27 October 2022
University of Melbourne students and Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) scientists have created a prize-winning app that will make radiotherapy audits more efficient.
ARPANSA’S Australian Clinical Dosimetry Service (ACDS) Director Rhonda Brown said the software would transform the way that radiation oncology quality assurance is conducted.
‘This online tool will be able to calculate and calibrate radiation dose in one place instead of several different applications or spreadsheets,’ Ms Brown said.
‘We expect that this app will be implemented in the coming months.’
The app was developed as part of the University of Melbourne’s Endeavour Exhibition.
The program brings together industry and final year MSc engineering and IT students to solve real-world challenges such as improving ACDS’ radiotherapy audit program.
University of Melbourne student Chris Byrnes said they were proud to partner with ARPANSA to make sure that patients could feel safe about their radiation treatment.
‘This software solution will help health care practitioners across Australia and New Zealand but most importantly, it will benefit patients,’ said Mr Byrnes.
‘This software could potentially provide a solution to other countries and become a standard calculating engine used to verify clinical dosimetry.’
The student team that worked on this project with ARPANSA received first prize in the School of Computing and Information Systems Engineering, winning $2000.
‘We’re proud of all the students. As a health and scientific agency, we were excited to participate in a program that empowers the next generation of STEM workers’ Ms Brown said.
