ARPANSA's Australian Clinical Dosimetry Service (ACDS) was highlighted as a case study in the 2023-2024 Australian Public Service Commission State of the Service Report, which was tabled in parliament on 26 November 2024.
ARPANSA's Chief Medical Radiation Scientist, Dr Ivan Williams, says inclusion of the ACDS profile by the Australian Public Service Commission reflects the value of this service to the wider Australian community.
'ACDS is the only radiotherapy audit program in Australia that is recognised by national and international oncology groups,' Dr Williams said.
'Around 90,000 Australians will receive radiotherapy this year. These patients and their families rely on us to make sure their treatment is safe.
'Our audits have identified issues and resulted in significant changes to clinical practice that have reduced actual or potential clinical hazards.
This is the second year in a row that ARPANSA's work to protect the people and the environment from the harmful effects of radiation has been showcased in this report.
'ARPANSA's work provides an important contribution to patient safety and trust in quality care,' Dr Williams said.
The recent Trust in Australian public services: 2024 annual report found that levels of trust remained stable, with 58% of respondents indicating that they trust public services. Trust in specific services, like ACDS, remained stable at 71%.
Australian Government entities, including ARPANSA, work extensively with non-government organisations, industry and research institutions to identify and respond to community needs. ARPANSA's ACDS provides an important services to protect workers, patients and carers from the harmful effects of radiation.
In the last financial year, the ACDS delivered a program of 99 dosimetry audits, including 46 remote audits and 53 onsite audits covering the full range of radiotherapy treatment units and techniques.
