Australia

1
Lead Country Coordinator Progress Reports

• - Australia -

2
Projects

• Distance-Assisted Training for Nuclear Medicine
  Technicians (RAS/6/029)
• Strengthening Medical Physics through Education
  and Training (RAS/6/038)
• Establishment of a Benchmark for Assessing the
  Radiological Impact of Nuclear Power Activities
  on the Marine Environment in the Asia-Pacific
  region (RAS/7/016)
• Intensification of Productivity in Coal, Minerals
  and Petrochemical Industries using Nucleonic
  Analysis Systems (NAS) and Radiotracers
  (RAS/8/107)
• Sustainability of Regional Radiation Protection
  Infrastructure (RAS/9/042)

3
Distance-Assisted Training (DAT) for Nuclear
Medicine Technicians (RAS/6/029)

• Approved 1997 for 4 years, extended to 2007-08
• PLCC Professor Brian Hutton
• 16 participating Member States

4
Objectives

• To improve the quality of nuclear medicine
  services in RCA countries by raising the standard
  of basic training for technicians.
• The preparation of the teaching modules will
  provide the basis for sustainability of the
  project information base after the completion of
  the project.
• The structured network encompassing country
  coordinator/ specific hospital/ supervisor/
  student will provide a human resource support
  mechanism that contributes toward sustainability.
• The MSs will implement self-sustainable DAT
  Programs after completion of the delivery of
  Agency support under this project.

5
Background

• RAS/6/029 first year of approval was 1997 and it
  was anticipated that the project would be
  completed in 4 years.
• Project was extended to the 2007/2008 TC
  Programming Cycle to enable the preparation of
  additional training modules on PET/CT and
  SPECT/CT and development of a website for on-line
  delivery and management (DATOL).
• DAT material has been provided to 8 MSs (BGD,
  CPR, MAL, MYA, PAK, PHI, SIN, THA) and formally
  introduced for use in Latin America, Eastern
  Europe and North Africa.
• DAT material will continue to be provided to the
  other MSs subject to confirmation of the required
  infrastructure they have established to conduct
  the training program.

6
2008 Activities

• Preparation and development of additional
  training modules on PET/CT and SPECT/CT
• Technical Writers Meeting 3-5 March, Vienna, 7
  experts from UK and AUL
• Modules peer-reviewed by international panel at
  the Editorial Advisory Meeting on New Teaching
  Materials of DAT Program 8-9 September, Vienna,
  10 experts from 5 MSs
• RIAP (Research Institute for Asia and the
  Pacific) of Sydney Uni, in collaboration with
  University College London (UCL), are developing
  website for the DAT Program (DATOL) Heather
  Patterson (RIAP) and Brian Hutton (UCL).
• Dr Patterson attended EANM08 (European
  Association of Nuclear Medicine) in Munich, 11-15
  October, to present the DAT program and seek
  feedback from specialists in nuclear medicine
  training.

7
2008 Achievements

• Development of DAT Part 2 training materials by
  technical writers in UK/ AUL.
• Materials have been edited for final distribution
  and implementation of web delivery (DATOL).
• Modules have been refined and now available for
  use by Member States.

8
Planned Activities for 2009

• Further implementation of web delivery.
• Final meeting of RAS/6/029
• RTC to Train the Trainer 24-27 March, SIN
• Introduce the new modules to national DAT
  coordinators
• Provide training in use of DAT website for
  program delivery and monitoring student progress
• Included representatives from Latin America,
  Africa and Eastern Europe
• Following RTC, the new modules and method of
  delivery will be evaluated in several countries.
• DATOL will continue under the direction of the
  Nuclear Medicine Section, Division of Human
  Health, and be coordinated through RIAP.

9
Constraints

• The final testing of the developed materials lies
  outside the current project.
• Maintenance and currency of modules
• Monitoring of DAT use and de-bugging of new web
  facility
• Improvements needed based on user feedback
• Ongoing updates as technology, protocols and
  regulations change
• Support for new (and current) users.

