In preparation for your future role as a sonographer, you will undertake simulation lab training to develop competency in performing sonographic examinations of superficial structures. For this assessment, you are required to complete a practical sonographic assessment of the thyroid, focusing on pre-scan, scanning, and post-scan skills, assessed using the Assessment of Readiness for Clinical (ARC) tool. The assessment consists of three components: professional (communication, infection control, consent, and patient care), technical (performing a modified thyroid protocol and acquiring diagnostic images), and clinical knowledge (identifying anatomical structures and verbalising technical elements in real time). All critical skills must be demonstrated accurately and consistently to pass, as outlined in the ARC and its appendix. You will have access to compulsory and non-compulsory lab sessions, demonstration videos, lectures, tutorials, and a mock test to support your learning. The entire practical exam must be completed within 30 minutes.
Note: the CQU 72-hour grace period for assessments does not apply to the Practical Skills Test
Level of Gen AI use allowed: Level 1: You must not use Gen Al at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge.

This is a PASS/FAIL assessment item.

To PASS this assessment, the professional, technical and clinical components must be graded as a pass against the marking criteria framework -  refer to the ARC tool for specifications.

The professional 'critical' skills are the bolded items in the ARC tool and must be completed in order to pass. 

The technical and clinical skills are separated into critical and non- critical skills. Critical skills must be demonstrated consistently throughout the assessment to pass. There is no limit of non critical errors that may be made and still pass this assessment, however if any of those errors result in a critical error due to severity, then they will count instead as a critical error.

Two attempts at this assessment will be offered. Students must pass at least one of these attempts to achieve an overall pass for this unit.

Additional information

Your grade (PASS/FAIL) will be allocated following consensus moderation. Please be aware that all practical skills assessments will be video recorded however these videos will not be released to students. Videos may be viewed by CQU sonography staff and tutors for the purposes of marking and moderation of assessments. It also may be required to be viewed by other CQU staff in the event of a student requesting a Review of Grade or Appeal of Grade. 

A strong understanding of anatomy and physiology, as well as the ability to correlate sonographic findings with clinical indications, is essential for sonographers to provide accurate diagnoses. This assessment consists of two online quizzes designed to test your knowledge of ultrasound of superficial parts.

Quiz 1 (Week 4) covers content from Weeks 1–3, and Quiz 2 (Week 8) covers content from Weeks 4–7. Each quiz contains 20 multiple choice questions, has a 20-minute time limit, and allows only one attempt. Quizzes are accessed via Moodle and cannot be paused or restarted once begun. To prepare, use lectures, tutorials, and practice quizzes. If your internet connection is unreliable, attempt the quizzes on campus and ensure you are in a quiet, organised space. In the event of a technical issue, take a screenshot or photo as evidence, contact TaSAC immediately, and notify the unit coordinator. Extension requests must be submitted via the Moodle Extension Request procedure with supporting documentation before the quiz closes; without an approved extension or documented technical issue, missed quizzes cannot be completed after closure. 
Note: the CQU 72-hour grace period for assessments does not apply to online quiz 1 or online quiz 2.
Level of Gen AI use allowed: Level 1: You must not use Gen Al at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge.

This is a pass/fail assessment item.
 
 
In order for a student to achieve a pass mark in this assessment, the student must achieve a minimum score of 50% or higher averaged over both quizzes. Students must demonstrate a reasonable attempt to complete both quizzes within this assessment item by set due date and time. This assessment must be completed individually—collusion is considered academic misconduct.
 

Accurately documenting and interpreting sonographic findings is a critical skill for sonographers. For this assessment, you will complete a short answer online test in Week 12, where you will be provided with sonographic images and videos from superficial structure ultrasound examinations. You will be required to interpret and describe the findings, demonstrating your ability to identify and 
document pathology. 

Test details:
• 10 short answer questions
• 25-minute time limit
• Only one attempt; the test cannot be paused or restarted once begun

If your internet connection is unreliable, attempt the test on campus and ensure you are in a quiet, organised space. In the event of a technical issue, take a screenshot or photo as evidence, contact TaSAC immediately, and notify the unit coordinator. This assessment must be completed individually—collusion is considered academic misconduct. Extension requests must be submitted via the Moodle 
Extension Request procedure with supporting documentation before the test closes; without an approved extension or documented technical issue, missed tests cannot be completed after closure.

Note: the CQU 72-hour grace period for assessments does not apply to this online test.
Level of Gen AI use allowed: Level 1: You must not use Gen Al at any point during the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge.

This is a PASS/FAIL assessment item.

To achieve a pass mark in this assessment, the student must achieve a minimum score of 50% in the online test.
Students must demonstrate a reasonable attempt to complete this assessment item by the set due date and time. The online test short answer questions will be marked by the Unit Coordinator. This is an open book test, you can consult your notes, lecture slides, textbooks, and Moodle page. This assessment is to be undertaken as an individual and is not approved as group work. 

This is a pass/fail assessment item.

