Graduate Diploma of Cardiac Ultrasound

The Graduate Diploma of Cardiac Ultrasound provides you with the opportunity to develop your knowledge and practical skills in echocardiography both in clinical practice and in our leading edge simulation scanning laboratories.

CQUniversity is renowned for innovation in medical and cardiac ultrasound training through our previous establishment of Australia's first discipline-specific undergraduate pathways into these professions.

As a result, your experience in this Graduate Diploma of Cardiac Ultrasound will be supported by Australia's largest team of qualified echocardiography academics.

Through CQUniversity's Graduate Diploma of Cardiac Ultrasound course, you will complete extensive clinical practice whilst receiving online and learning support, combined with practical tuition through on-campus residential schools in our state-of-the-art ultrasound simulation laboratories.

A comprehensive academic team of qualified echocardiographers will support your development of skills in image acquisition and cardiac measurement whilst providing you the essential knowledge in cardiac anatomy and pathophysiology.

This course is offered in part-time mode over a period of two years.

On successful completion of this course, graduates will be eligible for registration by the Australian Sonographers Accreditation Registry.

Core Structure

Course Structure

--> In order to complete this course, you must:

1. Complete the core structure

Core Structure

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Entry into the Graduate Diploma of Cardiac Ultrasound will require you to provide evidence of access to suitable clinical experience throughout the duration of the course. The Australasian Sonographer Accreditation Registry (ASAR) Program Accreditation Guidelines recommend that students be engaged in cardiac ultrasound practice for a minimum of three days/week over a two year period (or full-time equivalent) in an Australian setting. Applicants will be required to provide written proof of access to suitable clinical experience.

What do I need to start?

Entry Scores

Entry Requirements

Entry Requirements

Applicants are required to provide evidence of the following to meet the entry requirements for this course:

• A completed undergraduate bachelor degree from an appropriate health or medical science area such as exercise science, cardiac physiology, clinical measurements, medical sonography (general), medical imaging, nursing or biomedical sciences, or AQF equivalent from an overseas institution; and

• Written confirmation from your current employer stating that they will be able to provide you access to cardiac ultrasound clinical experience for three days per week over a two year period (or full time equivalent) as outlined in the Australasian Sonographer Accreditation Registry (ASAR) Program Accreditation Guidelines.

• Written confirmation from your nominated Clinical Supervisor stating that they are an Accredited Medical Sonographer by ASAR and will supervise you for the duration of your studies in the Graduate Diploma of Cardiac Ultrasound.

NOTE: Written confirmation must be received on the Imaging Facility’s letterhead, signed and dated by a delegated authority and Clinical Supervisor.

English Requirements:

If you were not born in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa or United States of America you are required to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements set by the University.

Applicants are required to provide evidence of completion within the last 5 years of:

• a secondary qualification (Year 11 and 12, or equivalent), or

• bachelor level qualification study for a period of at least 2 years fulltime with a minimum overall GPA 4.0

completed within Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Africa, Ireland, or United States of America, which will meet the English proficiency.

If you do not satisfy any of the above you will need to undertake an English language proficiency test and achieve the following scores as below.

• An International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) overall band score of at least 7.0 overall with a minimum 7.0 for Reading and Writing and 7.0 for Speaking and Listening, or

• An Occupational English Test with Grades A or B only in each of the four components.

English test results remain valid for no more than two years between final examination date and the date of commencement of study, and must appear on a single result certificate.

Each student will be assessed individually.

Security Requirements

This course included clinical placement for three days per week (or full-time equivalent) over a two year period. Students must satisfy specific pre-clinical safety and security requirements prior to each placement, including a clear criminal record check. Students who have a criminal history check disclosure, prior to commencing the degree or recorded during the course of the degree, are required to have their fitness for placement assessed on a case by case basis by the University or in conjunction with the placement site or State Health Department (as appropriate). Where a student has a criminal history check, prior to enrolment in the degree, the student may be required to apply for clearance through the applicable State Health Department to determine fitness for placement, prior to enrolment in the degree.

A student may be determined ineligible for placement, based on the nature of the criminal history disclosure, the inability to perform required tasks, or if the student may be determined a risk to clients, staff or other stakeholders. A student may be determined ineligible for placement, if the placement site is unable to work within the constraints of any conditions or work modifications placed upon the work site by the State Health Department or Assessment Unit within a private organisation. If conditions imposed upon the placement are too restrictive for placement sites within the current offer round, the student is determined not fit for placement and is at risk of the University terminating enrolment in the degree.

Students are required to meet all mandatory requirements to attend Clinical Placements. Clinical placements are a requirement for the award of the Degree.

Health Requirements

This course included clinical placement for three days per week (or full-time equivalent) over a two year period.

Students must satisfy specific pre-clinical health requirements prior to each placement, and must disclose any condition that may put himself or herself, or the public, at significant risk whilst on placement.

Whilst on placement, students will perform cardiac assessment on, and provide hands-on care to, people who may be ill or injured. Students will need to be physically fit, able to stand and walk for extended periods, lift, stretch, carry heavy loads and have sufficient visual acuity and contrast sensitivity to assess fine detail of images and perform safely in a range of lighting conditions.

A student may be determined ineligible for placement, if the placement site is unable to work within the constraints of any conditions or work modifications placed upon the work site by the State Health Department or Assessment Unit within a private organisation. If conditions imposed upon the placement are too restrictive for placement sites within the current offer round, the student is determined not fit for placement and is at risk of the University terminating enrolment in the degree.

Assumed Knowledge

Sciences or Health Sciences

Fees and Charges

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Core Learning Outcomes

• 1.
• Articulate knowledge of cardiac anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, haemodynamics, biochemistry and pharmacology
• 2.
• Apply a broad and coherent body of knowledge of cardiac pathologies to clinical assessment
• 3.
• Apply a broad and coherent body of echocardiography and cardiac physiology knowledge to clinical practice
• 4.
• Practise competently as a cardiac sonographer
• 5.
• Employ professional and personal skills to practice as a cardiac sonographer.