The Tripartite Committee is the peak group in Radiation Oncology, representing the three key professions involved in radiotherapy:
• The Faculty of Radiation Oncology (FRO), the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR); • Australian Institute of Radiography (AIR); • The Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine (ASPSEM)
In 2008, the Tripartite Committee developed the Radiation Oncology Practice Standards with funding and support from the Department of Health and Ageing. The document presents 16 standards developed for Radiation Oncology Practices, to assist facilities to achieve best practice by providing a framework of requirements. It is expected that radiation oncology facilities will find these standards useful in the establishment and delivery of radiation oncology treatment services. It is also hoped that these standards will allow Australian facilities to be set up in a consistent manner enabling common data collection and participation in national and international trials.
In addition a Supplementary Guide was developed in May-June 2011 for new facilities. The Supplementary Guide incorporates useful information that can assist radiotherapy facilities in implementing and working towards achieving the Standards.
The Tripartite Radiation Oncology Practice Standards and Supplementary Guide were officially launched at the DoHA Quality in Radiation Oncology Symposium held in Melbourne on 10 August 2011.
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists, the Faculty of Radiation Oncology, Australian Institute of Radiography and the Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine, have received Australian Government funding support for the development and publication of the Radiation Oncology Practice Standards and Supplementary Guide.
Aside from receiving membership invoices, have you been wondering how the ACPSEM is going with its large workload of training and education projects, membership commitments and other supporting activities? This monthly update is designed to bring to the ACPSEM membership a snapshot of the issues and activities that are being addressed or progressed on your behalf. If you would like further information on any of the matters below, or wish to discuss other aspects of membership, training or continuing professional development, please don’t hesitate to contact the General Manager, Gary Disher on 02 9700 8522.
The 2011 summer school on functional imaging in radiotherapy will be run just prior to EPSM 2011 in Darwin on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th of August at the Crowne Plaza in Darwin.
While the primary target audience are medical physic registrars, all ACPSEM members can benefit.
You can also email Amy (
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) or you have further questions.
The President and Council of the ACPSEM wish to extend their congratulations to Lyn Oliver on his achievement of an Order of Australia announced in the recent Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
Associate Professor Lynne Douglas OLIVER has been recognised with an award (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia, for service to medical physics in the field of radiation oncology, and through executive roles with the Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine, and to professional associations.
Lyn began his association with the College in 1975 when he was part of the steering committee to create the Australasian College of Physical Scientists in Medicine – now ACPSEM, the professional organization for Medical Physicists. This was followed by his being appointed as the Inaugural Honorary Secretary, 1978-1982. It wasn’t long afterwards that Lyn became Vice-President, (2002-2003) followed by President (2004-2005) and then Head of Operations from 2006-2007.
Digital Mammography Workshop - Brisbane - Friday 16th September 2011
ACPSEM will be running a Digital Mammography Equipment Assessors course. This is a one day course open to those that are already certified Mammography Equipment Assessors that are wanting to update their qualification to include digital, which will soon become a requirement for all certified assessors. The course is also open to those not previously certified, although some pre-course work will be required, with the end result becoming a certified Digital Mammography Equipment Assessor, if anyone is interested in obtaining a film screen qualification please email
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to register your interest. The course location will be announced shortly. We have a maximum number of 30 attendees to this workshop, so please fill in the Brisbane Mammography Registration Form and submit your deposit to ensure your place.
36th ARPS Conference
Registration is now open for the 36th ARPS Conference Crown Promenade Hotel, Melbourne from 16 - 19 October 2011.
REGISTER NOW AT EARLY BIRD PRICES! Early Bird Registrations are now open until Friday 5 August 2011.
The committee is currently assembling an excellent technical program. Each day will include keynote and concurrent sessions incorporating elements of the conference theme 'Risk Perceptions: Safety & Security'. The program will also include a pre conference workshop and post conference tour to The Australian Synchrotron and ARPANSA. Please click here for all registration details and to access the online registration form.
THE CALL FOR ABSTRACTS HAS BEEN EXTENDED!
Abstract submissions have been extended until 24 June 2011.
Please click here for more details and to download the Call for Abstracts
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES SELLING FAST!
Limited sponsorship opportunities are still available. Be quick to secure your package!
Please click here for more information or contact
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for a Sponsorship Prospectus
We look forward to receiving your abstract submissions and welcoming you to the 36th ARPS Conference in Melbourne.
For more information please visit the 36th ARPS Conference Website
ESTRO Endorsed Radiobiology Course Rotorua 30 October – 3 November 2011 Early registration closes 31 July
The aim of the Basic Clinical Radiobiology Course is to provide an introduction to radiation biology as applied to radiotherapy. It will cover the basic mechanisms of cell death/survival and the radiation response of tumours and normal tissues. Formulas of tissue tolerance will be explained. The biological basis for current approaches to the improvement of radiotherapy will be described including novel fractional schemes, retreatment, conformal radiotherapy, modification of hypoxia and combined radiotherapy/ chemotherapy.
This is a highly regarded course which sold out when it ran in Sydney in 2009.
As per the invitation from ARPANSA below, the College and the Specialty Groups are interested in providing a profession wide comment to ARPANSA on the currency of three Safety Guides (Safety Guide for Radiation Protection in Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology 2008; Safety Guide for Radiation Protection in Nuclear Medicine 2008; and Safety Guide for Radiation Protection in Radiotherapy 2008) that supplement the Code of Practice for Radiation Protection in the Medical Applications of Ionizing Radiation (RPS 14).
You are invited you to submit comments to the Chair of your Specialty Group. These would then be collated to a College response.
Please provide your comments by Wednesday 15 June to your Specialty Chair:
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(Radiology)
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(Nuclear Medicine)
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(Radiation Oncology)
ARPANSA would like to draw your attention to the current comment period concerning the review of the three Safety Guides (Safety Guide for Radiation Protection in Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology 2008; Safety Guide for Radiation Protection in Nuclear Medicine 2008; and Safety Guide for Radiation Protection in Radiotherapy 2008) that supplement the Code of Practice for Radiation Protection in the Medical Applications of Ionizing Radiation (RPS 14).
ARPANSA invites comments on any aspects of these Safety Guides, including the need for improvements in clarity or detail, any provisions that are difficult to put into practice, or instances where better or more up to date advice than that given in the Safety Guides may be more appropriate. Comments should be made via the webpage Review of Safety Guides – Comments before 1 July 2011. ARPANSA also encourages you to let your members know about this request for comment.
The Radiation Health Committee will review comments received and determine whether revision of the Safety Guides is necessary.
Review of the Training, Education and Accreditation Program (TEAP) for Radiation Oncology Medical Physicists (ROMPs)
On 18 September 2009, the Commonwealth engaged The Allen Consulting Group to provide consultancy services to undertake a review of the Training, Education and Accreditation Program (TEAP) for Radiation Oncology Medical Physicists (ROMPs).
The objective of this consultancy was to inform the Commonwealth, states and territories and the profession on the operation of TEAP since its commencement in 2003 in order to determine whether the current arrangements meet the training needs of the profession. The consultancy also provided advice to potentially assist the preparation of TEAP for accreditation by relevant jurisdictional bodies and other relevant government agencies.
