Asking the right questions during ultrasound training is crucial for fostering effective learning and development. Beginning with “Are both parties on the same page?”, the focus will be on setting a positive tone from day one by establishing a clear learning contract between instructors and trainees, laying the groundwork for collaboration, open communication, and clear expectations for all parties involved
Next, “Are goals being set and reflected upon?” will emphasize the importance of defining specific, measurable goals and regularly reflecting on progress. This reflective process enables both trainees and instructors to adapt and refine techniques, driving continuous improvement.
Finally, “Are we getting it right?” will highlight the value of appraisals and auditing. Regular feedback and assessment are key to identifying areas for improvement and confirming competencies. Structured appraisals and audits ensure accuracy, enhance confidence, and contribute to a culture of excellence.
Asking the right questions throughout sonography training and supervision optimizes the learning process by enhancing communication, fostering reflective practice, and ensuring continuous assessment. This approach not only improves learning outcomes but also builds trust and strengthens team cohesion, creating a supportive, collaborative training environment

Work integrated learning is essential in developing competent sonographers, yet the dynamic between students and supervisors can significantly impact learning outcomes, confidence, and overall workplace culture. This presentation explores effective teamwork between students and supervisors through the lens of neuroscience, focusing on how the brain processes feedback, motivation, and trust in learning environments.
Key topics include the neuroscience of learning, the role of psychological safety in skill development, and strategies to optimize communication and feedback. Attendees will gain insights into how stress and cognitive load affect student performance, and how supervisors can leverage neuroscience-informed techniques to foster a supportive and high-performing learning environment.
By understanding the brain’s response to mentorship and collaboration, both students and supervisors can create a workplace dynamic that enhances learning, engagement, and long-term professional growth. This session offers practical strategies to build effective, resilient, and thriving workplace relationships.

Difficult conversations are unavoidable in professional life. For sonographers, effectively addressing workplace conflicts, providing constructive feedback, or managing inappropriate behaviour is essential to maintaining team cohesion, patient care standards, and personal resilience.
This presentation offers a structured approach to mastering challenging interactions, equipping attendees with practical tools to navigate high-stakes conversations confidently and professionally. Participants will explore why these discussions are often perceived as difficult and learn strategies to prepare effectively, ensuring clarity of purpose and confidence in delivery.
The session emphasises empathy, clarity, and composure by using proven frameworks, such as "I - statements" for expressing concerns without assigning blame and the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) model for concise communication. Attendees will learn techniques for managing emotional responses, asking open-ended questions, and actively listening to foster mutual understanding
By the end of this session, participants will gain confidence in navigating sensitive issues while fostering collaboration and resolution. Take home the skills necessary for approaching difficult conversations with clarity, empathy, and a focused strategy for success.

Delivery of medical ultrasound is built upon the work of the sonographer but it is a rarity that the sonographer is anything other than an employee with no clear vision of the of the financial aspect of the service.
Increasingly sonographers in the private sector are told that they are “too expensive” and non-viable without subsidisation from other modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This is used to justify an impetus for high volume scanning and restricted equipment purchases.
Is this true?
What is the actual cash flow around private sonography?
How many sonographers are self-employed and how do they manage that?
The author has been self employed as a sonographer for 3 decades running ultrasound practices and training companies.
Other self-employed sonographers have been consulted for this presentation.

Introduction:This presentation will explore the impact of memory aids in ultrasound training for both the learner and the educator. The use of structured checklists and other mnemonic devices as prompts can optimize skill development and consistency, ultimately ensuring the delivery of high-quality patient care in sonography.
Discussion: By breaking down complex tasks into clear, actionable steps, checklists reduce cognitive load, enhance confidence, and improve procedural accuracy [1,2,3]. When instructors are aware of how they structure their own knowledge and the subconscious checklists they rely upon, they are better prepared to model and teach these strategies to students [4]. Additionally, checklists promote standardisation, ensuring learners receive consistent instruction across tutors—an essential factor in achieving reliable learning outcomes. For learners, checklists serve as step-by-step guides that can enhance procedural accuracy, promote confidence, and facilitate the mastery of complex scanning protocols. For educators, they provide a reliable framework for standardised instruction, effective feedback, and objective assessment. This discussion will engage educators and clinicians in leveraging checklists as a cornerstone of modern ultrasound education, creating a culture of precision, accountability, and lifelong learning.
Conclusion: The integration of structured checklists into ultrasound training will aid knowledge acquisition with practical application. Simplifying teaching provides consistent feedback and accelerates learner proficiency. Checklist methods in all forms of learning ensures consistency in instruction and the resultant optimisation of student outcomes.
Take Home Message: Checklists are invaluable in ultrasound education, providing structure to enhance skill acquisition and streamline the learning process.

Introduction: Australian sonography courses’ curricula written by non-Indigenous educators may underrepresent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) perspectives. It is essential for future sonographers to strengthen their cultural competency and acknowledge their patients’ and colleagues' cultural beliefs. This presentation describes the steps taken to infuse the ATSI contents in a sonography course to decolonise the curriculum at an Australian university.
Methods: Staffs' training was facilitated by a Noongar-Yamaji Scholar and Senior Learning Designer. This included completion of an online micro-credential and multiple assessments. Several Community of Practice (CoP) sessions allowed engagement with other teams to establish best practice in adjusting the curriculum. The CoP sessions culminated in presentation of proposed changes which followed a peer-review process and consultation with the facilitator. A strength-based approach was adopted where deficit discourse was actively deconstructed.
Results: The infusion of ATSI culture adopted contemporary pedagogies which included: infusion of ATSI perspectives in lecture contents, tutorial activities and assessments. Additionally, presentations from ATSI educators, health workers and patients enhanced students’ learning and allowed direct engagement with the presenters.
Conclusion: Decolonisation of the curriculum resulted in positive feedback from staff and students. The new course contents were identified as valuable and essential in educating future sonographers.
Take Home Message: The short-term benefits include a heightened cultural competency of staff and students. The long-term benefit is greater engagement with Indigenous perspectives allowing for a richer educational experience. Most importantly, ATSI students are better represented in their coursework, allowing for greater intellectual and emotional investment in their studies.