of Otago,
Wellington taking further academic papers. Your
second semester is based in a radiation oncology
department, where you’ll continue your education
in a clinical setting.
You will need to complete the following papers:
RADT 311: Radiation Therapy Practice III
RADT 312: Literature Analysis
RADT 313: Professional Development
RADT 314: Radiation Therapy and Oncology III
RADT 315: Radiation Therapy Planning Concepts III
During your academic breaks, you’ll need to work
in the radiation oncology department to get the
necessary clinical work experience to meet the
requirements of your degree and registration.
Careers in RT
Radiation Therapy is an international profession.
If you decide to travel, there are many
opportunities. New Zealand radiation
therapists are extremely well regarded
overseas for their high level of skills and broad
knowledge of the field.
Within New Zealand there are many career opportunities for a radiation therapist. Radiation Oncology departments in New Zealand are at six public hospitals (Auckland, Waikato, Palmerston North, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin), and also at two private centres in Auckland and Christchurch.
As a qualified radiation therapist, you may have the opportunity to specialise in the area of treatment delivery, planning, research or clinical education.
Graduates with the Otago Bachelor of Radiation Therapy are eligible for registration upon qualification with the New Zealand Medical Radiation Technologists Board, so your employment prospects are immediate.
There are also options of doing an Honours thesis and/or postgraduate programmes including Radiation Therapy Advanced Practice.
Michele Gatfield
Michele Gatfield has lived most of her life in the greater Wellington region and when she finished school she chose to study at the University of Otago while she decided what she would do with her life.
She knew that she wanted to work in the health sector, but wasn’t sure in what particular area. She began her studies with Health Sciences First Year and then after the first semester changed to study papers of interest and those that she felt would help her apply to Radiation Therapy.
“I chose Radiation Therapy after a close family member of mine had been diagnosed with cancer and was explaining the types of treatment she was receiving. It seemed like a really good way to get involved in the health sector and a great way to help people, which was what I really wanted to do with my life,” explains Michele.
Michele soon knew that she had chosen the right career path, “I really enjoyed the hands-on clinical experience, especially the patient and staff interaction.”
There are some sections of group study, which in the beginning Michele found challenging. However, they were “definitely useful. It really set you up with the experience of working in a team. I got a real sense of the role.”
Now Michele works at Wellington Hospital as a fully qualified radiation therapist and is part of the new graduate programme. The programme offers transitional support to move from being a student to becoming a professional.
Her plans for the future are to continue with the career she loves and work in radiation therapy both nationally and internationally.
And her advice, “the career choice of radiation therapy is definitely worth the study.”
LOGAN SEDDON
Logan Seddon always wanted a career related to health and had an interest in technology, so after visiting radiation clinics with relatives who needed treatment he decided that Medical Radiation Therapy ticked all the boxes.
Fortunately for Logan his secondary school subjects of English, biology, physics and maths allowed him to apply directly for a place in the Medical Radiation Therapy programme.
Logan enjoyed the three-year programme which, “has a great mix of academic and practical training.” Now that he is working as a radiation therapist the learning hasn’t stopped. “I love that I am continuously learning and developing my skills as a practitioner as technology and treatment techniques advance.”
But for Logan the biggest rewards and challenges are working with patients. “It can be challenging dealing with families and their emotions. But, it comes with the great satisfaction of knowing I am helping the patients in some way.”
As a radiation therapist Logan is involved in all stages of patient care from gathering patient information often using the CT scanner, through to planning the treatment which is done using the CT data and working closely with the radiation oncologist, and then finally administering the treatment.
“Treatment courses vary from one day to eight weeks, five days a week. So you can get to know a patient quite well and build up a rapport with them. That’s very important for patients. Lots of them are away from home and so have to deal with all those emotional things as well,” Logan explains.
Logan hopes to be working in the same field for the foreseeable future noting, “it’s satisfying work. I can branch out and up. I have job security, and I can travel too.”
Further information
Department of Radiation Therapy
University of Otago, Wellington
PO Box 7343
Wellington South 6242
New Zealand
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