10
Comments and Questions
11
Strengthening Medical Physics through Education
and Training (RAS/6/038)

• Initiated 2003, objectives revised for 2005-06
• PLCC Professor John Drew
• 16 participating Member States

12
Objectives

• To improve capability and capacity in medical
  physics in the region through the establishment
  of regional approaches on education and training
  of medical physicists.
• To improve and upgrade safe operating practices
  and technical standards in the region through the
  establishment of a common quality assurance/
  quality control (QA/QC) program.

13
Background

• Original approval of this project was in 2003.
• Project had limited success, attributed to the
  objectives being too broad and several other
  constraints. The objectives were revised for
  implementation in 2005/06.
• Project now focuses on the development of
  clinical training programs for Medical Physicists
  in Radiation Oncology, Diagnostic Radiology, and
  Nuclear Medicine.
• The training modules will enable trainee Medical
  Physicists to gain the competencies required to
  work unsupervised.
• Guidelines on the use of the Training Modules,
  and the assistance of experts, will be provided
  to the MSs.
• Project is anticipated to be completed by 2012.

14
2008 Activities

• NPC Meeting to review the Status of Medical
  Physics in the Region
• 26-28 May, Dhaka, BGD, 18 participants
• Review of clinical training material produced to
  date
• Status report of pilot program
• Member States to incorporate the material into
  their own programs

15
2008 Activities (cont.)

• Pilot program for testing the clinical training
  modules for radiation oncology medical physics
• Two Member States participating THA, PHI
• Expert mission 5-9 August to THA to review status
  of pilot program there.
• Expert mission 30 September-4 October to PHI to
  provide support for a National Training Program
  on Clinical Training of Radiation Oncology
  Medical Physics lectures and advice on the
  establishment and running of the program.
• The pilot programs are nationally based with each
  site having a national coordinator. An external
  coordinator, Prof Brian Thomas, oversees the
  operation of each national program and provides
  advice.

16
2008 Activities (cont.)

• Development of clinical training modules for
  diagnostic radiology medical physics
• Expert mission to assist in drafting clinical
  guidelines for training of diagnostic radiology
  medical physicists, 7-11 July, ROK.
• Regional Training Course on Medical Physics in
  Diagnostic Radiology, 25-29 November, PHI, 24
  participants.
• Five home-based contracts to assist in creating
  the modules (UK, AUL x 2, MAL, USA).

17
2008 Activities (cont.)

• Other activities in diagnostic radiology medical
  physics
• Trial of comprehensive clinical audit in
  diagnostic radiology was carried out in MAL,
  11-15 August. Two experts from AUL, one from USA.

18
2008 Achievements

• The radiation oncology clinical training process
  is described by 7 complementary documents which
  have been combined for publication.
• Substantial progress in the development of
  clinical training modules for diagnostic
  radiology medical physics, following the path of
  the radiation oncology medical physics program.
• Interest from IND, MAL, PAK and JPN to join the
  Nuclear Medical Physics pilot program for testing
  the clinical training modules.
• The work of RAS6038 in the development of
  clinical training material has attracted
  significant interest from other regions. Final
  documentation will be submitted to the new IAEA
  Interregional project INT6054 on education in
  medical physics.

19
Planned Activities for 2009

• RTC in Nuclear Medicine QA for Medical
  Physicists, 1822 February, BGD.
• Expert mission to support THA clinical training
  and to VIE to determine status of medical physics
  education/ future needs, 28 February-11 March.
• Expert mission to assist in training in TRS430
  (Commissioning and Quality Assurance of
  Computerized Planning Systems for Radiation
  Treatment of Cancer), 22-24 May, PHI.
• ESG Meeting to draft clinical guidelines for
  Nuclear Medicine, 25-29 May, Vienna.