The consultancy has now been completed and the Department has taken delivery of the Final Report from Allen Consulting which provides recommendations for improvement to TEAP and strategies for future development.
Dear Colleague, On behalf of Japan Society of Medical Physics, we would like to express our sincere compassion to the victims of the Great Tohoku Earthquake, and we would like to recognize the warm concerns sent from medical physics societies overseas to our society. In spite of the terrible damages the northern region of Japan has suffered, we would like to announce that we have decided to host the 6th Japan-Korea Joint Meeting on Medical Physics and the 11th Asia-Oceania Congress of Medical Physics in the City of Fukuoka, where fortunately there has been no damage from the earthquake. We genuinely hope these meetings will be successful and will become a step to reconstruction.
In the Pre-Congress Course, prominent speakers from all over the world will give educational lectures and special lectures. In the main congress, researchers from Japan, Korea and other Asian countries will discuss about the rapidly progressing field of medical physics. The main topic of the main congress is the recent Fukushima nuclear power plant explosion and radiation in Japan. Experts in nuclear engineering and medical physics will describe the accident that led to damage at the nuclear plant and what the risks are to public health of radiation releases. Themes of the main congress are radiation therapy, diagnostic imaging, radiation protection the related topics.
Please be reminded that the deadline for the Joint Congress of 6th JKMP and 11th AOCMP abstract and paper submission is June 12, 2011.
We are looking forward to seeing you in Fukuoka.
Sincerely yours,
Masahiro Endo, Ph.D. President, The 6th Japan-Korean Joint Meeting on Medical Physics
Fukai Toyofuku, Ph.D. Congress Chair, The 11th Asia-Oceania Congress of Medical Physics
EOI for Radiological Physics
Expressions of interest are being sought from medical physics seeking to become accredited in Radiological Physics.
EOI will be received up until 5:00pm Sunday 1st May 2011.
Expressions must be accompanied by a non refundable deposit of $55 which will be deducted from the accreditation fee should the application be successful.
Victorian Medical Radiations Workforce Supply and Demand Projections (2010-2030)
This report provides a high level overview of the workforce supply and demand for Victorian medical radiation services over the next 20 years. The medical radiation workforce demand estimates are mainly derived from population ratios, service utilisation and effective infrastructure methods. The projection of workforce supply is based on various data sources and applies a ‘stocks and flows’ methodology. The supply and demand modelling is produced for three streams of medical radiations: radiation oncology, medical imaging and nuclear medicine. Within these streams, nine medical radiation professions are modelled, applying the common assumption of ‘business as usual’ during the projection period (2010–2030). Data regarding current supply and workforce characteristics were collected from a number of sources, including surveys. These were combined with demand data to project required supply.
The modelling also identifies the number of workforce entrants required each year in order to achieve the required supply.
Call for Expressions of Interest for the 2011 Summer School on Functional Imaging
Call for Expressions of Interest for the 2011 Summer School on Functional Imaging
This year the 2011 Summer School will be held in Darwin on the 12th and 13th August. The topic will be Functional Imagining. Places are strictly limited to maintain an interactive atmosphere. Medical physics registrars (of all disciplines) will be given priority but anyone interested in attending should register their interest NOW with
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Mediaportal Report
Mediaportal Report
21/02/2011 Plucky Olivia still fighting to beat the odds Canberra Times, 21/02/11, General News, Page 1 By: Ewa Kretowicz
They’re a rare breed, but one of them, Dr Howell Round – a senior lecturer in Waikato University’s Faculty of Science and Engineering - has been acknowledged for the work he’s done in training people working in this specialist field, and for his work with the profession’s representative body.
Dr Round has been presented with a Distinguished Service Award by the Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine (ACPSEM). ACPSEM used to be an amateur organisation run by volunteers. Their first real office was the old morgue at Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital, but these days ACPESM owns premises in Sydney, employs eight staff, has a turnover of millions and continues to expand – thanks in a large part to Dr Round.
Australasia is facing a severe shortage of medical physicists as the number of cancer cases continues to grow, says a Waikato man at the forefront of training such physicists.
Medical physicist Howell Round, a senior lecturer in Waikato University's faculty of science and engineering, said there were currently 340 clinical medical physicists in Australia and about 64 in New Zealand.
But that was not nearly enough to meet demand.
Medical physicists make sure hi-tech equipment in hospitals is used correctly and safely.
Dr Round was recently acknowledged for his work in helping develop a system called TEAP, when he was presented with a Distinguished Service Award by the Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine.
TEAP helps in the education, training and accreditation of medical physicists in clinical practice for Australasia.
When Dr Round started out there was no such prior training – he learnt on the job at Waikato Hospital.
But with demand increasing for medical physicists, about nine years ago Dr Round set about creating the training programme – along with an Australian colleague, John Drew.
The first intake of trainees was in New Zealand in 2003, followed then by Australia.
Six universities are now accredited to do the initial training – mostly for physicists who oversee the installation and safe operation of machines used for treating cancer (radiation oncology).
But it'll be a long time before the shortage is solved.
"There is a real international problem that there are not enough medical physicists, especially in radiation and oncology," Dr Round said.
"The need for cancer services is expanding very quickly because we are coming up against a cancer epidemic, if you like.
"We're finding that the rate at which linear accelerators are being installed to treat the disease is at such a rate we just haven't got the people trained.
"So even after all these years of work... we've still got the same problem."
THE HON CATHERINE KING MP Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing Increased Safeguards for Radiotherapy Treatment
Australian cancer patients and others requiring radiotherapy will have increased safeguards to their treatment with the launch of the Australian Clinical Dosimetry Service (ACDS) today – World Cancer Day. The Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Catherine King, launched the $2.875 million centre operated by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA), at its Yallambie Melbourne premises. ARPANSA will operate the ACDS for an initial period of three years, under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Health and Ageing.
Exploring New Territory: Innovative Solutions in Medicine and Health Physics
Exploring New Territory: Innovative Solutions in Medicine and Health Physics
August 2011 will be here before we know it!
That means another EPSM-ABEC conference is fast approaching, and this time it will be THE conference of the year for all medical physicists, clinical engineers, biomedical technicians, radiation safety workers and mining workers to attend. Join us for this first ever Darwin gathering which will be a unique and invigorating event to be held at the dazzling Darwin Convention Centre, NT.
We are proud to announce our 2011 Keynote Speakers, the distinguished Prof David Brenner, Prof Wolfgang Dorr and Dr Joseph Smith.
For the first time, there will be a workshop held on Radon and Radiation Protection in Uranium Mining with Professor David Brenner and invited speaker Mr Russel Robinson (Manager of Environmental Health, Radiation Protection, Department of Health and Families) providing incite and interesting discussions about the important radiation safety and research areas in the mining industry. A Medical Physics workshop is being organised prior to the conference, with dates and subject details to follow in the upcoming months. For young Biomeds, there will be the Annual Development Workshop held by the Clinical Engineering Panel.
Darwin will prove to be a stimulating venue, with breathtaking scenery and wildlife, including Kakadu and Litchfield National Parks. We look forward to receiving your emails of interest, potential conference sponsorship, and abstracts for oral or poster presentations in the months ahead.
