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Medical Diagnostic Radiographer
Description:
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Operates x-ray and other medical imaging equipment to produce images for medical
diagnostic purposes in conjunction with radiologists or other medical specialists.
Typical Work Tasks (may include any combination of the following):
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Receives referrals to perform medical imaging of patients; determines appropriate
equipment to use such as x-rays and computed tomography (CT) equipment, and selects
the appropriate equipment settings to provide the diagnostic information requested by
medical practitioners; calculates details of procedures such as settings of recording
equipment; explains procedures to patients and answers patients’ queries about processes;
ensures patients welfare during procedures; positions patients, screens and equipment
preparatory to procedures; views the screen and decides if images are satisfactory for
diagnostic purposes and selects images to show medical practitioners; conveys findings of
procedures to medical practitioners.
Typical Work Environment:
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Works indoors in specialist hospital or private practice medical imaging or mammography
departments or in nuclear medicine units.
Usually works in adequately heated and ventilated spaces. Required to follow health
and safety procedures, and wear appropriate protective clothing.
Typical Physical and Mental Demands1:
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The physical demand is sedentary to medium.
Standing and walking is frequent within the clinic, when organising materials and
equipment, when tending to patients, and when preparing radio-active materials.
Sitting at an office desk or computer, if used for record-keeping, may be frequent.
Stretching and reaching across is likely to be occasional when setting up or adjusting
equipment ready for x-rays, radiation treatment or when assisting patient into place.
Some physical lifting may be required.
Bending is likely to be occasional when adjusting equipment. Squatting, crouching and
kneeling, and twisting of the body or neck are not likely to be a significant component
of this job.
Contact with skin irritants or water is unlikely. Personal protective equipment and
procedures are necessary to avoid radiation.
Lifting, carrying and holding is likely to be on a frequent basis when using medical
imaging or nuclear medicine equipment. Technically advanced equipment will be operated
from a computer screen and control panel. Levels of physical demand are unlikely to
exceed medium.
Repetitive movements are necessary when using a keyboard/entering data.
Driving of vehicles is not a significant component of the job.
Use of equipment will include electronic imaging equipment, computers, x-ray
development, chemicals and light screens for viewing x-ray images. Also office/recordkeeping equipment is used.
Mental skills necessary include technical problem solving, interpretation, computing,
organisational and communication.
Further Comments:
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There are opportunities for flexibility of movement but they are limited.
Key Entry Requirements (Skill Level/Qualifications/Licenses):
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A relevant tertiary qualification (ANZSCO Skill Level 1). In some instances particular
experience and/or on-the-job training may be required
This document is based on ANZSCO, 2013 (code 251211). Other sources of information that may have been
consulted are industry contacts, employers, newspapers and internet-based sources. For physical demand level
definitions see Matheson, L.N. (2003). Functional Capacity Evaluation.
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