Overview
In this graduate clinical unit, you will build on knowledge and attitudes using best available evidence developed during your studies to competently perform diagnostic scans in areas appropriate for attainment of graduate competency to the 'Level of Competent Sonographer', as defined by the Professional Competency Framework for Sonographers adopted by the Australasian Sonographers Association and the Australian Sonographer Accreditation Register. You will evaluate findings to formulate a differential diagnosis and initiate further investigation when appropriate. You will demonstrate reflective practice to expand your core knowledge and experience. You will also behave professionally using interpersonal skills relevant to sonographic practice in accordance with CQUniversity postgraduate attributes and Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry accreditation requirements.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
PrerequisiteMEDS20016 Medical Sonography Clinical Unit 3Medical Sonography Clinical Unit 3 must have been successfully completed within the previous twelve months. Should this time limit have elapsed the student must successfully complete one (or more) technical skill, professional behaviour and diagnostic knowledge-based assessment(s) after a period of technical skill/knowledge revision, as determined by the discipline lead or designate.
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 2 - 2026
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 18-credit Postgraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 37.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 450 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a pass/fail (non-graded) unit. To pass the unit, you must pass all of the individual assessment tasks shown in the table above.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Student Unit Teacher Evaluation
Students appreciated the unit’s clear structure and well-organised layout, making it easy to engage with tutorials and study even after long placement days.
Continue providing a well-structured unit with accessible tutorials to support flexible learning and reduce cognitive load for students balancing placement and study.
Feedback from Student Unit Teacher Evaluation
Students found Ann’s heart presentation highly beneficial, as reviewing heart cines in detail clarified what to look for during scanning. Practical walkthroughs of real-time cines for key pathologies were especially helpful beyond theoretical teaching.
Continue incorporating detailed cine reviews in tutorials and expand this approach to include other pathologies for enhanced practical understanding.
Feedback from Student Unit Teacher Evaluation
Students felt that there was minimal feedback provided for assessments.
Most feedback is delivered at the end of the placement by industry. To improve feedback timing and quality incorporate formative feedback earlier in the unit through structured feedback sessions during tutorials.
Feedback from Student Unit Teacher Evaluation
Students expressed that they did not feel that there were clear unit requirements.
Clarify unit requirements continuously. Reinforce expectations through visual guides and short video explainers. Also embed reminders within the Moodle unit and throughout tutorials.
- Complete individualised diagnostic ultrasound examinations in specified areas which meet the recognised standard of graduate level sonographer according to the Professional Competency Framework for Sonographers and the Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry accreditation requirements.
- Evaluate sonographic findings and formulate appropriate sonographic protocols to solve complex diagnostic problems.
- Display professional behavior, teamwork and communication skills consistent with safe sonographic practice in accordance with the CQUniversity postgraduate attributes, the Professional Competency Framework for Sonographers, and Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry accreditation requirements.
- Critically reflect and improve upon own professional practice and sonographer psychomotor skills.
The learning outcomes for this unit relate to the requirements of general sonography courses under the Australasian Sonography Accreditation Registry (ASAR), Standards for the Accreditation of Sonographer Courses (SASC):
Foundation Units of Competence 1-5
Critical Practice Units of Competence 6, 7, 9, 10, 12 & 13
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Practical Assessment - 0% | ||||
| 2 - Professional Practice Placement - 0% | ||||
| 3 - Direct observation of procedural skills (DOPs) - 0% | ||||
| 4 - Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) - 0% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | ||||
| 2 - Communication | ||||
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | ||||
| 4 - Research | ||||
| 5 - Self-management | ||||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | ||||
| 7 - Leadership | ||||
| 8 - First Nations Knowledges | ||||
| 9 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||