Professional | From classroom to clinic: Supporting sonography students (cont.)
Tracks
Rm 8 | Virtual
Prof Topics
| Sunday, May 31, 2026 |
| 12:10 PM - 12:50 PM |
| Rm 8 | First Floor |
Speaker
Ms Allegra Johnson
Student Sonographer
CQUniversity
Supporting student success: Supervision that shapes us **NEW VOICE**
12:10 PM - 12:30 PMPresentation Synopsis / Abstract
The journey of a student sonographer is rewarding and challenging, filled with emotions of self-doubt, happiness and personal growth. As sonography students, we undergo hours of lab time at university, where we learn to scan, build rapports, master culturally safe communication, and work effectively with the rest of the medical team. These skills then guide us on clinical placement, with the support and mentoring of our supervisors helping to strengthen and hone our sonography foundation
Our presentation will discuss our journeys as sonography students who are completing our training in both public hospital and private radiology settings in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, and how the training received from our supervisors has honed our knowledge, skills, and confidence as trainee sonographers.
By discussing our experiences, our presentation hopes to discuss the important impact that sonographers have on student sonographer development and building a strong foundation that shapes our careers and patient care.
Our presentation will discuss our journeys as sonography students who are completing our training in both public hospital and private radiology settings in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, and how the training received from our supervisors has honed our knowledge, skills, and confidence as trainee sonographers.
By discussing our experiences, our presentation hopes to discuss the important impact that sonographers have on student sonographer development and building a strong foundation that shapes our careers and patient care.
Biography
Ms Allegra Johnson |
CQUniversity
Allegra is in her fourth year of the Bachelor of Medical Sonography at CQUniversity Brisbane Campus. Throughout the first three years of study, she completed her clinical placements at a public hospital, which she believes that the rotations through the different areas of the hospital and working with different teachers, have been extremely valuable in developing her foundational skills as a student sonographer. Additionally, Allegra has a background as a registered nurse, which has been beneficial when communicating with patients, putting them at ease, and ensuring patient centred care is incorporated with each patient - skills she is keen to continue and develop on for the rest of her training and into her future career as a sonographer.
Ms Belinda Wadsworth
Student Sonographer
CQUniversity
Supporting student success: Supervision that shapes us **NEW VOICE**
12:10 PM - 12:30 PMPresentation Synopsis / Abstract
The journey of a student sonographer is rewarding and challenging, filled with emotions of self-doubt, happiness and personal growth. As sonography students, we undergo hours of lab time at university, where we learn to scan, build rapports, master culturally safe communication, and work effectively with the rest of the medical team. These skills then guide us on clinical placement, with the support and mentoring of our supervisors helping to strengthen and hone our sonography foundation.
Our presentation will discuss our journeys as sonography students who are completing our training in both public hospital and private radiology settings in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, and how the training received from our supervisors has honed our knowledge, skills, and confidence as trainee sonographers.
By discussing our experiences, our presentation hopes to discuss the important impact that sonographers have on student sonographer development and building a strong foundation that shapes our careers and patient care.
Our presentation will discuss our journeys as sonography students who are completing our training in both public hospital and private radiology settings in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, and how the training received from our supervisors has honed our knowledge, skills, and confidence as trainee sonographers.
By discussing our experiences, our presentation hopes to discuss the important impact that sonographers have on student sonographer development and building a strong foundation that shapes our careers and patient care.
Biography
Ms Belinda Wadsworth |
CQUniversity
Belinda is a fourth-year student undertaking the Bachelor of Medical Sonography/Graduate Diploma of Medical Sonography at CQUniversity Brisbane. She is based on the Sunshine Coast and has completed her second and third year clinical placements in private practice. She has drawn on her experience as a Registered Nurse to enhance her clinical practice while developing her skills as a student Sonographer as she progresses through the degree. She is particularly interested in refining her skills in women's imaging and MSK scanning on her return to clinical placement in early February.
Ms Julie Cahill
Senior Clinical Academic
CQU
Creating a sustainable workplace
12:30 PM - 12:50 PMPresentation Synopsis / Abstract
For fifteen years, CQUniversity has delivered Australia’s only integrated undergraduate‑to‑postgraduate ultrasound pathway, with Edith Cowan University entering the field in 2024. Despite the longevity and proven outcomes of this model, the structure, intent, and academic equivalence of the undergraduate/postgraduate pathway remain poorly understood across the sector. This presentation clarifies how the pathway functions, why it is academically equivalent to traditional postgraduate routes, and how it contributes to national workforce sustainability.
A key point of confusion is the one‑year Graduate Diploma, often assumed to be “less” than the two‑year part‑time postgraduate diplomas commonly offered elsewhere. The academic level is identical. The distinction lies in focus: this model embeds ultrasound‑specific learning earlier, more intensively, and more coherently across the student journey. The curriculum delivered in the Graduate Diploma year mirrors that of standard postgraduate programs, but students in the integrated pathway engage with ultrasound concepts sooner, supporting stronger clinical reasoning and professional identity formation.
The presentation will explore persistent awareness gaps, understanding what the course involves, recognition of the equivalence to the Graduate Diploma, and exploring the shifting national landscape now that CQU is no longer the sole provider. It will also examine the undergraduate/postgraduate ultrasound space and what this means for consistency, standards, and future workforce planning.
By leveraging undergraduate entry and integrating postgraduate‑level learning, this model offers a scalable, efficient, and academically rigorous solution to national workforce shortages, strengthening clinical capacity and long‑term sustainability.
A key point of confusion is the one‑year Graduate Diploma, often assumed to be “less” than the two‑year part‑time postgraduate diplomas commonly offered elsewhere. The academic level is identical. The distinction lies in focus: this model embeds ultrasound‑specific learning earlier, more intensively, and more coherently across the student journey. The curriculum delivered in the Graduate Diploma year mirrors that of standard postgraduate programs, but students in the integrated pathway engage with ultrasound concepts sooner, supporting stronger clinical reasoning and professional identity formation.
The presentation will explore persistent awareness gaps, understanding what the course involves, recognition of the equivalence to the Graduate Diploma, and exploring the shifting national landscape now that CQU is no longer the sole provider. It will also examine the undergraduate/postgraduate ultrasound space and what this means for consistency, standards, and future workforce planning.
By leveraging undergraduate entry and integrating postgraduate‑level learning, this model offers a scalable, efficient, and academically rigorous solution to national workforce shortages, strengthening clinical capacity and long‑term sustainability.
Biography
Ms Julie Cahill |
CQU / Lumus Oxley Qld
Julie is an experienced sonographer with a strong background in public and private healthcare across NSW and QLD. She holds a Diploma of Applied Science (Newcastle University), a Bachelor of Applied Science (Sydney University), a Graduate Diploma in Medical Sonography (University of Sydney), and a Master of Medical Ultrasound (CQUniversity).
With clinical expertise in Women’s Health and a passion for education, Julie has worked as a senior sonographer, trainer, and mentor for undergraduate and postgraduate students. She currently combines academic teaching with part-time clinical practice and tutoring for a leading imaging company, focusing on obstetrics and breast imaging.
Julie is committed to advancing sonography education and supporting the next generation of sonographers in developing technical skills, professional growth, and effective communication.
