August 8, 2022 / Pathology

How to Become a Pathology Collector?

The present pathology workforce in Australia is about 24,000 people. Every year, around 500 million pathology tests are conducted to be collected, processed, and reported by a pathologist. This clearly shows the demand graph for pathologists in Australia. (Source: www.rcpa.edu.au )

If you are looking for information on how to become a pathologist, here are all the tips and research for you!

Role of a Pathology Collector

The role of a Pathology Collector is equally challenging and rewarding. They are responsible for collecting and transporting tissue and fluid samples from patients to laboratories for analysis. In many cases, they are the only health care professional with whom a patient interacts.

As such, it is important for pathology collectors to have a strong understanding of medical terminology and be able to effectively communicate with patients. They must also be able to maintain a high level of accuracy when collecting and labelling specimens.

In some cases, pathology collectors may also be responsible for performing basic laboratory tests, such as counting blood cells or measuring blood pressure. In this blog, we will shed light on some important aspects of how to become a Pathology Collector specifically in Australia.

Pathologist Career after COVID 19

Research done by eminent Australian scholars – V Pilbeam, L Ridoutt, and T Badrick, published in the Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management in 2016 – In the years 2012- 2013, there were over 83 million pathology tests conducted in Australia, initiating a Medicare benefit. So, we can imagine the number after COVID-19.

The pandemic has resulted in significant changes in the sample collection process in the laboratories. Every medical institute must go through a rigorous collection and processing workflow. This has been possible only due to the hard work of Pathology Collectors at large.

Understand what pathology collectors do – So before talking about how to become a Pathologist, we need to understand what the role is. Pathologists are in high demand due to the rarity of the items they collect.

• It is important to be knowledgeable about the different types of pathological specimens and what makes them valuable.
• You need to have a good eye for spotting rare items and know how to negotiate prices.
• Taking proper care of the specimens collected
• Storing the specimens properly so that they don’t get damaged over time.
• Correct Identification and labelling
• Taking care of the Patient safety and quality issues

How to Become a Pathology Collector in Australia

There are many ways to become a pathology collector, however, a simple checklist you can follow is here:

• The minimum qualifications you will need to become a Pathology Collector in Australia are a Certificate III in Pathology Collection from an approved educational institution
• You must be 16 years of age or above
• Completion of studies equivalent to an Australian 10-year qualification is required
• An international student must have an IELTS band score of 5.5 to enter this course
• Students will have to undergo language, literacy, and numeracy (LLN) capabilities at the time of Orientation
• Students above the age of 22 will be considered without minimum education requirements but will be reviewed individually to meet the requirements

Other Skills Required to Become a Pathology Collector

• An important aspect of this role is you should be First Aid Certified
• Among the other skills, this job role requires a person to be empathetic with good communication skills

In a nutshell, we can say – The field of pathology is both fast-paced and diverse; in order to create treatments, it makes use of cutting-edge laboratory techniques as well as modern medical procedures. There is never a shortage of demand for pathologists. The profitable nature of the profession can be attributed to its robust career progression and employment prospects.

People Also Ask:

Q: Is Pathology Collecting a Satisfying Profession?

Definitely!

Among all the other professions, pathologists are ranked highest in reporting happiness and lowest in burnout at the workplace.

A survey conducted in 2016 shows that 52% of pathologists are satisfied with their job roles and around 63% are satisfied with their salaries, which is a huge number.(Source: apc.sagepub.com)

Q: How Long Does It Take to Become a Pathology Collector?

It depends upon an individual’s caliber and capability. But yes, you can complete the entire course in a short span if you are well versed with the course plan and exceptional competence.
Top in-demand locations in Australia: The demand for Pathology Collectors is high everywhere around the globe – specifically if we see the Australian regions, it is mostly in

• Victoria
• Queensland
• New South Wales (Source: seek.com.au)

Q: How Much is the Pathologist’s Salary in Australia?

According to Glassdoor, the average pathology collector in Australia earns around $25 per hour. While entry-level might vary – the most experienced one can even go up to a higher level.

Q: Where do Pathology Collectors Work?

Pathology Collectors work in various places:

• Private and public hospitals
• Privately owned collection centres
• Diagnostic pathology laboratories
• Doctor’s surgeries
• Insurance offices
• Fertility clinics

Q: Where to find reliable information on pathology?

• The Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA) www.rcpa.edu.au
• The Pathology Associations Council (PAC)
• Lab Tests Online: www.labtestsonline.org.au
• Institute of Health and Nursing Australia: https://ihna.edu.au

Way Forward

Records show there is a worldwide shortage of pathologists. As the demand growing for pathology collectors day by day, the job outlook for this career is good, with a projected growth of 14% from 2019 to 2029 (www.rcpa.edu.au). In addition to this, there is career flexibility in this job role. Being trained as a pathologist opens multiple career paths in various fields of medicine.

Related Blog: Is Pathology Collection the Right Career for You?