Medical Scientist - Health Career Factsheet

							                                                                                                                      Science
  Medical Scientist                                                                  A career in health




What is a Medical Scientist?
Medical	Scientists	work	in	pathology	laboratories	performing	              Is this you?
diagnostic	tests	on	blood,	tissues	and	other	body	fluids	which	
assist	clinicians	in	the	diagnosis,	treatment	and	management	              •	 able	to	make	clear	and	precise	
of	disease.                                                                   observations	
What does a Medical Scientist do?                                          •	 able	to	work	accurately	with	
Medical	Scientists	may	perform	the	following	tasks:                           attention	to	detail	
•	 Perform	tests	on	human	blood	or	tissue	and	other	forms	of	              •	 good	verbal	and	written	
   testing	in	the	areas	of	Histopathology,	Microbiology,	Cytology,	
   Blood	Transfusion,	Immunology,	Haematology,	Clinical	
                                                                              communication	skills	
   Biochemistry	and	Virology                                               •	 able	to	identify	and	analyse	
•	 Study	blood	and	its	diseases,	count	blood	cells	and	examine	               problems	and	develop	practical	
   blood	slides	with	a	microscope
•	 Diagnose	a	range	of	conditions	such	as	glandular	fever,	
                                                                              solutions	
   leukaemia,	anaemia	and	meningococcal/pneumococcal	                      •	 able	to	perform	under	pressure	
   meningitis
                                                                           •	 able	to	organise	and	prioritise	work.
•	 Advise	medical	practitioners	on	the	interpretation	of	tests,	and	
   assist	in	the	treatment	of	medical	conditions
•	 Make	sure	blood	for	transfusions	are	compatible	for	victims	of	
   accidents	
•	 Check	the	compatibility	of	bone	marrow,	kidney	and	other	
   organs	for	transplantation.

Where can Medical Scientists work in
Queensland Health?
There	are	so	many	opportunities	for	Medical	Scientists	in	
Queensland	Health.	There	are	currently	33	Pathology	Queensland	
laboratories	in	hospitals	all	over	Queensland	in	which	Medical	
Scientists	can	work,	from	large,	highly	sophisticated	facilities	at	the	
Princess	Alexandra	and	Royal	Brisbane	and	Women’s	Hospitals,	to	
small	laboratories	in	rural	areas	such	as	Dalby	and	Emerald.


“It’s great to know that the diagnoses that
 I make have a real-time positive impact
 on patient health. Particularly in remote
 centres it is great to offer this high standard
 of care when people have a life-threatening
 illness. Being across a wide range of clinical
 disciplines also opens up many different
 career opportunities for medical scientists.”
 Glen Lynch, Medical Scientist




   health • care • people
  Medical Scientist

Can a Medical Scientist specialise?
To	specialise	as	a	multi-skilled	relieving	Medical	Scientist	you	
                                                                      Where can I find out more info?
require	a	degree	in	medical	laboratory	science	and	will	then	be	      Australian Institute of Medical Scientists
trained	across	all	relevant	clinical	disciplines.                     Phone:	 (07)	3876	2988
Medical	Scientists	may	decide	to	specialise	in	areas	such	as	         E-mail:		 aimsnat@aims.org.au
haematology,	blood	banking	and	transfusion,	clinical	chemistry,	      Website:		www.aims.org.au/c
microbiology,	anatomical	pathology,	cytogenetics,	stem	cell	
                                                                      Pathology Queensland
manipulation,	tumour	diagnosis,	cytological	diagnosis,	DNA	
                                                                      Phone:	 (07)	3636	8300
testing	or	forensic	testing,	or	proceed	to	a	managerial	position	
                                                                      Email:		 pathology_queensland@health.qld.gov.au
within	a	pathology	laboratory	or	hospital	system.
                                                                      Website:		www.health.qld.gov.au/qhcss
How do you become a Medical Scientist?                                Queensland University of Technology
                                                                      Faculty of Science
To	become	Medical	Scientist	you	require	a	degree	in	medical	
                                                                      Phone:		 (07)	3138	2152
laboratory	science.	To	get	into	the	courses	below	you	usually	need	
                                                                      Email:		 sci-enquiries@qut.edu.au	
to	pass	your	QCS.	Prerequisite	subjects,	or	assumed	knowledge,	
                                                                      Website:		www.qut.edu.au
in	one	or	more	of	English,	mathematics,	chemistry,	physics,	
mathematics	B	or	C,	and	biological	science	are	normally	required.	    James Cook University
The	various	universities	have	different	prerequisites	and	some	        Faculty of Medicine, Health & Molecular Science
have	flexible	entry	requirements.	Contact	the	universities	you	are	   Phone:	 (07)	4781	4409
interested	in	for	more	information	as	requirements	may	change.        E-mail:		 ug.mhms@jcu.edu.au
                                                                      Website:		www.jcu.edu.au/school/bms
Degree Courses
Queensland	University	of	Technology	Gardens	Point	Campus:	            The	QTAC	website	has	a	list	of	universities	and	tertiary	
•	 Bachelor	of	Applied	Science	(Medical	Science),	3	years	full-time   institutions	with	links	to	universities	and	courses	offered.	
James	Cook	University	Townsville	Campus:	                             Go	to	www.qtac.edu.au and	select	Institutions.	
•	 Bachelor	of	Medical	Laboratory	Science,	4	years	full	time          To find out more about the exciting career
Graduates	are	immediately	eligible	for	graduate	membership	           opportunities Queensland Health can offer you
of	the	Australian	Institute	of	Medical	Scientists	and	will	have	      go to www.health.qld.gov.au/workforus
completed	the	academic	requirements	for	admission	as	
Members.	

Interested in other Science and Technology
careers?
Go	to	www.health.qld.gov.au/workforus	to	check	out	our	
Careers in Health Fact	Sheets:
•	 Health	Physicist
•	 Biomedical	Technician.
Queensland Health also employs the following
Scientific and Technical professionals:
Science:
•	 Laboratory	Scientist
•	 Pathology	Scientist
•	 Forensic	Scientist
•	 Public	Health	Scientist.
Technical
•	 Medical	Laboratory	Technician
•	 Pathology	Technician
•	 Forensic	Technician
•	 Public	Health	Technician
•	 Dental	Technician
•	 Phlebotomist.



  Do great things every day

   www.health.qld.gov.au/workforus