The purpose of this assessment is to prepare you for the professionalism and documentation responsibilities on clinical placement, as well as develop self-reflection skills by setting weekly goals and following-up on your progress. When working clinically, patients and physicians rely on quick, efficient, and complete documentation to issue treatment. Failure to complete paperwork correctly in the clinical environment may have dire consequences to patient management. Professional behaviour encompasses these and other components such as communication, presentation, responsibility and ethics.

PART A: Induction

This assessment will require you to complete the documentation in your Lab Manual and within the Unit Introduction tile on the Moodle site:

• Workplace Health and Safety Induction
• Lab Agreement
• Consent Form - Sonographic Examination for Teaching Purposes
• Compulsory tutorial

Uploaded documentation is in pdf format.

Please ensure your SURNAME, first name, student number, and name of what you are uploading is used in that order in the title of the document, separated by either underscores or single spaces. Any other order variation or information is incorrect so please take note of this:

Wardle_Jane_0123456_lab_agreement.pdf

OR

Wardle Jane 0123456 lab agreement.pdf

To simulate real clinical environments where correct documentation is of critical importance, non-completed or incorrectly completed paperwork will be returned to students with ONE opportunity provided to correct the error. As this is a pass/fail assessment item, repeated errors may result in a fail of the assessment item.

The compulsory tutorial covers requirements for the Professional Behaviour Assessment (Assessment 4), as well as important induction and term information. It is compulsory that all students attend on WEDNESDAY 11th MARCH 2026 1PM AEST / 2PM AEDT 

PART B: Reflection

Reflective practice is a critical component in the realm of medical sonography, defined as the process of critically analysing one’s experiences to inform and enhance future clinical actions. This approach not only fosters a deeper understanding of one’s professional experiences but also encourages continuous improvement in practice. Within the dynamic field of medical sonography, where technology and techniques are continually evolving, reflective practice becomes essential for practitioners to adapt and thrive.

Engaging in reflective practice promotes professional growth by cultivating self-awareness and encouraging practitioners to examine their biases and strengths. It is through this critical self-analysis that sonographers can identify areas for improvement, thereby enhancing their clinical skills and decision-making capabilities. Moreover, reflective practice nurtures an environment of lifelong learning, empowering practitioners to remain adaptable in a field characterized by rapid advancements and changing patient needs. Feedback is a vital addition to the reflective process. Feedback is a dynamic, co-constructive interaction in a safe and mutually respectful relationship. Its purpose is to challenge your ways of thinking, acting, or being to support your growth as a sonographer. You will be offered feedback from tutors and peers and this should be considered while reflecting on your progress.
From this, you are required to complete weekly self-reflection based on your performance in the sonography labs this term. 

Note: the CQU 72-hour grace period for assessments does not apply any part of this assessment.
Level of Gen AI use allowed: Level 1: You must not use Gen Al for any part of the assessment. You must demonstrate your core skills and knowledge.

PART C: Professional Behaviour Assessment

The Medical Sonography Professionalism Assessment at CQU is designed to ensure students develop and demonstrate the high standards of professional behaviour expected in clinical environments, both during their studies and as future graduate sonographers. Students are required to treat each lab session as a work shift, exhibiting professionalism towards colleagues, staff, patients, the environment, and equipment, in line with the Professional Behaviour Assessment (PBA) description and relevant codes of conduct, including the Lab Manual, ASAR, and CQU Codes of Conduct, all available on Moodle. The assessment is based on attendance and application in labs, with behaviour monitored from week 4 and marked against clear criteria; students may receive up to three Lapses in Professionalism (LiPs) without penalty, but a fourth results in a fail. LiPs are documented with written feedback, and students can discuss these with the unit coordinator. Reports of unprofessional behaviour from classmates not witnessed by staff result in an unofficial warning and documented feedback. There is no student submission required, and understanding the rationale and importance of these standards is essential, as lapses in professionalism can have significant academic and professional consequences. 

There is no student submission for this assessment.

This is a pass/fail assessment task in a pass/fail unit. A fail grade for any component of a pass/fail assessment task will result in a fail grade for the assessment task, and subsequently the entire unit.

To pass Part A and B you must:

• complete all paperwork accurately
• save and upload in the format specified including document name
• submit by the due date and time specified

Documentation in the clinical environment must be correctly issued, otherwise there can be dire consequences for patient and legal ramifications for the sonographer. Hence, in the lab, non-completed or incorrectly completed paperwork will be returned to students, with ONE opportunity provided to correct the error. Repeated errors may incur a fail of the assessment item due to Professional Behaviour Assessment requirements

To pass Part C you must:

• receive no more than 3 LiPs through out the term in relation to lab activities. LiPs will begin to accrue from week 4 only. Instances prior to week 3 will receive written feedback. 

The LiP system is designed to provide a warning and feedback system to students when they exhibit unprofessional behaviour, and hence up to three LiPs (official warnings) can be issued within the unit without adverse consequence. A fourth LiP however will result in the assessment being graded as a fail.