A radiographer’s experience in Australia

I qualified as a radiographer in 2018 after studying at the University of Liverpool.

Australia is a place I’ve always wanted to visit and I knew that practising radiography would open an opportunity to not only work over there, but travel and explore too. 

During the 2020 Covid pandemic, like many other colleagues and healthcare professionals, I began to feel tired and burnt out. 

As much as I loved my job working at Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, I was beginning to feel like I needed a change and a new challenge. I did not know what direction to take my career in and I think the period of the pandemic really heightened this feeling for me and I'm sure many others too. 

I had two friends that were physiotherapists who felt the same, and we decided to look into working in Australia. At first it seemed like a lot of work and we had no idea where to start. However, we thought what an amazing opportunity it would be if we could get there and this motivated us to explore the option, and so in spring 2022 we started to plan.  

There was limited information online in terms of guidance or blogs from other radiographers that had done similar. I found some information regarding doctors and nurses but not really anything for radiographers, so I hope that by sharing this article I can help other radiographers wanting to try work in Australia but don’t know where to start.

Christmas and New Year were spent in Sydney which was amazing. We had some travel plans up the east coast in the pipeline and potentially a short locum but we really wanted to see more of Australia. 

Later in the year, I worked in a private practice which was a good experience as it was something I had not done before and again different to the NHS. Locum work can be unpredictable and often has to fit in with travel plans and this is not always possible.

However I think if I was to do it again I would stay for longer in one place as you have more time to settle. With locum work you do not always know how you will find it until you get there, so it can be difficult especially in a foreign country.

Different practices in UK and Australia

Radiography practices in the UK and Australia share fundamental principles in medical imaging, yet subtle differences exist in their approaches and healthcare systems. 

In the UK, the NHS plays an essential role in providing medical imaging, which is characterised by a standardised framework and a national curriculum for radiographers during a three-year undergraduate degree.

Australia's healthcare system, in contrast, is a mix of public and private sectors, offering patients a choice between government-funded healthcare and private healthcare providers. This can often mean wait times are significantly reduced and more patients are imaged. 

However this comes at a cost through private insurance or Medicare. This duality impacts radiography, as practitioners may experience varied work environments and equipment standards.

There is also flexibility in hours which allows those with families or other commitments the ability to manage their work life and job satisfaction/ expectations. 

Many job opportunities in Australia offer incentives of up-skilling employees in other modalities like MRI. This is an incentive that is not always available in the NHS due to funding.

The NHS does provide funding for reporting courses - something that is not in the Australian scope of practice currently. Furthermore, many Australian practitioners are skilled in multiple modalities such as CT, mammography and bone density scanning, which allows a greater flexibility within the workforce and a varied worklife. 

Australia's focus on continuous professional development and training programmes within the radiography field, in both private and public sectors, could serve as a model for the NHS to further invest in ongoing education and skill enhancement for its radiographers.

The NHS has a great online e-learning platform that provides CPD for radiographers. The SoR also provides events and courses as well as yearly conferences. This is similarly provided by ASMIRT in Australia. 

Adoption of innovative technologies and imaging modalities in Australia may also prompt the NHS to explore advancements that could improve diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes such as investment in artificial intelligence and outsourcing reporting to off-site radiologists. 

In Australia many practitioners work under protocols written by a radiologist, elevating the need for a radiologist to vet every request so they can spend more time reporting. This ensures radiographers must be knowledgeable of correct protocols and procedures. 

The undergraduate programmes in Australia are also four years, with the fourth year acting as a practical year before graduating. This aims to give students confidence in their practical abilities and more experience in the healthcare setting ensuring they are at a high professional standard to begin work. 

In both countries, professional organisations such as the Australian Institute of Radiography (AIR) and the Society of Radiographers and College of Radiographers in the UK, contribute to the development and maintenance of high standards within the respective countries. 

While both nations uphold precise quality assurance measures, subtle differences in training programmes, equipment, and organisational structures highlight the diverse healthcare systems in the UK and Australia. 

Overall by fostering an exchange of best practices and incorporating successful elements from the Australian radiography system, the NHS could potentially enhance its own radiological services for the benefit of evolving patient needs and healthcare practitioners alike.