A medical sonographer and students monitoring the progress of the health and well-being of a mother and her unborn baby.
If you're looking for a career in healthcare where you'll continue to learn and expand your skills, and your work could improve the lives of others, look no further than medical sonography.
A sonographer is a highly skilled medical imaging professional who operates an ultrasound machine to perform diagnostic ultrasound examinations.
You may have met one already – they cover a whole lot of medical scenarios.
For example, ultrasound is the first line of investigation in monitoring the progress of pregnancy, assessing the health and wellbeing of the mother and her unborn baby.
Where do sonographers work?
There is an ever-growing demand for qualified sonographers due to their increasing importance and advances in medical ultrasound technology.
In fact, there's a shortage of sonographers in both Western Australia and Australia.
As a sonographer, you can work in the private and public sector, alongside Radiologists, Emergency Physicians and other Medical Specialists and health professionals.
You'll be playing a vital role in the diagnosis and management of many health conditions.
There are extensive and diverse career paths in this profession.
Qualified sonographers can specialise in many areas, including:
- Obstetrics/Gynaecology – assessing pregnancy and the female reproductive system
- Musculoskeletal – assessing joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones
- Vascular – assessing quality of blood flow
- Paediatrics – assessing diseases of childhood and adolescence
And you have other possible career choices in sports, sales, marketing, and education as well as the possibility of self-employment and consultancy work.
Hayley Millen, student sonographer at Edith Cowan University.
Meet Hayley Millen, student sonographer
Hayley came to learn about sonography in probably the worst way – as a patient needing regular scans!
But when an ultrasound led to her dad being diagnosed with a condition that needed emergency surgery, Hayley decided this was the career path for her.
"They saved my father's life and so I said, ‘I’m going to do this'."
Hayley is now studying a Bachelor of Preclinical Foundations of Imaging Science at Edith Cowan University.
And she has already done a work placement where she sat alongside a sonographer.
"You see the full range of what they actually do. Many people think ultrasound is all about babies, but it might be scanning open wounds of people with muscle issues."
The course has also allowed Hayley to study at home when required.
"When I finish my bachelor's I'm planning to take an extra year to complete a grad dip to be accredited with the Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry and become a fully qualified medical sonographer," she says.
How can you get started?
Edith Cowan University in Western Australia has introduced two medical sonography courses.
Like Hayley, you can study a Bachelor of Preclinical Foundations of Imaging Science to get your career underway.
The bachelor's degree is a pre-requisite for studying the postgraduate Diploma of Medical Sonography, a course starting in 2027.
Completing both courses will allow you to register as a medical sonographer with the Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry.
