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Radiation Oncologist

Kaimātai Mate Pukupuku

Radiation oncologists provide radiation treatment and management of patients with cancer and other medical conditions.

Pay

Trainee radiation oncologists can earn

$64K-$205K per year

Radiation oncologists can earn

$170K-$251K per year

Source: ASMA and RDA, 2023 - 2024.

Job opportunities

Chances of getting a job as a radiation oncologist are good due to growing demand for treatment by an ageing population.

Pay

Pay for radiation oncologists varies depending on experience, hours, location and frequency of on-call or emergency cover.

Radiation oncologists  who work for Te Whatu Ora Health NZ (previous DHBs)

  • House officers (supervised junior doctors) who work for Te Whatu Ora can earn $64,000 to $145,000 a year.
  • Registrars (trainee diagnostic radiologists) can earn $80,000 to $205,000.
  • Qualified radiation oncologists can earn $170,000 to $251,000.

Radiation oncologists  working in the private sector can earn more than this. 

Sources: Association of Salaried Medical Specialists, 'New Zealand District Health Boards – Senior Medical and Dental Officers Collective Agreement, 1 April 2022 - 31 March 2023'; and Resident Doctors' Association, 'RDA and 20 District Health Boards Multi Employer Collective Agreement 17 March 2021 to 31 March 2024'.

 

(This information is a guide only. Find out more about the sources of our pay information)

What you will do

Radiation oncologists may do some or all of the following:

  • talk to patients about their symptoms and illnesses, and examine them
  • study x-rays, images and medical reports
  • discuss various treatment options with patients and their families
  • plan how to manage the patient's illness
  • treat the patient using radiation therapy
  • monitor, support and care for patients during and after treatment
  • write reports on the treatment of patients for general practitioners and other medical specialists
  • teach trainee radiation oncologists
  • carry out research.

Skills and knowledge

Radiation oncologists need to have knowledge of:

  • cancer and how to treat it
  • anatomy and how the human body works
  • different diseases and illnesses
  • radiation treatments, and how these affect patients
  • new research, treatments and practices
  • medical ethics and law.

Working conditions

Radiation oncologists:

  • usually work regular business hours, but may work long hours and be on call
  • work in hospitals, clinics and private practices
  • work in conditions that may be stressful, as they deal with seriously ill patients
  • travel to conferences locally or overseas.

Entry requirements

To become a radiation oncologist you need to:

  • complete the Health Sciences First Year programme at Otago University, or the first year of either the Bachelor of Health Sciences or Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science at Auckland University
  • complete a five-year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) degree at Otago or Auckland University
  • work for two years as a house officer (supervised junior doctor) in a hospital
  • complete another five years as a registrar with specialist training and examinations to become a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists.

You also need to be registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand.

The Vulnerable Children Act 2014 means that if you have certain serious convictions, you can’t be employed in a role where you are responsible for, or work alone with, children.

Secondary education

A tertiary entrance qualification is required to enter further training. Useful subjects include biology, chemistry, English, maths and physics.

Personal requirements

Radiation oncologists need to be:

  • able to make good decisions, and solve problems
  • excellent at analysis and interpretation
  • good at managing time
  • motivated and disciplined
  • able to work well under pressure
  • good at communicating and inspiring confidence in others
  • understanding of other cultures' attitudes to medical treatment.

Useful experience

Useful experience for radiation oncologists includes:

  • work in hospitals or other health-related work, such as in a clinic
  • work caring for people.

Physical requirements

Radiation oncologists need to have good eyesight (with or without corrective lenses).

Registration

Radiation oncologists need to be registered with the Medical Council of New Zealand.

Find out more about training

Medical Council of New Zealand 
0800 286 801 - enquiry@mcnz.org.nz - www.mcnz.org.nz
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists 
(04) 472 6470 - www.ranzcr.edu.au
Check out related courses

What are the chances of getting a job?

Chances of getting work as a radiation oncologist are good due to:

  • an ageing population with more health problems
  • gaps left as radiation oncologists leave to work overseas.

Radiation oncologist appears on Immigration New Zealand's Green List. This means the Government is actively encouraging skilled radiation oncologists from overseas to work in New Zealand.

According to the Census, 27 radiation oncologists worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Radiation oncologists work for public and private hospitals

Radiation oncologists work in public or private hospitals, or a combination of both, and may also work in university medical schools.

Sources

  • Auckland Doctors, 'Radiation Oncology', accessed 2017, (www.aucklanddoctors.co.nz).
  • Health Workforce New Zealand, 'Health of the Health Workforce 2015', February 2016, (www.moh.govt.nz).
  • Health Workforce New Zealand, 'Radiation Oncology', January 2017, (www.kiwihealthjobs.com).
  • Hedley, K, Dr., director of training for radiation oncology, Auckland region, Careers New Zealand interview, May 2017.
  • Immigration New Zealand, Green List, January 2023, (www.immigration.govt.nz).
  • Stats NZ, '2018 Census Data', 2019.
  • The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists, Faculty of Radiation Oncology, 'The Radiation Oncology Workforce in New Zealand: Projecting Supply and Demand 2012-2022', 21 February 2013, (www.ranzcr.edu.au).

(This information is a guide only. Find out more about the sources of our job opportunities information)

Progression and specialisations

Radiation oncologists may progress to jobs in areas such as:

  • teaching trainee radiation oncologists
  • clinical director roles
  • research.
A Radiation oncologist adjusts a dial as a woman lies ready to receive radiation

Radiation oncologists use radiation to treat people with cancer and some other illnesses

Last updated 11 December 2023