20
Planned Activities for 2009 (cont.)

• Regional meeting for national trainers to
  initiate trialling of the diagnostic radiology
  medical physics speciality clinical training
  program, 16-20 November, MAL.
• Expert Steering Group (Nuclear Medicine) meeting
  to review modules and organise trialling, 7-11
  December, PHI.
• Additional activities associated with clinical
  training trials in radiation oncology medical
  physics if new trial sites are implemented (IND,
  possibly MAL or PAK).

21
Summary of Future Activities RAS/6/038

• Continuation in pilot implementation of clinical
  training in radiation oncology.
• Continuation of development of clinical training
  guide in diagnostic radiology.
• Development of clinical training guide for
  material on nuclear medicine.
• Establishment of pilot test sites and training
  material for physicists specialising in
  diagnostic radiology and in nuclear medicine.
• Review of the pilot sites and training material
  for all three specialisations.

22
Constraints

• MS Government support and commitment is necessary
  to train Medical Physicists using the clinical
  training modules.
• There is a wide variation in the current status
  of training of Medical Physicists in the MSs and
  each MS should use the training material to suit
  local conditions .

23
Comments and Questions
24
Establishment of a Benchmark for Assessing the
Radiological Impact of Nuclear Power Activities
on the Marine Environment in the Asia-Pacific
region (RAS/7/016)

• New 2007, estimated completion 2010
• PLCC Mr Ron Szymczak
• 13 participating Member States

25
Objectives

• To assist MSs to develop and strengthen
  coordinated regional marine radioactivity
  monitoring programs.
• To refine assessments of risks involved in eating
  seafood by establishing dose responses and
  transfer factors specific to the marine biota
  found in the region.
• To update and maintain the regional database as
  an ongoing repository for new data generated from
  monitoring programs, and to enhance the utility
  of this regional resource for analysing trends
  and understanding the fate and behaviour of key
  radionuclides in the marine environment.
• To establish a documented quality management
  system (QMS) for regional marine radioactivity
  monitoring programs and for data generated by
  MSs.

26
2008 Activities

• RTC on Establishment of Transfer Factors and Dose
  Assessment for Marine Organisms from Contaminants
  Released from Nuclear Activities, 18-29 February,
  ROK, 24 participants.
• RTC on Application of Agreed Nuclear Techniques
  to Measurement of Nuclear Contaminants in Marine
  Systems, 27 May - 6 June, IND, 23 participants.

27
2008 Achievements

• Focus on radioecology and transfer factors
  (rather than both radioecology and
  radiochemistry) was more efficient in technology
  transfer and training to participants.
• National Project teams and End-users have been
  identified by all participating MSs.
• Most participating MSs have undertaken extensive
  marine sampling and analysis programs as part of
  the project.
• Several MSs established accredited Quality
  Management Systems (QMS) at Institutional,
  National and International level and/or
  participated in QA/QC activities.

28
Planned Activities for 2009

• Mid-Term Progress Review Meeting, 20-24 April,
  IND.
• RTC on Application of Nuclear Stable Isotope
  Tracers to Determine the Fate Behaviour of
  Nuclear Contaminants in Marine Systems, 11-22
  May, INS.
• RTC on Establishment of Dose Response and Risk
  Assessment for Marine Organisms from Contaminants
  Released from Nuclear Activities, 20-31 July,
  Monaco.

29
Planned Activities for 2009

• TM on Implementation of Total Quality Management
  System Guidelines for Monitoring the Impacts of
  Nuclear Activities in the Marine Environment,
  7-11 September, VIE.
• The project will provide support to the
  development of QMS in MSs that do not already
  have such systems in place through the
  development of project-specific Quality
  Management System documentation.

30
Constraints

• Shortage of human resources, technical and
  professional, in some MSs.
• Under-developed experimental and analytical
  facilities in some MSs.
• PHI and THA seeking national financial support
  for work programs.