PET Acceptance Testing & Quality Control Course 2011 - Call for EOIs
We are currently collecting expressions of interest for PET Acceptance Testing & Quality Control Course 2011. This course will be run over two days in May 2011. The course location is yet to be decided but an east coast venue is likely.
This course is intended to provide practical, hands on experience in PET acceptance testing and QC for experienced nuclear medicine physicists. Successful completion of the course will meet the requirement of practical experience for the PET/CT acceptance testing and QC certification. However, completion of the course is in itself insufficient for certification in PET acceptance testing and QC and the other certification requirements outlined in the “Certification/Accreditation in PET Acceptance Testing and QC” must also be satisfied.
The course will assume that participants have the knowledge and competency of experienced nuclear medicine physicists, including general knowledge of acceptance testing and QC of nuclear medicine equipment. In addition, all participants are expected to be competent in handling unsealed sources and nuclear medicine radiation protection principles. This allows concentration on the key components of the course, without having to provide a refresher on nuclear medicine physics, which would otherwise substantially lengthen the course beyond the current 2 day duration.
If you can please indicate whether you have any preference towards a weekend run or during business hours.
The number of participants is limited, preference will be given in order of expressions of interest.
The cost of running the course will be determined by the location, whether F18 needs to be purchased and the number of people in attendance.
This course will be open to both members & non-members.
Please register your interest by sending an email to
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QLD Flood Update
Dear Members,
I’ve received several emails from friends and colleagues interstate to see how we are doing up here in QLD and I’m sure many other QLD branch members have been as well, so I thought up update might be appropriate.
To my knowledge there are no RT or major Diagnostic centres that will be directly impacted by flooding. Many will be closed or running reduced services until next week, with the major issue been staff and patients unable to access the centres and medical services are been redirected to support emergency cases only.
I certainly haven’t been in contact with everyone in the local college community, but those I have contacted have been safe & well. I’ve no doubt though that some are in flood affected homes and are been confronted with very real and immediate problems to deal with
There are some power outages and the like, so contacting people may be difficult for a few days, but as they get through your well wishes and offers of assistance will certainly be appreciated.
Regards John Kenny Chairman QLD Branch ACPSEM
3rd Modelling of Tumours (MOT) Meeting
It is a tribute to the energy and dedication of the organisers that a meeting on such a specialised topic succeeded in attracting close to 100 participants to one of the most geographically isolated cities in the world. The programme covered a wider spectrum of topics then its title suggests; my own talk on the first afternoon was one of the very few to deal strictly with the subject of “Tumour Modelling”. The best way to summarise the proceedings in to pick out a few of the highlights.
The College Council wishes to express their deep sympathy for the recent loss of past President David Robinson.
David was President of the College from 1985 to 87, having also served as Treasurer and NSW Branch Chair. David was also past President of the Australian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine.
David graduated from UNSW with an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering, Masters of Engineering and Doctor of Science. David’s research interests were in ultrasonic beam patterns, digital signal and image processing. David’s publications in the area of ultrasonic tissue characterisation sparked the development of a number of clinical ultrasonic methods.
A celebration of David's life will be held in the Magnolia Chapel, Macquarie Park Crematorium, corner Plassey and Delhi Roads, North Ryde, on Friday [Dec 3, 2010] commencing at 1 pm, followed by afternoon tea in the Terrace Room.
A message from the President
Dear Colleagues, It has been an eventful month, including the passionate members discussion on the article published in the Sydney Morning Herald. The ACPSEM response can be found at: http://www.acpsem.org.au/index.php/news-and-events/media Also, Gary Disher has written a good article (see below) on dealing with media.
Currently applications for funding are open through a Health and Hospitals Fund (HHF) – Regional Priority Round (closing date 3 December 2010). The HHF is part of a broader infrastructure program instituted by the Commonwealth Government. There are three Funds – the HHF, an Education Investment Fund (EIF) and a Building Australia Fund. The Government has committed to spend up to $1.8 billion for the HHF focussed on regional health infrastructure. As part of the project, funding is allocated to workforce training infrastructure - to support approaches to improve the health and medical workforce, to deal with the increase in numbers of people training to be health professionals. As a result we are currently preparing a project proposal for trainee positions for diagnostic imaging (nuclear medicine and radiology) medical physicists.
In addition, on December 17, we are also planning to meet with the First Assistant Secretary of the Workforce Branch, DoHA to discuss workforce shortages and training needs in the Diagnostic Imaging Medical Physics Specialties.
On another note, I am not sure how many of you are aware that we have opened up the doors for Radio Pharmaceutical Scientists to join the College. We might assist them to run their accreditation program under ACPSEM umbrella. Initially they will fall under Nuclear Medicine Specialty with a possibility to form a new Special Interest Group if the numbers call for it.
And finally, things to look forward to in near future: EPSM 2010 in Melbourne (including ACPSEM Annual General Meeting) preceded by the Summer School on Image Guided Radiation Therapy and followed by a Mammography – digital top up course.
Best wishes Eva Bezak President
EPSM 2010
The Annual conference will this year be held at an unusual venue, the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground, from 5 -9 December.
The program promises to be of interest to all members, with international speakers such as Michael Brada, Royal Marsden Hospital; Joseph Rizzo, Harvard Medical School and Paul Rizzo, Medical Dosimetry Group, UK. In addition, many local experts have been invited. The program, with all abstracts, is available on-line http://www.epsmabec2010.org.auA great program.
The welcome reception is to be held in the National Sports Museum at the MCG. This is a national heritage listed venue containing an exciting mix of sporting heritage and entertainment. A great venue.
The Conference Dinner will be held in the Great Hall of the National Gallery of Victoria. A great night.
Register now if you have not done so. It should be a great conference.
Summer School
One of the exciting new features of ACPSEM is the annual summer school. We started this last year in Canberra with a school on Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) organised by Brendan Hill and Sean Geogeghan. This year we will tackle Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT).
The IGRT summer school will be held on December 3 and 4 directly before the EPSM conference in Melbourne. We will have one and a half days of lectures held at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre followed by practical sessions at a number of locations.
The main invited overseas speaker is Stine Korreman from Denmark. Stine has been involved with IGRT and motion management for many years and has recently headed the ESTRO ... Stine is an excellent speaker and I look forward to having her in Melbourne for the summer school.
However, also a large number of other lecturers will be involved, including physicists from all over Australia and colleagues from other disciplines.
At this point in time, the ACPSEM summer schools are financially supported by the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) in Canberra as a workforce measure for Radiation Oncology Medical Physicists. This determines the focus on radiation oncology themes. However, this is not cast in stone and we hope to work through a wide variety of topics in the future - for next year PET is pencilled in. If you have any ideas, please let us know.
The common features of the summer schools are starting to emerge as: • held over two days just prior to EPSM • concerned with a single topic of interest • features one high profile speaker (thanks to DoHA an international one but in the future more likely a local one) • includes half a day of practicals and a small test at the end • limited numbers - typically a maximum of 80 participants • aimed at 'budget' end - this year participation of TEAP enrolled registrars are free (applies to ALL disciplines)
There are a few places remaining unfilled. Please contact Amy Milner on 02 9700 8522 or
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if you would like to join us.
