Unit Synopsis
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
| Level | Postgraduate |
|---|---|
| Unit Level | 8 |
| Credit Points | 18 |
| Student Contribution Band | SCA Band 3 |
| 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 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). |
| Class Timetable | View Unit Timetable |
| Residential School | No Residential School |
Unit Availabilities from Term 1 - 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.
Assessment Tasks
| Assessment Task | Weighting |
|---|---|
| 1. Practical Assessment | 0% |
| 2. Professional Practice Placement | 0% |
| 3. Direct observation of procedural skills (DOPs) | 0% |
| 4. Reflective Practice Assignment | 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.
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: 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.
Structure and delivery of learning materials was reviewed, updated and consolidated.
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.
Assessment 4 was reviewed and updated to improve student engagement.
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.
The professional relevance of reflective practice was more clearly emphasised in assessment documentation and tutorial discussions.
Source: Unit evaluation
Students required more clarity around new assessment documentation (Excel Clinical Logbook) and Group Reflective Presentation requirements.
Review and refine all assessment instructions and supporting resources before the next offering. Provide clearer written guidance and exemplars of previous student work. Ensure only the current Clinical Logbook and Verify Hours documentation is available to students and remove superseded templates.
In Progress
Source: Self-reflection/Staff feedback
Although the "Useful Feedback" score improved, students have limited opportunities to discuss feedback received from clinical supervisors because the Unit Coordinator does not directly observe students in the clinical environment.
Introduce structured feedback coaching or "feedback unpacking" sessions following placement assessments to assist students in interpreting supervisor feedback, identifying strengths and areas for improvement, and developing action plans to apply feedback during subsequent clinical placements.
In Progress
Source: Unit evaluation
The introduction of new placement administration requirements, that is, submitting absence forms through SONIA in addition to notifying the placement site and Unit Coordinator, may have caused some uncertainty regarding the required steps when students were absent from placement.
Provide clear guidance at the start of the unit on how to report placement absences through SONIA. Develop a step-by-step student guide, including screenshots where possible, to explain the absence submission process.
In Progress
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- Complete individualised diagnostic ultrasound examinations in specified areas which meet the recognised standard of graduate level sonographer according to the Professional Competency Standard 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
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Practical Assessment | • | • | • | |
| 2 - Professional Practice Placement | • | |||
| 3 - Direct observation of procedural skills (DOPs) | • | • | ||
| 4 - Reflective Practice Assignment | • | |||
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 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 | |