31
Comments and Questions
32
Intensification of Productivity in Coal, Minerals
and Petrochemical Industries using Nucleonic
Analysis Systems (NAS) and Radiotracers
(RAS/8/107)

• New 2007, estimated duration 2 years
• PLCC Dr Jacek Charbucinski
• 14 participating Member States

33
Objectives

• Overall objective of the project is to advance
  the region's capability to apply and routinely
  use nuclear techniques to solve complex problems
  in the coal, minerals, and oil and gas
  industries.
• The specific objectives are
• To promote and transfer NAS technology for the
  coal and minerals industries through regional
  demonstrations, training and related activities.
• To likewise promote and transfer radiotracer and
  sealed source techniques for investigation of
  industrial multiphase systems.
• Improvement of productivity and reduced
  operational risk in key industries such as
  petroleum, petrochemicals, oil/ gas and minerals.

34
2008 Activities

• REMM (Regional Executive Management Meeting) on
  Benefits of Industrial Applications of NAS in
  Exploration and Mining, 7-10 April, VIE, 20
  participants.
• Mid-Term Progress Review Meeting, 12-16 May, ROK,
  15 participants.
• RTC on Off-Belt Analysis of Metalliferous Ores
  and Cement Quality by NAS, 13-17 October, CPR, 16
  participants.
• RTC on Validation of CFD (Computational Fluid
  Dynamics) Models of Multiphase Systems Using
  Radiotracers, 1-4 December, IND, 11 participants.

35
2008 Achievements

• Industrial application (oil/gas and coal
  exploration, mineral resources, water resource
  development) of Nucleonic Analysis Systems (NAS)
  in BGD, IND, PAK, SRL, THA.
• Development of
• Data logging software for ?-scanning (THA)
• Pilot dynamic flow distribution system simulating
  flow patterns encountered in diverse industries
  (ROK)
• Single radioactive particle tracking technique
  and 32-channel data acquisition system (IND)
• Tomography for scanning for visualisation of
  scale deposits in geothermal and petrochemical
  pipes (INS)
• Success in securing IAEA support to demonstrate
  and implement NAS technology for mineral
  resources exploration/ exploitation (PAK), and
  providing a safer working environment for tracer
  injection work (SRL).

36
2008 Achievements (cont.)

• Invitation to PLCC to deliver a presentation on
  A Perspective on Technology Transfer into Gulf
  Co-operation Council (GCC) Countries Lessons
  Learnt from a Project on Nuclear Technology for
  Mineral and Exploration Industry, at the
  International Symposium Peaceful Application
  of Nuclear Technologies in the GCC Countries,
  3-5 November, Saudi Arabia.
• Outcomes of work being disseminated through
  journal publications and at international
  conferences.
• Success in gaining financial and equipment
  support from National governments CPR, VIE.
• Success in delivering to industry across all MSs
  assures long term sustainability of NAS.

37
Constraints

• Acute shortage of manpower and availability of
  hardware in some MSs.
• Limited availability of tracers and suitable
  radiation sources in one MS.
• In some cases nuclear techniques avoided for
  industrial problem solving due to perceived
  radiation safety problems.
• Shortage of mutual scientific and technical
  visits between project teams of RCA MSs.

38
Recommendations

• Assistance from Agency to streamline the movement
  of sources and equipment between the
  participating MS countries. Transboundary issues?
• Radiation safety training where needed. MSs or
  Agency?
• Examine level of support and frequency of expert
  missions. MS to request further support if
  necessary.
• Examine notion of mutual scientific and technical
  visits between project teams of RCA Member
  States TCDC?

39
Comments and Questions
40
Sustainability of Regional Radiation Protection
Infrastructure (RAS/9/042)

• New 2007, estimated completion 2010
• PLCC David Woods, transferred in January 2009 to
  Japan (Dr Kazuo Sakai) for 2009-10
• 16 participating Member States

41
Objectives

• To assist MSs to move to self-sustainability and
  regional self-reliance in maintaining an adequate
  radiation protection infrastructure.
• To maintain safe practices, reduction of
  radiation exposures and minimisation of the
  occurrences of radiation related accidents.

