An ‘earn and learn’ pathway into nuclear medicine is set to launch in Western Australia in a bid to tackle the state’s workforce shortage in the field.
The Bachelor of Medical Radiation (Nuclear Medicine: Industry Practice) will see five WA-based students study while working in paid, industry-based clinical roles.
It is part of RMIT university’s expansion of its medical radiation education to WA in partnership with Perth Radiological Clinic and SKG Radiology.
Co-designed with industry to allow students to train and work close to home, the initiative blends remote academic study with hands-on clinical training delivered through RMIT’s private sector partners.
Students will undertake paid clinical placements alongside their studies, gaining practical experience, technical skills and professional mentoring from day one of their studies.
Associate Professor Mark Scalzo, RMIT’s program manager of the course, said the WA expansion reflected a commitment to industry-led education models that respond directly to workforce need.
“This new Western Australian offering extends RMIT’s nationally recognised nuclear medicine training into a state that faces growing demand for specialist imaging professionals and removes the need for students to relocate,” he said.
“Through our ‘Earn and Learn’ model, students are embedded in the workforce from the start of their degree, while industry partners play an active role in shaping job-ready graduates with the skills required to support patient care.”
Graduates of the program will develop the specialist skills required to operate advanced imaging technologies, including Positron Emission Tomography and Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography scanners, supporting the diagnosis, treatment and ongoing management of cancer and other complex conditions.
Perth Radiological Clinic CEO Rebecca Banks said the collaboration created a clear and sustainable pathway for local students to train, learn and thrive in their own community.
SKG Radiology chief executive Dr Sonia Dale said the opportunity was a big step forward in addressing skills shortages in the industry and would ultimately provide patients with improved access to nuclear medicine.
The program has been prompted by rising demand for nuclear medicine services as imaging becomes an increasingly critical part of patient care pathways.
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