You never know who might be listening
As professionals in a highly visible health sector, we are often asked to present our research, policy positions, or other work at public forums such as conferences and workshops. These opportunities are usually very welcome as they help to raise the profile of the work, the presenter or the organisation they represent.
But profile raising can also be a double edge sword. If you are invited to speak at a conference on your research or other work, beware that the conference organisers are also on the hunt to raise the profile of the group holding the meeting. This is usually achieved by having a media or public relations person attached to the conference whose job it is to attract media attention to the conference. Big conferences often have select reporters covering the whole conference for the duration. This is where the unsuspecting speaker can slip if care is not taken.
The media loves nothing more than controversy. Shonky builders, unsubstantiated health benefits, celebrities falling from grace and the neighbours from hell seem to be the staple of a variety of television, radio and print media. As health professionals we can unwittingly present our own work in a manner that can invite controversy, if viewed as interesting enough to the general public.
Consider the headlines: “Workforce numbers in Australia well short of international recommendations” or “Australia fails to meet world’s best practice” or even “Medical Physicists critical of government policy”. These words may not have been spoken by the presenter or written in their paper, but it is how a reporter could view the material in an effort to get prominence for their story.
There are a couple of things that presenters can do to avoid falling foul of the media:
1. Know your audience. Never assume it is only other health professionals. Conferences are attended by many others with an interest in the topic area. Check with the session convenor, or ask the audience when you start “Who here is not a medical physicist?” and apologise for the reliance on technical data. You will then know that not everybody in the audience is on the same page as you.
2. Control the message you wish to get out into the public arena. If asked a question by a reporter, focus on no more than three key messages and never allow questions to draw you away from those messages. You would have heard a politician or two thank a member for their question and proceed to answer something completely different. It is a skill.
3. If the message relates to data, have a handout of the key data points and their interpretation. Write these as bullet points, not prose and write these from the point of view of a member of the general public, not a physicist. This is what the journalist is doing, so to avoid misinterpretations, misquoting or out of context quotes, do the work for them.
4. If using a power-point presentation keep the information on each slide to a minimum. And only use information on the slide which you are happy to release to the media and the public, as media may be in attendance.
5. Try not to use words that conjure up controversy such as bad, recalcitrant, failed to deliver, incorrect, at fault, mistake or medical error. (NB This is not an exhaustive list)
And if you do present controversial topics, make sure of your facts, be clear about what you are not saying as much as what you are saying and be prepared to stand by your claims and defend them in the public arena.
It is often good to go through potential media question scenarios with a person who also knows your topic area very well. This can pre-empt any negative media and give you some ideas as to how to negotiate the difficult questions.
Your College can also be a way for opinions to be expressed without fear or favour. The College has a voice which is independent of industry and government and can use this in advocating on behalf of patients and the profession.
Speaking to the media is a skill that can be mastered. Essentially this is the use of defensive language in an adversarial situation. Many hospitals have media/PR professionals on staff and they can always advise you if you feel that the material you are about to present make spark controversy.
The best thing to remember is that the media are just other human beings at the end of the day. Not something to be afraid of. Know your topic area well, look out for any potential icebergs and most importantly, enjoy the process!
Gary Disher General Manager ACPSEM
New Members
We would like to extend a warm welcome to the following new members who have joined the ACPSEM in the past month. Ordinary Member • Johnny Morales - NSW • Guangli Song - NSW
Associate Member • Ramachandran Prabhakar - VIC • Chris Low - TAS • Lok Kei Yuen - TAS • Elise Pogson - NSW • Somangili Sivakumar - WA
Correction Please note Farshid Salehzahi - Ordinary Member is from the ACT and not NSW as reported last month.
Please logon to the website and update your specialty group preferences so you can receive the appropriate communication and keep in touch with the latest news, events and training courses.
For membership information, please contact Louise Weston, Membership Services Officer, ACPSEM at
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or phone (02) 9700 8522.
TEAP Co-ordination Group for Radiation Oncology (TCG)
This group comprises individual members who hold TEAP Radiation Oncology Co-ordinator or Preceptor positions in New Zealand and each Australian State. TCG was formed in September 2009 to act as an advisory group on matters relevant to TEAP Radiation Oncology and as a networking group to support TEAP Radiation Oncology development across Australia and New Zealand.
Some of the key activities that members of the CTG have been involved in include: • review and development of mechanisms for competency assessment, performance indicators and progressive assessment of registrars in conjunction with the Assessment Task Group formed by ROAP; • Cert IV Training and Assessment Train-the-Trainer course, as part of the Ro-STAMP project and; • content development for course modules on the TEAP Radiation Oncology on-line learning website. http://elearning.acpsem.org.au/
As we move forward, the work of this group will be pivotal to the success of many of the TEAP initiatives and critical to the ongoing success of TEAP Radiation Oncology development in general.
More accreditation awards in Radiation Oncology
Congratulations to the following members who have been awarded ACPSEM accreditation during the month of November.
In Radiotherapy Equipment Commissioning and Quality Assurance
Dr Setayesh Behin-Ain of the North Coast Cancer Institute, Lismore NSW
Mr Guy Godwin of Auckland Radiation Oncology, NZ
Ms Alicja Wach of Westmead Cancer Care Centre, NSW
In Radiation Oncology Medical Physics
Ms Alison Gray of the Dept. Radiation Oncology, Royal North Shore Hospital, NSW
Supporting the Lae Cancer Unit
Simon Downes, on behalf of the Colleges’ Asia Pacific Special Interest Group reports on the achievements arising out of the recent fundraising effort Everyday Hero.
Firstly I would like to thank all members who have supported APSIG in raising money for our project to support the Lae Cancer Unit. Your generosity will pay dividends for cancer patients throughout PNG.
It is opportune to provide you with an update on what is happening with the Lae Cancer Unit in Papua New Guinea and the internet connection which money was raised for through the ACPSEM Medical Research Foundation. A lot has gone on so grab a coffee and please read to the end.
I recently received some very good news in the form of an email from the Chief Radiation Therapist at the Lae Cancer Unit to say that there wireless internet connection is working! This might be a surprise since none of the money has yet been sent up there from the funds raised! This is because NDoH paid for the installation of a wireless connection themselves (stealing our initiative in the process). It is actually very good news as it has meant we can use the money raised to keep the internet connection operational for a very long time to come. I am following up with them to find out the best way that the funds can be used so I'll keep you informed.
Now for the really good news...
As you may or may not know, we have not been able to find a VIDA Medical Physicist for the Lae Cancer Unit since we advertised at the end of last year. There has been some interest from some but for a few reasons, it has not been possible. I attended a VIDA (Volunteers for International Development from Australia) function recently and spoke with a few people and by happy coincidence, found out that VIDA is currently allowing short term assignments for 1-2 months (3 months is normally the minimum which has been one of the reasons why we could not get anybody).
