title: Australian radiation therapy - Part two: Reflections of the past, the present, the future.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Documentation on the history of Australian radiotherapy is limited. This study provides radiation therapists' (RTs) perspectives of the people, workplace, and work practices in Australian radiotherapy centres from 1960 onwards. It provides a follow-up to our previous study: Australian radiation therapy: An overview - Part one, which outlines the history and development of radiotherapy from conception until present day.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four focus groups were conducted on separate occasions in 2010, one in South Australia and three in Victoria, Australia. Participants who worked in radiotherapy were purposively selected to ensure a range of experience, age, and years of work.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From a RT perspective, radiotherapy has evolved from a physically demanding 'hands-on' work environment, often with unpleasant sights and smells of disease, to a more technology-driven workplace.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Understanding these changes and their subsequent effects on the role of Australian RTs will assist future directions in advanced role development.
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Department, Royal Adelaide Hospital Adelaide, SA, Australia ; Curtin Health Innovative Research Institute, Curtin University Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Merchant
authors.affiliation: Curtin Health Innovative Research Institute, Curtin University Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Georgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Halkett
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology, Andrew Love Cancer Centre, Barwon Health Geelong, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sale
keywords: Australian history; radiation therapists; radiotherapy