About RANZCR, FRO and Targeting Cancer
Royal Australian New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR)
RANZCR was founded in 1935. We are a not-for-profit professional organisation for clinical radiologists and radiation oncologists in Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.
Through policy, advocacy, quality and standards and research activities, we work with our members to promote the science and practice of clinical radiology, and radiation oncology.
RANZCR encompasses two Faculties, the Faculty of Clinical Radiology (FCR) and the Faculty of Radiation Oncology (FRO).
We have local branches in Aotearoa New Zealand, each state of Australia and the Australian Capital Territory.
Faculty of Radiation Oncology
The Faculty of Radiation Oncology is the peak body for the profession of radiation oncology in Australia and New Zealand.
We set quality standards and provide world-class training and ongoing professional education. We also drive research, innovation and collaboration in the treatment of cancer.
The Faculty of Radiation Oncology acts in the following areas to advance the profession and its relationships with government, the wider health care system and the public:
- Study, research, and advancement of knowledge
- Skill, expertise, and ethical standards in practice
- Quality and rigour in training and assessment
- The needs of consumers and the community
- Matters of public interest connected to radiation therapy
- Collaboration with clinicians, health practitioners and others.
The Faculty of Radiation Oncology is governed by a council, which supervises all bodies within the faculty. It also includes working groups for specific operational areas and special interest groups for people who share areas of professional interest.
Targeting Cancer
In 2013, the RANZCR Faculty of Radiation Oncology identified the underutilisation and low profile of radiation therapy (RT) in Australia and New Zealand as a significant issue affecting cancer patients. Lack of community awareness, inadequate education of healthcare professionals, sub-optimal referral pathways and poor government investment in RT services were identified as important barriers. To address this problem, improving radiation therapy awareness became a key strategic priority for RANZCR. A formal RT advocacy strategy was subsequently developed in collaboration with consumers, radiation oncologists, media, and public relations experts, along with RANZCR committee members and secretariat.
Targeting Cancer was launched in 2014 to raise the profile of radiation therapy in the community, improve health care professional’s education about radiation therapy, and increase patient access and utilisation of radiation therapy.
The Targeting Cancer campaign hopes to support the lobby for better access to cancer services. We know that 1 in 2 people with cancer could benefit from radiation therapy, but in Australia and New Zealand only 1 in 3 patients receive the radiation therapy they need. We also know that radiation therapy is both effective and cost-effective as a treatment for cancer.
We believe that when people better understand radiation oncology and its important role in cancer treatment there is a greater chance of improved access to radiation therapy.