I am very pleased to report that Tony Knittel, a physicist from our centre (with plenty of leave to use up!) has confirmed that he is willing to go up to Lae for up to 2 months. Tony is an ideal person for this assignment as he has already been up there and is very experienced in manual LDR brachy and Co-60 units. Don’t take this to mean that our search for a long term VIDA Medical Physicist is over as the Lae Cancer Unit will require long term support so if you are interested, please contact me or APSIG.
In addition to this, we are to receive a generous donation from a friend of a cancer sufferer in PNG who wishes to make a real difference to the Lae Cancer Unit and its patients. The donor wishes to support our cause for a physicist to go up to Lae to commission LDR brachytherapy for cervix patients and help set up the remote planning support (external beam and brachy) via the internet connection that money was raised for. This is fantastic news and will really help this project to consolidate its efforts.
Other good news is the Nuigini Department of Health has just finalised the contract renewal for the Australian Radiation Oncologist, Dr John Niblett to return to Lae after some delay. This has been a very big hurdle to overcome and is extremely good news. It will hopefully mean the VIDA Radiation Therapist Trainer position that we helped the AIR to obtain can now go ahead as well. Again a big thank you to all members who have helped raise funds for this project. Without your support we would not have been able to achieve much support for Radiation Therapy in PNG. I would be grateful of any further donations and these can be made through the ACPSEM Medical Research Foundation.
Simon Downes
A message from the President
Dear colleagues,
Welcome to the last quarter of the year – and generally the conference season here and overseas. I heard very positive comments only about the International Solid State Dosimetry Conference held last month in Sydney, so I would like to congratulate the organizing committee on the job well done.
The Australian Radiation Protection Society and IAEA hosted the 3rd Asia Region ALARA Network (ARAN) workshop in Adelaide last week. The workshop dealt with occupational exposures in medical radiations with the aim to improve the management of occupational radiation exposures in medical practices throughout countries of the Asia and Pacific Region. Delegates from up to 17 nations participated and I had the opportunity to briefly attend the meeting on behalf of the ACPSEM. I was also asked by the IAEA representatives whether the ACPSEM would like to unify all organizations/networks in Australasia and set up one network dealing with radiation exposures. Hmmm, that is a big ask, definitely requiring some thinking – anyone up to the task?
It might be of interest to our members that a new website hosted by IAEA was opened just 2-3 weeks ago. It is called Occupational Radiation Protection Networks: ORPNET. It really is a network of networks, linking together all networks dealing with occupational exposures, covering all stakeholders (for specific topics or sectors, or for all sectors, by region or worldwide): http://www-ns.iaea.org/tech-areas/communication-networks/norp/default.asp
Our registrars (and anyone else for that matter) could also find this document an excellent resource: “Frequently Asked Questions on ALARA……optimization of doses for occupational exposure” containing answers to about 76 questions. (http://www-ns.iaea.org/tech-areas/communication-networks/norp/faq-list-en.pdf)
The Nuclear Medicine and Radiology project aiming to restructure and update the current TEAP, headed by John Cormack has come to an end. John has done an excellent job preparing new syllabus that is in line with the IAEA training recommendations and that will see both radiology and nuclear medicine physics registrar conducting largely the same training, but specialising in one of these imaging specialties in year 4 of TEAP. This training structure will produce physicists with strong background in both specialties. The new training material is now with the corresponding accreditation panels. And last, but definitely not least I would like to extend once more a warm welcome to our new General Manager Gary Disher.
Best Wishes Eva Bezak
New Members
We would like to extend a warm welcome to the following new members who have joined the ACPSEM in the past month.
Associate Member • Michael Bernardo - QLD • Matthew Sobolewski - NSW • Jennifer Guille - NSW • Ali Asad - WA • Nathan Annabell - VIC • Vincent Ung - WA • Simon Atkins - VIC • Tracy Wright - VIC • Sisira Herath – VIC
Please logon to the website and update your specialty group preferences so you can receive the appropriate communication and keep in touch with the latest news, events and training courses.
For membership information, please contact Louise Weston, Membership Services Officer, ACPSEM at
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or phone (02) 9700 8522.
Supporting the Lae Cancer Unit
Simon Downes, on behalf of the Colleges’ Asia Pacific Special Interest Group reports on the achievements arising out of the recent fundraising effort Everyday Hero.
Firstly I would like to thank all members who have supported APSIG in raising money for our project to support the Lae Cancer Unit. Your generosity will pay dividends for cancer patients throughout PNG.
It is opportune to provide you with an update on what is happening with the Lae Cancer Unit in Papua New Guinea and the internet connection which money was raised for through the ACPSEM Medical Research Foundation. A lot has gone on so grab a coffee and please read to the end.
I recently received some very good news in the form of an email from the Chief Radiation Therapist at the Lae Cancer Unit to say that there wireless internet connection is working! This might be a surprise since none of the money has yet been sent up there from the funds raised! This is because NDoH paid for the installation of a wireless connection themselves (stealing our initiative in the process). It is actually very good news as it has meant we can use the money raised to keep the internet connection operational for a very long time to come. I am following up with them to find out the best way that the funds can be used so I'll keep you informed.
Now for the really good news...
As you may or may not know, we have not been able to find a VIDA Medical Physicist for the Lae Cancer Unit since we advertised at the end of last year. There has been some interest from some but for a few reasons, it has not been possible. I attended a VIDA (Volunteers for International Development from Australia) function recently and spoke with a few people and by happy coincidence, found out that VIDA is currently allowing short term assignments for 1-2 months (3 months is normally the minimum which has been one of the reasons why we could not get anybody).
I am very pleased to report that Tony Knittel, a physicist from our centre (with plenty of leave to use up!) has confirmed that he is willing to go up to Lae for up to 2 months. Tony is an ideal person for this assignment as he has already been up there and is very experienced in manual LDR brachy and Co-60 units. Don’t take this to mean that our search for a long term VIDA Medical Physicist is over as the Lae Cancer Unit will require long term support so if you are interested, please contact me or APSIG.
In addition to this, we are to receive a generous donation from a friend of a cancer sufferer in PNG who wishes to make a real difference to the Lae Cancer Unit and its patients. The donor wishes to support our cause for a physicist to go up to Lae to commission LDR brachytherapy for cervix patients and help set up the remote planning support (external beam and brachy) via the internet connection that money was raised for. This is fantastic news and will really help this project to consolidate its efforts.
Other good news is the Nuigini Department of Health has just finalised the contract renewal for the Australian Radiation Oncologist, Dr John Niblett to return to Lae after some delay. This has been a very big hurdle to overcome and is extremely good news. It will hopefully mean the VIDA Radiation Therapist Trainer position that we helped the AIR to obtain can now go ahead as well. Again a big thank you to all members who have helped raise funds for this project. Without your support we would not have been able to achieve much support for Radiation Therapy in PNG. I would be grateful of any further donations and these can be made through the ACPSEM Medical Research Foundation.
