Graduate Diploma in Medical Sonography (Cardiac), University of South Australia (UniSA). 2020 information for Australian students

This degree is only available to Australian students

You're considered an Australian student if you are any of the following:

Australian or New Zealand Citizen
Australian Permanent Resident (including Humanitarian Visa holders)

Australian students

Start Date
February
July

Campus
City East

Duration
1 year(s) full-time

Program Code
IGSOF

SATAC Code
4GD521 (External)

Study as
Part-time only

Mode
Online

Fees
$AU 27,900 per 1.0 EFTSL for students enrolled in 2020

Entry requirements

Applicants must:
- hold a relevant allied health or health science degree completed at a bachelor’s degree level or higher from a recognised higher education institution.
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Students in this program are required to secure their own supervised training position for the duration of their study. Students that have not secured a placement are unable to progress in the program after the first four courses.

Aim

The program provides health scientists and other allied health professionals with the mechanism to develop the competencies of a new advanced professional area in medical cardiac sonography.

Content & Structure

The program requires completion of eight prescribed courses (36 units of study), together with the satisfactory completion of 2000 clinical examinations of cardiac ultrasound across various pathologies. The prescribed courses develop knowledge, clinical skills, critical thinking and analytical skills for effective practice as a medical cardiac sonographer.

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What courses you'll study

Course name	Area and cat no.	Units
LEVEL 1
Ultrasound Physics and Instrumentation	RADY 5030	4.5	Rule(s): 1,2
Professional Issues for Sonographers	RADY 5024	4.5	Rule(s): 2
Cardiovascular Anatomy and Embryology	RADY 5036	4.5	Rule(s): 2
Cardiovascular Physiology and Pathology	RADY 5037	4.5	Rule(s): 2
LEVEL 2
Advanced Cardiac Haemodynamics	RADY 5032	4.5	Rule(s): 4,5
Clinical Applications of Echocardiography	RADY 5038	4.5	Rule(s): 4,6
Advanced Cardiac Pathology	RADY 5033	4.5	Rule(s): 4,6
Cardiac Sonography Portfolio	RADY 5035	4.5	Rule(s): 3,5,6,8

Rules & notes

Rules

1. Credit will be given for this course if the student can provide proof of completion of the Diploma of Medical Ultrasonography Part 1, awarded by the Australasian Society for Ultrasound in Medicine, within 5 years prior to enrolment in the program.

2. Students must successfully complete the four level 1 courses prior to enrolling in the remainder of the program.

3. Students must maintain a clinical experience logbook which documents a minimum of 2000 examinations of supervised cardiac ultrasound experience (verified by an ASAR accredited sonographer) over the duration of the program. Students will be required to submit evidence at prescribed milestones set by the Program Director.

4. At the completion of this course students must submit a Clinical Progress Report.

5. Students must have completed at least 1800 clinical cardiac ultrasound examinations and at least 2 Clinical Progress Reports to enroll in this course.

6. Students must provide evidence that they have a supervised external training position for the duration of these courses. For all domestic students and for international students training in Australia, supervision must be provided by a sonographer(s) registered with the Australian Sonographers Accreditation Registry.

7. Participation is required in clinical placements where students are required to physically handle people including lifting and supporting people with disabilities.

8. For this course all students must attend a compulsory OSCE examination on campus in Adelaide.

Notes

1. The program is offered on a part-time basis over a minimum of 2 years, and only by external delivery.

2. Applicants are advised that the program requires the completion of 2000 clinical cardiac sonography examinations across various pathologies in a supervised clinical placement. Applicants are responsible for organising their own training position in a cardiac ultrasound department in order to acquire the scanning experience.

3. Students who are unable to secure a training position after completing level 1 courses in the program will be offered exit with a Graduate Certificate in Medical Sonography Principles and Theory (Cardiovascular). The Graduate Certificate exit award will NOT provide the student with ASAR accreditation.

Professional accreditation and recognition

This program enables graduates to apply for full professional accreditation from the Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry (ASAR) under the Cardiac Sonography category. Evidence of scanning experience in an Australian or New Zealand clinical setting is required for such accreditation.