• ​Nuclear medicine technologists use radioactive compounds to both diagnose and treat disease. Small amounts of radioactive tracers are inhaled, injected, or ingested to study diseases of the body. The images produced show the amount of tracer going to a tissue or organ and the rate at which it is taken up, indicating the functional status of the body commonly known as functional or molecular imaging. Nuclear medicine is also used to treat an increasing number of diseases, especially cancer that has spread throughout the body. The nuclear medicine technologist plays an integral part in the healthcare team, being responsible for performing the procedure, analysing the images and providing care to patients during this time.
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    Workforce characteristics for NSW Health nuclear medicine technologist workforce in 2040

    264
    Headcount

    54%
    Female

    32.7
    Work hours per week

    39.7
    Years average age

    6.6%
    Future 60+

    3.4%
    Aboriginal workforce target

    ​Demand is expected to grow 2.3% (low demand scenario) to 3.0% (high demand scenario).


    Significant career opportunities

    ​Workforce modelling indicates the need to grow the NSW nuclear medicine technologist workforce by around 4 to 7 new professionals per annum to meet community need in 2040 across both demand scenarios.

    Projected FTE growth for NSW Health nuclear medicine technologist workforce to 2040

    20212022202320242025202620272028202920302031203220332034203520362037203820392040
    High Demand131134137146155163169175181187192198203207211215219222224227
    Status Quo131134137141144147148150152154156159161162164165165166166166
    Low Demand131134137144150156160165169173177182185189192194196198200202


    Workforce characteristics for NSW Health nuclear medicine technologist workforce in 2021

    162
    Headcount

    27.5
    Work hours per week

    40.7
    Years average age

    65.4%
    Female

    4.6%
    Aged 60+

    1.2%
    Aboriginal

    Metropolitan Sydney

    132
    Headcount

    26.7
    Work hours per week

    40.4
    Years average age

    3.5%
    Aged 60+

    Non-Metropolitan Sydney

    41
    Headcount

    30.7
    Work hours per week

    41.6
    Years average age

    1.2%
    Aged 60+

    Nuclear medicine technologist junior entrant positions into NSW Health

    Year20172018201920202021
    Graduates87754

    Workforce distribution for NSW Health nuclear medicine technologist workforce in 2021

    The geographic distribution of the public workforce by local health district/network, by facility and per 100,000 population.

Legends

Per local health district

0 1-25 26-50 51-75 76-100 100+

Per 100,000 population

0 1-5 6-10 11-15 16-20 20+

Per facility

0 1-25 26-50 51-75 76-100 100+

Other networks

  • Sydney Children's Hospitals: 1 to 5 | 1 per 100,000
  • Enable NSW: 1 to 10 | 1 per 100,000
  • Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health: 0 | 0 per 100,000

  • Workforce considerations

    • ​Population demographics and increasing incidence of complex and chronic disease may increase demand for nuclear medicine services.
    • Consideration needs to be given for physical infrastructure and equipment to deliver nuclear medicine services.
    • Ensuring sustainable training pipelines, graduates, and workforce reflect the future workforce requirements of the community, by both location, speciality and skills.
    • Technology and innovation impacts on nuclear medicine service delivery and workforce demand.
    • Interdisciplinary workforce availability impacts on nuclear medicine service delivery, efficiency, and scope of practice. For example: nuclear medicine technologists don’t work in isolation. They are reliant on radiation physicists and radiation safety officers.
    • The nuclear medicine technology workforce is ageing. Workforce planning which includes succession planning and bringing in new entrants to NSW Health should be a priority for this workforce.

    Notes

    • Data included is limited to the workforce employed under the relevant health professional award.
    • Specialty Health Networks are not displayed geographically in the workforce distribution maps.
    • LHD/SHN may engage in sessional arrangements in selected circumstances.
    • Workforce that cannot be aligned to a physical location have been attributed to a pre-determined facility within each LHD/N. This may impact on Headcount shown at these facilities within the distribution map.
    • NSW Health does not make any representations or warranties whether expressed or implied with respect to the accuracy and completeness of the information contained in the fact sheet.
Current as at: Monday 29 May 2023
Contact page owner: Workforce Planning and Talent Development