Simon Downes
TEAP ROMP reaches the milestone of 100 enrolments
The Radiation Oncology, Training, Education and Accreditation Program now has 100 registrars enrolled in the program. They are employed across the 33 ACPSEM accredited clinical training institutions throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Welcome to our new TEAP ROMP Registrars in 2010
ACPSEM approved 19 new enrolments this year and we warmly welcome our new colleagues to the profession. Our new TEAP enrolments since June this year are:
Brendan Chick, North Coast Cancer Inst, Port Macquarie. NSW Nicole Willetts, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital. QLD Steven Goodman, Royal Brisbane & Women's Hospital. QLD Christopher Low, WP Holman, Launceston Hospital. TAS
Final call for ARECQA applications
A reminder to all physicists that applications for Accreditation in Commissioning and Quality Assurance of Radiotherapy Equipment.(ARECQA) will cease on 31st December 2010 and that no further applications will be accepted after this date.
Congratulations to the following members who have been awarded ACPSEM accreditation;
In Radiotherapy Equipment Commissioning and Quality Assurance
Mr Koki Mugabe of the Dept. of Medical Physics, Waikato Hospital NZ Mr Sankar Arumugam of the Dept. of Medical Physics, Liverpool Cancer Therapy Centre NSW Mr Chris Gehrke of the Dept. Radiotherapy, Bendigo Hospital VIC Mr Andrew Howie of the Cancer Care Centre, St George Hospital NSW Mr Guangli Song of the St Vincents Clinic, Radiation Oncology Associates NSW Mr Vinod Nelson of the Macarthur Cancer Therapy Centre, Campbelltown Hospital NSW Dr Hema Vaithianathan of the William Buckland Radiotherapy Centre, Latrobe Regional Hospital VIC Ms Jaysree Ukath of the Adelaide Radiotherapy Centre SA Mr Richard Short of the St Vincents Clinic, Radiation Oncology Associates NSW
In Radiation Oncology Medical Physics
Mr Dean Inwood of the Dept. Radiation Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital NSW Dr Mebratu Madebo of the Dept. Physical Sciences, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne VIC Mr Jonathan Griffin of the Dept. Oncology and Haematology, Dunedin Hospital NZ Ms Sian Price of the Dept. Radiation Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital NSW Mr Ajit Mullen of the Dept. Physical Sciences, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne VIC Mr Trent Aland of the Medical Physics Group, Premion, QLD Ms Soo Min Heng of the Dept. Radiation Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital NSW
Call for CPD Committee Volunteers
Do you have a passion for continuing the high standard of all current & future medical physicists? Do you have vision for future CPD training & events? A fondness for preparing course outlines & evaluations? Liz Claridge-Mackonis (ROMP Sydney) is currently looking for members across all specialties to join our CPD committee. This dynamic team will be responsible for the sourcing the content for elearning , setting the CPD events calendar and assigning CPD points. This committee will meet via teleconference monthly and administration support will be provided by the office. If you are interested in volunteering, please email
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expressing your interest.
Summer School
IGRT Summer School registration has been launched! The Summer School will be held prior to the EPSM – ABEC 2010 on Friday 3rd & Saturday 4th December 2010 at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre in Melbourne. International Speaker Stine Korreman from Denmark will be presenting as well as many of our own national medical physicists.
The Mammography Equipment Assessors course was held in Canberra Hospital in August of this year. 28 individuals attended the course presented by John Heggie, Lee Collins, Jenny Diffey and Ravinder Grewal. Special thanks must go out to Sean Geoghegan who organised use of the fantastic facilities at Canberra Hospital and volunteered his time over the weekend.
A Mammography Equipment Assessors course will be run off the back of the EPSM, it will be held at The Alfred at Prahan on Friday 10th December 2010. This course is open to those previously certified that require the digital component only. To register for this course please visit our website and complete the registration form. https://acpsem.org.au/index.php/news-and-events/events?task=view_detail&agid=128&year=2010&month=12&day=10
Please register and provide your deposit promptly to secure your place as places are limited to 35 and they are filling fast!
EOI Future Mammography Equipment Assessors Course
There is a Mammography Equipment Assessors Course tentative planned for March in Brisbane. If you are interested in attending, please send your EOI to
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Please email
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if you are interested in obtaining both an analogue and digital Mammography Equipment Assessors qualification.
Want to be more involved with ACPSEM?
We are currently extending invitations to any member who would like to assist to grow the ACPSEM social network. ACPSEM currently has a presence on Linked In, Facebook and Twitter. Anyone interested in becoming more involved can email
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in the Education Unit for more information.
Elekta Travel Award 2010
ACPSEM's APSIG (Asia-Pacific Special Interest Group) are pleased to announce the annual Elekta Travel Award. This award is to enable Medical Physicists to travel between Australia or New Zealand and a developing country (in the Asia-Pacific region) for educational purposes. It has been fully sponsored by Elekta.
The objective of the Travel Award is to assist with, in alternate years,
a) The cost of a Medical Physicist from a developing country in the Asia Pacific region to attend the annual Engineering and Physical Sciences in Medicine (EPSM-ABEC) conference in Australia/NZ, and visit at least one Medical Physics department in Australia/NZ; and
b) The cost of a Medical Physicist from Australia to attend the annual Asia-Oceania Congress of Medical Physics (or similar) and visit at least one Medical Physics department in the host country.
Only one award will be granted each year (up to a maximum of AU$5000), and will be based on the quality of the applications. The attendee is expected to present at the respective conference, and submit a report to Elekta, and to the ACPSEM.
The 2010 award is for an eligible Medical Physicist from a developing country in the Asia-Pacific region to visit Australia in December 2010 to attend EPSM (Engineering and Physical Sciences in Medicine) to be held in Melbourne, Victoria from December 5-9, 2010 and to visit at least one Medical Physics department in Australia or NZ. To be considered for the Award, all application materials must be received by the ACPSEM no later than 5:00pm AEST August 13th, 2010. The name of the successful applicant will be announced by August 31st, 2010.
For selection criteria, conditions and details of the application process, please go to http://www.acpsem.org.au/index.php/elekta-travel-award, or email
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for more information.
Radiation too high in CT scans
AUSTRALIAN CT scans have been found to generate up to a third more radiation than necessary to yield a clear diagnostic image, needlessly exposing patients to an increased risk of cancer.
The findings have emerged amid concerns about the growth in referrals for CT scans and as radiation safety experts and radiologists prepare a national monitoring scheme to keep radiation doses to the minimum necessary.
The ACPSEM Council met in Sydney for 2 days in early May to undergo corporate governance training and have their first face to face meeting of the year (most meetings are held by teleconference). Discussion items at the meeting included continuing efforts to gain government funding to support Diagnostic Imaging training programs, a membership (application) review process, an ongoing strategic plan, radiation shielding accreditation and a digital mammography course..... among many other business items. On the evening of the 2nd of May Council Directors, some NSW branch members, staff, and invited guests, gathered to officially open the ACPSEM's new Education Unit. Mr Abel MacDonald of the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, Division of Radiation Oncology, kindly explained to the guests the importance of his department's partnership with the ACPSEM in order to facilitate the improvement in public health services. Funding from this department has allowed ACPSEM to expand its education services and provide important staff support.
Expression of Interest IGRT Summer School
Are interested in Image Guidance? Is IGRT an acronym that gets you going? Do you think of radiotherapy when you hear CBCT?
