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Unit Synopsis
In this graduate clinical unit, you will build on knowledge and attitudes developed during your studies to competently perform diagnostic scans in areas appropriate for an 'Entry Level Sonographer' (as described by the Australian Sonography Association). You will evaluate findings to formulate a differential diagnosis and initiate further investigation when appropriate. You will also behave professionally using interpersonal skills relevant to sonographic practice in accordance with CQUniversity postgraduate attributes and Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry requirements.
Details
| Level | Postgraduate |
|---|---|
| Unit Level | 8 |
| Credit Points | 18 |
| Student Contribution Band | SCA Band 2 |
| Fraction of Full-Time Student Load | 0.375 |
| Pre-requisites or Co-requisites |
Prerequisite Medical Sonography Clinical Course 2 must have been successfully completed within the last 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). |
| Class Timetable | View Unit Timetable |
| Residential School | No Residential School |
Unit Availabilities from Term 1 - 2021
Term 1 - 2021 Profile
Term 1 - 2022 Profile
Term 1 - 2023 Profile
Term 1 - 2024 Profile
Term 1 - 2025 Profile
Term 1 - 2026 Profile
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.
Assessment Tasks
| Assessment Task | Weighting |
|---|---|
| 1. Practical Assessment | 0% |
| 2. Practical Assessment | 0% |
| 3. Practical Assessment | 0% |
| 4. Practical Assessment | 0% |
| 5. Portfolio | 0% |
| 6. Professional Practice Placement | 0% |
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.
Past Exams
All University policies are available on the Policy web site, however you may wish to directly view the following policies below.
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of policies are available on the Policy web site.
No previous feedback available
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.
Source: Student Evaluation
Useful knowledge/skills metric was rated the lowest in this unit, suggesting that not all students thought they would use the knowledge and skills developed in this unit.
Update the description for Assessment 4 to highlight that self-reflection is a crucial skill to exercise regularly as a sonographer. Reiterate the importance of reflective practice through the Zoom tutorial. Go through the Professional Competency Framework for Sonographers with students during the tutorial as a reference.
The Professional Competency Framework for Sonographers was discussed with students during the first tutorial.
Source: Unit Coordinator
No exemplars were provided for students for Assessment 4 since it was a new assessment in HT1 2023 and significant changes were made to this assessment in 2024.
Provide exemplars for Assessment 4 as an additional resource to in completing this assessment.
Exemplars were provided for Assessment 4.
Source: Unit evaluation
A large amount of new learning material was introduced in 2025, but satisfaction scores for learning materials decreased, possibly due to delivery format or relevance.
Review the structure and delivery of learning materials. Consider consolidating content and shifting from written Moodle content to more interactive delivery.
In Progress
Source: Unit evaluation
Some students may have perceived that Assessment 4 was repetitive.
Review Assessment 4 design to maintain focus on reflective practice and increase student engagement.
In Progress
Source: Unit evaluation
Students struggled to understand the importance and relevance of reflective practice and Assessment 4.
Clarify and highlight the professional relevance of reflective practice within both assessment documentation and tutorial discussions.
In Progress
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- Perform diagnostic scans in specified areas to meet the Competency Standards for the Entry Level Sonographer
- Evaluate sonographic findings and formulate appropriate sonographic protocols to solve complex diagnostic problems
- Behave professionally using appropriate interpersonal skills relevant to sonographic practice in accordance with the CQUniversity postgraduate attributes and the Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry requirements.
Australasian Sonography Association Competency Standards for the Entry Level Sonographer Units 1-5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13.
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Practical Assessment | • | • | |
| 2 - Practical Assessment | • | • | |
| 3 - Practical Assessment | • | • | • |
| 4 - Practical Assessment | • | • | • |
| 5 - Portfolio | • | ||
| 6 - Professional Practice Placement | • | ||
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | |
| 1 - Knowledge | • | • | • |
| 2 - Communication | • | • | • |
| 3 - Cognitive, technical and creative skills | • | • | |
| 5 - Self-management | • | ||
| 6 - Ethical and Professional Responsibility | • | • | • |
| 7 - Leadership | • | • | |
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | |
| 1 - Practical Assessment | • | • | • | • | |||||
| 2 - Practical Assessment | • | • | • | • | • | ||||
| 3 - Practical Assessment | • | • | • | • | • | ||||
| 4 - Practical Assessment | • | • | • | ||||||
| 5 - Portfolio | • | • | • | ||||||
| 6 - Professional Practice Placement | • | • | |||||||