42
2008 Activities

• Meeting of Focal Group of Interventional
  Cardiologists in Radiation Protection, 24-26
  June, THA, 13 experts.
• TM of the RCA Regulators Forum on Regional
  Priority Issues and Solutions, 5-7 August, PHI,
  16 participants.
• First Workshop of the Asia Region ALARA Network
  (ARAN), Improving Radiation Protection in
  Industrial Radiography, 5-7 November, JPN, 32
  participants.
• Regional Meeting for Emergency Management
  Decision Makers, 17-19 November, IND, 19
  participants.

43
2008 Achievements

• Asian Network of Cardiologists in Radiation
  Protection
• Meeting of Focal Group of Interventional
  Cardiologists in Radiation Protection updated the
  progress made on optimising doses to patients and
  minimising the dose to the cardiologists and
  their staff.
• Network launched newsletter in 2007 three issues
  in 2008.
• Extension of network activities moving towards
  inter-regional cooperation with links to Latin
  America, the USA and Europe.
• Radiation protection sessions were organised at
  the 4th Conference of the Asian Interventional
  Cardiovascular Therapeutics (June, THA), and a
  plenary lecture on radiation protection at the
  1st Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society meeting
  (November, SIN).

44
2008 Achievements (cont.)

• RCA Regulators Forum in Radiation Protection
• First technical meeting of the Regulators Forum
  with the theme, Regional Priority Issues and
  Solutions, held in PHI in August
• Ratified the Forums structure, terms of
  reference, and operational mechanisms.
• Information structure developed for RaSaReN
  (Radiation Safety Regulators Network) web
  platform.
• RCA Regulators Forum Action Plan developed for
  08-10.
• Identified priority issues for radiation
  protection regulators in the region.
• Forum should be self-sustaining beyond 2010.

45
2008 Achievements (cont.)

• Asia Region ALARA Network (ARAN)
• 1st Workshop of the Asia Region ALARA Network
  (ARAN), Improving Radiation Protection in
  Industrial Radiography, held in JPN in November
• Opportunity for participants to bench mark the
  radiation protection status in industrial
  radiography practice.
• Consensus on need for improving the safety
  culture in the industrial radiography sector.
• Developed set of recommendations on improving
  radiation protection in industrial radiography in
  the region.
• ARAN self-funding mechanisms should be achieved
  through a combination of Industry, Professional
  Association and Government funding.

46
2008 Achievements (cont.)

• Asia Region Emergency Management Decision Makers
  Network
• Regional Meeting for Emergency Management
  Decision Makers in IND in November led to the
  formation of
• IAEA RCA Forum for enhanced decision making for
  radiation emergency management.
• Forum objective - To enhance the nuclear and
  radiological emergency preparedness and response
  system of MSs.
• Membership, terms of reference and activities for
  the Forum were proposed.
• Steering Committee consists of one member from
  each MS at the meeting. Australia nominated as SC
  Chair for the first year.
• Bangladesh to host a secure web page for the
  Forum members to communicate and share
  information and experience.

47
Planned Activities for 2009

• Mid-term Progress Review Meeting, 9-13 February,
  PHI.
• RTC on Field Exercises and Decision-making
  Processes for Emergency Management
  Decision-makers, 7-11 September, AUL.
• 2nd ARAN Workshop on Radiation Protection in
  NORM-producing Industries, 12-16 October, CPR.
• Regional Seminar of Radiation Protection
  Regulators on Sharing Best Practices in Managing
  Disused Sources and Networking, 26-30 October,
  INS.

48
Constraints

• ARAN Workshop
• Communication difficulties in planning,
  implementation and participation of the first
  workshop.
• Optimal balance between reporting on individual
  national situations and producing recommendations
  on improving radiation protection in industrial
  radiography in the region was not achieved to
  be addressed at next workshop.
• The Emergency Response component had difficulties
  with the late issue by the hosts of letters
  supporting visa applications for those attending
  the Regional Meeting.

49
Comments and Questions
50
Thank You