Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists

RANZCR ASM Perth

The 2024 ASM theme of “A gathering under the stars” encourages our members and fellow clinicians to gather on country and collaborate, share and learn to improve patient outcomes.

Our aim for the 2024 ASM is to learn from our First Nations people and develop beyond the traditional realms of our disciplines to look for a vision and shared purpose for quality health care now and into the future.

Scheduled from 17-19 October 2024, this event promises an outstanding line-up of distinguished speakers including:

Professor Laura Dawson
Professor and Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Toronto, and a practicing radiation oncologist at the Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, in Toronto.

Professor Charlotte Coles
Professor of Breast Cancer Clinical Oncology, University of Cambridge, UK.

Associate Professor Piet Ost
Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology at Ghent University and Chair of the EORTC Radiation Oncology Research Council.

Professor Matthias Guckenberger
Chairman of the Department for Radiation Oncology at University Hospital Zurich (USZ) and Professor at the University of Zurich (UZH).

Dr Joost Nuyttens
Chairman of the European School of Robotic Stereotactic Radiotherapy.

Professor Billy Loo
Professor of Radiation Oncology at Stanford.

Dr Sushil Beriwal
Vice President Varian Medical Affairs, Wexford, Pennsylvania, United States.

The convenors, A/Prof Suki Gill, Dr Susanne Guy, Dr Lisa Sorger, Dr Jonathan Tibballs are working tirelessly to deliver a fantastic couple of days of exceptional and relevant content, cutting-edge research presentations, engaging workshops and a lively social program.

I am particularly looking forward to this year’s Faculty Forum, a debate focused on the topic: Radiotherapy photon therapy machines will be replaced by proton therapy machines in the future.

Hope to see you all on the lands of the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation in Boorloo (Perth).

To preview the preliminary ASM program click here

To register, please click below.

New Targeting Cancer Website Launch

Refreshing and renewing the Targeting Cancer website has been a top priority for the Faculty of Radiation Oncology. This important project aims to elevate the profile of radiation therapy as a safe and effective treatment and potential cure for cancer among both consumers and healthcare professionals.

Currently, while 1 in 2 people with cancer could benefit from radiation therapy, only 1 in 3 patients receive this treatment in Australia and New Zealand.

Established in 2013, the Targeting Cancer website has been integral in raising the profile of radiation therapy as a safe and effective treatment and cure for cancer.

It provides highly credible and comprehensive information for patients with cancer, their families and carers, and health care professionals.

This includes informative videos, personal stories, FAQs, information organised by type of cancer, and explanations of the different treatments available in addition to radiation therapy.

As a central feature of the Targeting Cancer Campaign, the website now boasts a fresh, modern look with improved navigation for both desktop computers and mobile devices.

Crucially, efforts have been made to ensure the website is accessible to individuals with disabilities, further expanding its reach and usability. I would like to thank the Targeting Cancer Management Website Project Group and the dedicated staff of RANZCR for their efforts in carrying out this project. Visit the new Targeting Cancer website here.

Culture of Medicine Working Group

In alignment with cultivating resources around anti-bullying, harassment, and discrimination, a joint faculty (radiation oncology and clinical radiology) Working Group has been created to collaborate and ensure development of work in this area.

The objective of the Working Group is to: 

• Review and update RANZCR policies and guidelines relating to anti-harassment, bullying and discrimination behaviour.
• Promote a standard of practice which includes a high standard of personal conduct which adheres to the law and is aligned with the RANZCR Code of Conduct.
• Identify existing resources and training as CPD for members aligned to the AMC and MCNZ requirements.
• Identify and develop CPD resources for fellows aligned with AMC/MCNZ requirements.

Recruitment for members of the working group is currently underway. I look forward to seeing the great work this group will undertake in pursuing Faculty leadership and drive to inform policy and advocacy work in the area of anti-harassment, bullying and discrimination behaviours; to ensure an equitable and safe workplace in medicine in Australia and New Zealand.