Then you may be interested in the second ACPSEM summerschool on Image Guided Radiation Therapy to be held prior to this years EPSM conference in Melbourne on December 3 and 4, 2010. We will provide overview presentations on different technologies, discuss QA and applications and have planned to spend one afternoon in a hospital to do some hands on activities related to IGRT. Places are strictly limited to maintain an interactive atmosphere. Medical physics registrars (of all disciplines) will be given priority but anyone interested in attending should register their interest NOW with
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Prime Minister Kevin Rudd visits Royal North Shore Hospital
Maxine McKew, Federal Member for Bennelong “I recently inspected the new PET scanner at Royal North Shore Hospital with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. This scanner is a great boost for cancer treatment for our area, making a difference in diagnosis and patient treatment. Originally requested in 1997, the Rudd Government has delivered this important piece of medical technology. I am delighted that my interest in this project has helped produce results.”
Changes to the Medicare items for radiation oncology treatment verification
Please see below is a letter from the Director of Radiation Oncology Section of the Department of Health and Ageing, Mr Abel MacDonald, regarding changes to the Medicare items for radiation oncology treatment verification from 1 May 2010.
Call for Volunteers: Mentoring of Philippine Supervisors of ROMP Residents.
APSIG is seeking Expressions of Interest (EoI) from ROMPs willing to mentor supervisors of residents (registrars) enrolled in the RCA/IAEA ROMP clinical training program in the Philippines. The workload should be quite minor with communication with the Philippine supervisors being by email.
If willing to participate then please forward your EoI by 7 May to Brian Thomas (
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) indicating number of years of experience as a ROMP, current position, experience as a supervisor of TEAP registrars and any other TEAP involvement.
(23rd May, 2010)
APESM journal now available through HINARI
Since our journal is now available online, it has also been added to the HINARI database. This database, set up by WHO together with major publishers, enables eligible developing countries to gain access to a large of biomedical and health literature. For further information, see
The Regional Multi-site Clinical Trials Capacity Building Network
Cancer Australia established the Regional Multi-site Clinical Trials Capacity Building Network in 2009. The purpose of this initiative is to increase the capacity of regional centres to activate and recruit to trials conducted by the Multi-site Collaborative National Cancer Clinical Trials Groups, and thereby increasing access to high-quality trials to patients in regional Australia.
Applications are now open for new regional centres to join the Regional Multi-site Clinical Trials Capacity Building Network in 2010.
Together with the Victorian Cancer Agency, Cancer Australia is calling for applications from regional centres to join this initiative. Funding will be available to provide the person support required for the conduct of, and recruitment to, cancer clinical trials nominated by the Multi-site Collaborative National Cancer Clinical Trials Groups.
Dr. Janelle Nunan Program Manager Research and Clinical Trials Cancer Australia
What is a clinical medical physicist?
ACPSEM is seeking member engagement to determine the wording, which will comprise the definition of a ACPSEM Clinical Medical Physicist.
Please provide your input within this process by articulating the wording, which best describes and represents the scope and the duties carried out by a clinical medical physicist.
As you may be aware, the Lae Cancer Centre, Papua New Guinea reopened in May 2009 and has been supported by physicists and radiation therapists from Australia. A report has been written updating the situation at the centre. It can be found at www.acpsem.org.au (Home>Governance>Asia Pacific>Documents). You need to be logged in to download this document.
We recently advertised for a volunteer radiation oncology medical physicist to support the centre's development and to provide training to treatment and technical staff. This post has not yet been filled, and is still available as a great opportunity for physicists of any level. See attached Expression of Interest for further details.
(2nd April, 2010)
The ARPANSA Medical Code is now part of the National Directory for Radiation Protection (NDRP) December 2009
TheARPANSA publication RPS14, Code of Practice for Radiation Protection in the Medical Applications of Ionizing Radiation (2008), usually referred to as the Medical Code, has been added to Schedule 11 of RPS6, the National Directory for Radiation Protection. All Codes and Standards referenced in Schedule 11 must be adopted within the regulatory framework of each State and Territory in Australia.
Edition 1 of the National Directory for Radiation Protection was developed by the Radiation Health Committee and published in August 2004. It was subsequently endorsed by the Australian Health Ministers' Conference (AHMC) as the uniform national framework for radiation protection in Australia.
Following publication of Edition 1, the Radiation Health Committee agreed that further progression of the Directory would be by individual amendments, and that the consolidated version of the Directory would be maintained as an electronic document via ARPANSA's website. The current Directory includes the first three amendments since Edition 1, which were agreed by the Radiation Health Committee during 2008 and were endorsed by Ministers in December 2009.
ACPSEM is committed to making it easier for its members to keep up to date with the latest announcements, education opportunities and job information. With this in mind ACPSEM can now be found on both Facebook and Twitter. This allows members to network with each other, share experiences on the discussion boards and upload photos and video. Please take a moment have a look at these new ways to stay connected and feel free to contribute to our online community.
Supporting Radiation Oncology in South East Asia: Session at CSM2009
For those attending the RANZCR/AIR/FRO/ACPSEM Combined Scientific Meeting next week (Brisbane, 22nd-25th October, 2009), don’t miss the session entitled, “Supporting Radiation Oncology in South East Asia” from 10:30-12:30 on Friday 23rd October. The program for the session is as follows:
Supporting Radiation Oncology in South East Asia: An Overview; Graeme Morgan IAEA activities in the development of clinical medical physicist training for Radiation Oncology in South East Asia; Donald McLean Educational and Clinical Training of Medical Physicists in Vietnam; Brian Thomas ACPSEM Asia Pacific Special Interest Group; Tomas Kron and Catherine Lawford Up and Running: Radiotherapy Commissioning in Lae, Papua New Guinea; Simon Downes Supporting Radiotherapy in SE Asia – Training the Trainers; Mary Coffey Supporting Radiation Oncology in South East Asia: Radiation Therapy Technologist (RTT) Training in Vietnam; Jennifer Cox Back to the Future: Radiation Therapy in Papua New Guinea – A Radiation Therapists Prospective; Christopher Walsh Distance Learning in the Applied Sciences of Oncology; Michael Barton Discussion
(15th October, 2009)
Medical physics aspects of cancer care in the Asia Pacific Region
For those who missed it in late 2008, Tomas Kron et al. published a paper entitled, “Medical physics aspects of cancer care in the Asia Pacific Region”. The paper reports on a questionnaire sent out to 20 medical physics departments in the region, to determine the education, role and status of medical physicists in the Asia-Pacific region. The results provide useful data for workforce planning and training development for medical physicists in the region. The paper is published in a special focus issue of the freely available Biomedical Imaging and Intervention Journal, entitled “Frontiers of Cancer Care in Asia-Pacific Region”.
In response to the release of the Health and Hospitals Reform Commission final report - A healthier future for all Australians, the Department has set up a new website -- yourHealth.gov.au to further inform the public and key stakeholders and to seek feedback and comment on the report and the consultation process.
We encourage you to visit the site www.yourHealth.gov.au
Welcome from the President
Willkommen, bienvenue, welcome…
Welcome to the new webpage of the Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine. It has been a long time coming and the process has highlighted the increasing complexity of our organization with branches, specialties, committees, TEAP, CPD, not to mention all the databases of members, accreditations and registrations. There is a need for public access to some information and members access to more.
