Scott Carpenter

Oncology Information Systems Manager and Senior Radiation Therapist

St George Hospital

“I’ve been here since 2003. After my HSC, I received a letter saying healthcare was short of radiation therapists, diagnostic radiographers and nuclear medicine guys. I was enrolled to do mechanical engineering at the time, and it changed my mind. I thought Radiotherapy sounded cool. If I hadn’t received that letter, then I wouldn’t be here.

We’ve got such a unique skillset that’s not understood by many, but it plays such a critical role in helping people that have cancer. Our computer system shapes the radiation around a tumor in a way that’s not going to affect any healthy structures. Most often it’s to the millimetre or sub millimetre.

A big part of my role is supporting staff when they need guidance or a second perspective. They may be having difficulty planning or delivering a patient’s treatment, and that can be stressful—especially when things aren't going as expected. I’d like to think that in those moments, they feel comfortable reaching out to me for help.”