They are the second largest group of health professionals in Australia after nurses.

But ask who they are, says Charles Sturt University (CSU) School of Biomedical Sciences lecturer, Helen Moriarty, and most will not be able to answer correctly.

Responsible for such tasks as blood counts and cross matching, PAP smears, bacteria and antibiotic sensitivity testing as well as biochemistry tests such as cholesterol and blood alcohol levels, there are more than 10 000 medical scientists throughout Australia.  

“Hardly anyone knows about us because we are in the pathology labs in hospitals and therefore not as visible as other health professionals,” said Ms Moriarty, who is also chairperson of the Australian Institute of Medical Scientists NSW South West Division. 

In the lead up to National Medical Laboratory Science Week this week, from 10 to 16 May, Ms Moriarty, who worked at Sydney hospital pathology laboratories for 26 years before starting work at CSU 10 years ago, wants to help raise the profile of the “vitally important profession”.

CSU Master of Medical Science (Pathology) student Louise McGregor recently conducted a national survey to determine public and industry understanding of the profession. The results, said Ms Moriarty, were disappointing yet expected.

The survey revealed only three per cent of the general public and 11 per cent of other health workers realised medical scientists undertake diagnostic tests vital to health care.

“You can imagine this is pretty demoralising for medical scientists who must have a specialist degree to do the work,” she said.

CSU is one of only nine universities in Australia to offer an accredited course, from its Wagga Wagga Campus in regional New South Wales, and is the only tertiary institution that offers the course via distance education.

Students have studied medical science at CSU since 1973. It was also the University’s first health course. “These graduates now work all over Australia as well as overseas, particularly in Hong Kong.”