I would like to invite you to explore the page for yourself and please provide us with feedback at
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Nothing is perfect. The webpage ain’t cabaret, but hopefully will be informative, useful and possibly even a bit entertaining.
Many happy returns
Tomas Kron
President ACPSEM
Health Minister's Media Release
Support for People Living with Cancer
From July 1 2009people living with cancer in Australia will be better able to access a range of treatments, medicines and support. The Hon. Nicola Roxon MP, the Australian Minister for Health and Ageing, announced today that a new Medicare rebate was available for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans. She also announce better access to the drug bevacizumab, new PET services and over $6 million (over three years) to support the training of radiation oncology medical physicist registrars. Medical physics is a specialised field and these professionals are responsible for the set up, maintenance and calibration of linear accelerators, the machines used to provide radiation treatment for cancer patients. One aspect of this funding is to enable the Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine (ACPSEM) to provide oncology centres with education resources and conduct extra accreditation examinations. For more details see the full press release as follows: Support for People with Cancer full article (PDF)
First Female College Fellow
It is with great pleasure that the ACPSEM Council announces that Associate Professor Natalka Suchowerska has been admitted as a Fellow of the College. This makes Natalka the first female Fellow for the ACPSEM. Well Done Natalka!
Natalka joined the College as an Associate Member in 1984 and has been an Ordinary Member since 2002. She has been an Associate Professor in the School of Physics, University of Sydney since 2003. Her contributions to the ACPSEM include NSW Branch Chair (1999-2001), ACPSEM Education Committee Chair (2001- 2003) and Chair of the Accreditation Working Party (1998-2001).
OAM for Biomedical Engineer
Ed Scull, ACPSEM member for more than 30 years and President from 1991 to 1993 has been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the general division for service to biomedical engineering and associated professional associations.
Congratulations, Edward R Scull, OAM
Textbooks for the University of Indonesia
ACPSEM branches are coordinating the collection of suitable medical physics and biomedical engineering text books for the University of Indonesia. If anyone can help with unwanted, but still useful, text books then please contact your local branch or Brian Thomas at
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. The ACPSEM office will assist with postal/freight fees. See Textbooks request for more information.
(28th May, 2009)
Recent Nuclear Medicine Accreditations
Dear Members,
I am very pleased to announce that the following people have recently gained accreditation in Nuclear Medicine Physics.
Graeme O’Keefe , Dept Of Nuclear Medicine and Centre for PET, Austin Hospital VIC Seu Seong Som, Dept of Nuclear Medicine and PET, Liverpool Hospital NSW Chithradevi Sathiakuma, Dept of Nuclear Medicine and PET, Liverpool Hospital NSW
My congratulations to these three people and to the team behind the Nuclear Medicine Physics accreditation program for these achievements.
All the best,
Sean Geoghegan ________________________________________________________________ Sean Geoghegan, PhD Chair Professional Standards Board Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine
Medical Devices Regulation
It is recommended all members of the ACPSEM consider the impact of following consultation documents. Initial advice indicates they will change the way in which medical devices are innovated, developed and regulated.
You may like to provide an individual response or submit a response to the College for incorporation into a combined College response. If members wish to confer with Phillip Bones (Chair of the Biomedical Engineering Specialty group) about this his best email is
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The deadlines are March 27th and March 31st, 2009 respectively for responses to be in for the two consultation documents. If you miss these deadlines it still may be worthwhile monitoring the website for outcomes down the track after the various aubmissions are considered. The following two websites contain the two consultation documents.
http://www.tga.gov.au/devices/drcustom.htm
http://www.tga.gov.au/devices/drthirdparty.htm
Radiation Oncology Accreditations
Dear Colleagues,
I am delighted to inform members that the following candidate has been awarded with Accreditation in Radiotherapy Equipment Commissioning and Quality Assurance:
Mr Robert Chambers of the Medical Physics Dept, Cancer Care Centre, St George Hospital NSW.
I am also delighted to announce that the following candidates have passed their final examination requirements for Accreditation in Radiation Oncology Medical Physics:
Ms Alison Chapman of the Dept Radiation Oncology, Medical Physics, Andrew Love Cancer Centre, Victoria, and Mr Michael Currie of the Dept Radiation Oncology, Medical Physics, Wollongong Hospital, NSW.
Congratulations to Robert Chambers, Alison Chapman and Michael Currie on their successes. Sean Geoghegan ________________________________________________________________ Sean Geoghegan, PhD Chair Professional Standards Board Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine
Conference Happenings
This is what some shady fellows got up to at the EPSM-ABEC conference in Christchurch. Meetings, meetings, meetings... talking, networking and sharing professional issues with other members.
Scholarship Assessment Panel Nominations
Please find attached an Expressions of Interest request for individuals to become a member of the Allied Health Clinical Placement Scholarship Scheme (AHCPSS) Assessment Panel and the Appeals Panel.
Dear Colleagues, I'd like to bring to your attention the following award which has recently been announced - The Roberts Prize For Best Paper In Physics In Medicine and Biology In 2007, Cellular response to modulated radiation fields: E. Claridge Mackonis, N. Suchowerska, M. Zhang, M. Ebert, D. R. McKenzie, M. Jackson
Dear colleagues, it is my very great pleasure to announce that the ACPSEM Professional Standards Board has awarded ACPSEM Accreditation in Radiation Oncology Medical Physics to: Mr Craig Norvill of the Department of Radiation Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, NSW
You may be aware that the ARC's journal ranking system is out in draft form (see www.arc.gov.au/era/indicators.htm ). This is part of the reseacrch quality exercise started by the previous government.
The top 5% of journals get A* the next 10% get A the next 30% get B the next 50% get C (and some journals to my surprise are not on the list) APESM has been ranked at B. This is a good result.
Downtime for Co-60 radiotherapy calibrations at ARPANSA
Dear ACPSEM Members, ARPANSA has arranged for a replacement Co-60 therapy head to be installed in the last quarter of 2008. Consequently, radiotherapycalibrations will not be available until the new source has been installed and commissioned.
Bayside Health has created a new medical physics position based in the Alfred Hospital Radiology Department. Congratulations Zoe Brady who started in the position in June. She will also undertake the role of Radiation Safety Officer, or as it is has already been referred to ... Radiology Sporting Officer! Let's hope to see more of these positions for radiology medical physicists created in the future.
Student presentation night
The Vic/Tas branch is holding a student presentation night on 21 September 2009. Two $500 grants are up for grabs. Please circulate this information to any students (postgraduate or undergraduate, members or non-members, registrars or non-registrars) who might be interested. Contact Luke Wilkinson at St Vincent's Hospital for more information
March Scientific Seminar: College 2010 - Australia 2020: Visions for the Future
On Monday 17th March, 2008 the Branch ran its own version of the Australia 2020 Summit in a forum for physicists and engineers. The evening was well attended, some members of the College of Biomedical Engineers joined us. All of the invited speakers provided valuable insights and a lively discussion took place.
This is what some shady fellows got up to at the EPSM-ABEC conference in Christchurch. Meetings, meetings, meetings... talking, networking and sharing professional issues with other members.
Detector Ring 