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Overview
- Study medical physics, patient health-care needs, and professional communication techniques, before specialising in photon therapy, electron therapy and megavoltage therapy.
- Experience practical work and clinical placements in local oncology departments .
- Prepares you for a career as a radiation therapist in a hospital or private institution, treating cancer patients and planning and delivering prescribed radiation doses.
- Graduate eligible for provisional accreditation by the Australian Institute of Radiography.
| Careers |
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| QTAC course code | 418192 |
| QUT course code | ST31 |
| Attendance | Full time |
| Course duration | 3 years full time |
| Start month | February
Note: Fixed Closing Date - 30 November |
| Delivery |
On campus
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| Faculty |
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| Course contact |
Student Business Services (SBS) Admissions:
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| CRICOS code | 073449G |
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Details
QUT is currently the only university in Queensland to offer a radiation therapy undergraduate qualification. This course leads to employment as a radiation therapist, assisting cancer patients at the most difficult time in their lives.
Why choose this course?
QUT works closely with the health sector in an effort to ensure that the number of graduates is in line with demand. In recent years, more than 95 per cent of graduates gained full-time employment within four months of graduation. This course is designed in consultation with clinical staff from radiation oncology departments, so you will gain advanced knowledge of new treatment techniques and equipment used in the workplace. QUT’s well-equipped laboratories allow you to graduate with experience using treatment planning equipment and techniques similar to those used in industry. Close links with local oncology departments allow you to complete practical work and clinical placements using specialised, state-of-the-art radiotherapy equipment.
Career outcomes
As a radiation therapist in a radiotherapy department of a major hospital or private institution, you may become a member of a team treating cancer patients and be responsible for planning and delivering prescribed radiation doses.
Professional recognition
Provisional accreditation by the Australian Institute of Radiography is being sought. Full accreditation requires the completion of an additional professional development year of clinical experience.
Units
Your course
Year 1
You will develop a solid grounding in anatomy and medical physics along with introductory knowledge of patient health-care needs, professional communication techniques and ethical, legal and accountability issues. Introductory studies in medical radiation and radiotherapy techniques are complemented with practical sessions using equipment in clinical departments. You will learn a range of skills including patient data acquisition, radiation dosimetry and the basic techniques of treatment delivery including beam direction and beam defining devices.
Year 2
You will progress to further studies in anatomy and pathology as well as the planning of complex techniques like photon therapy, electron therapy, and megavoltage therapy, including techniques for specific sites. The use of computer software to assist with the optimisation of isodose distributions will be covered along with issues related to the interaction of radiation with tissue, dose measurement and related quality assurance procedures. You will undertake practical exercises in hospital clinical departments along with your first clinical placement period, allowing you to gain real experience in a working environment.
Year 3
You will continue to develop your skills through clinical placements in hospitals and practical classes using equipment in clinical settings. You will cover the techniques of medical imaging used in the detection of cancer, along with future directions of three dimensional treatment planning. You will progress to more complex and specialised techniques for child patients and patients with communicable disease, along with the latest developments and techniques complementary to the modern radiotherapy treatment of cancer. You will learn important information about the biological effects of ionising radiation and the philosophy and protocol in radiation protection and quality assurance.
All course structures
Entry requirements
Assumed knowledge
Before you start this course we assume you have sound knowledge in these areas:
- Physics
- Maths B
- English
We assume that you have knowledge equivalent to four semesters at high school level (Years 11 and 12) with sound achievement (4, SA).
Course requirements
Working with Children Check: Blue Card
A Blue Card will be required if the placement component of this course involves working with children or young people. There's no cost if you apply through QUT.
Submit your Blue Card application to the QUT Student Centre as early as possible - ideally, as soon as you've received your offer.
If you don't receive your Blue Card before the start of a unit that requires contact with children, you may be unable to participate and your grades may be affected. You may also still have to pay fees for the unit.
How to apply for a Blue Card
First aid
Students are required to have a current Senior First Aid Certificate (or equivalent) which includes cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) prior to the commencement of their first placement.
The certificate is to be updated every 3 years with the CPR component updated every 12 months.
Students will need to cover this cost.
Vaccination
You will be required to undertake clinical experience in healthcare settings. As a result, you will have direct patient contact during the placement and may be exposed to blood and body fluids of patients. Consequently you must be vaccinated for Hepatitis B and must provide a post vaccination pathological report or similar certification showing proof of immunity prior to undertaking the first clinical placement.
Students will need to cover this cost.Off-campus placements
Students will be required to undertake placements off campus and will need to cover travel and accommodation costs.
Clinical placements with Queensland Health
Students undertaking a clinical placement in a Queensland Health facility are required to complete The Essentials component of the student orientation package.
Health status
You must satisfy the criteria related to health status. You should declare height, physical disabilities, treatment of nervous condition, any drug/alcohol disorder, and a current immunisation status as part of the online enrolment process.
Deferment
You can't defer your offer in this course. You must start in the semester you apply for.
Course fees
Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. All fees are based on current fixed fee prices. We review fees annually.
2012: CSP $3,434 (indicative) per Semester (subject to annual review)
HECS-HELP: loans to help you pay your course fees
You may not have to pay anything upfront if you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan.
Find out if you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan
Scholarships and financial support
You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.
You may also be eligible for Centrelink payments
Apply
How to apply for Bachelor of Radiation Therapy
You apply through QTAC for all our undergraduate courses.
Are you ready to submit your application?
You're ready if you've:
- Found all the courses you want to apply for - you can apply for up to 6
- Checked important dates
- Semester 1
20121 August 2011 -Applications for Semester 1, 2012 open
30 September 2011 -Due date for on-time QTAC applications for 2012. Further information is available from QTAC.
20 December 2011 -Due date to submit QTAC applications and documentation for the January offer round. Further information is available from QTAC.
5 January 2012 - Final date to change preferences for the QTAC January offer round. Further information is available from QTAC. - Semester 2
20121 August 2011 - Applications for Semester 2, 2012 open.23 April 2012 - Final date to submit QTAC midyear applications and documentation for the May offer round. Further information is available from QTAC.25 May 2012 -Final date to submit QTAC midyear applications, change of preference and documentation for the June offer round. Further information is available from QTAC.
- Checked you meet the entry requirements
- Checked your course costs and if you're eligible for financial support
All done? Then you're ready to apply
Important: Make a note of the QTAC code for this course (418192) because you'll need to enter it as part of your QTAC application.
After you've submitted your application to QTAC
If you've studied before or if you have at least two years' work experience, you may want to apply for credit for prior learning.
