Policy and Advocacy in Australia

Q&A with Dr Narelle Kennedy, AFASA, Chair of the ASA Sonographer Policy Advisory Committee.

The Sonographer Policy Advisory Committee provides advice to the ASA on policy and advocacy issues affecting ASA members, the sonography profession and the diagnostic imaging sector.

What are some of the key opportunities at the moment for Australian sonographers?

One key opportunity is the increasing use of ultrasound services in Australia. Medicare data reveals that ultrasound is the most frequently utilised diagnostic imaging service. This is expected to increase due to Australia’s ageing population and its cost-effectiveness compared to other imaging services. This means that the demand for sonographers will continue to grow, and the increased demand may lead to more opportunities for sonographers.

For example, there is a national focus on policies for health professionals to be working to their scope of practice. This has the potential for opportunities for sonographers to work to the top of their scope of practice. The recently completed Australian Government Scope of Practice Review proposes different system changes and practical improvements to help achieve this. One recommendation is the harmonisation of Australian drugs and poisons legislation, which would be important for sonographers who wish to provide MSK injections. Another key opportunity is for new, more flexible models of how health professions are regulated and structured. The ASA continues to advocate for sonographers to be registered health professionals under the NRAS while also pursuing other opportunities to enhance professional standards for sonographers, including a scope of practice. Simultaneously, current government inquiries are looking at how reforms can be made to the NRAS system, including changes to how new health professions are added to the NRAS and greater recognition of those who are self-regulated.

What are some of the key challenges sonographers in Australia currently face?

The sonographer workforce shortage is a major challenge. Sonographers have been on the Skills Priority List across Australia for more than a decade. The shortage is due to increased demand for ultrasound examinations and is also influenced by workforce demographics – 53% of the current workforce work part-time, and an estimated 25% will reach retirement age in the next decade.

As a result, sonographers may face significant workplace pressures, including a limited amount of time to undertake scans and associated sundry activities. There are also ongoing physical demands, anxiety and mental health issues and musculoskeletal injuries due to their work.

A significant challenge for future sonographers is the limited availability of sonographer clinical training placements. Training places are limited due to the significant resource and financial cost associated with providing appropriate clinical supervision, which is burdened on the practice.

As a result, it can be very difficult for students to secure placements, and when they do, they may experience ‘placement poverty’ and live away from home for extended periods.

This shortage of sonographers directly affects patients’ access to timely, quality diagnostic ultrasound services, and in turn, delays and difficulty in accessing these services can result in increased costs to the patient and, consequently, the health system.

What is the ASA doing to support sonographers in Australia?

One of the key ways that the ASA aims to support sonography and sonographers is through research that helps build a detailed understanding of issues of importance and relevance to members. The biennial ASA Salary and Employment and Work Health and Safety surveys give key insights into salary, employment conditions and physical and mental health aspects of working as a sonographer. The ASA also recently commissioned UniSA to undertake a scan times research project, which found that a significant proportion of sonographers reported dissatisfaction with scan appointment times, impacting scan quality and patient experience.

In turn, this helps inform our policy and advocacy. The ASA regularly represents the sonography profession at government and stakeholder meetings and outlines the perspective of sonographers through its regular submissions to the government.

The ASA has a committee of sonographers who meet regularly to discuss important issues affecting sonographers, called the Sonographer Policy Advisory Committee (SPAC). The members of this committee play an important and active role, providing expert input into a wide variety of policy and advocacy topics. Some recent activities include SPAC members attending workshops on the National Allied Health Workforce Strategy, the ASA submission to the Australian Government Scope of Practice Review, as well as reviewing ASA policy documents and position statements on point of care ultrasound, artificial intelligence and student clinical placements.

Looking forward, what do you see as the main opportunities for the ASA to support sonographers in Australia?

As the peak organisation representing sonographers, I see several opportunities including, firstly, ongoing engagement with key government and regulator stakeholders to ensure the voice of sonographers is heard and work towards sonographer regulation and, secondly, increased collaboration with other health sector stakeholders to address some of the major challenges sonographers and patients face. Finally, the ASA will continue to represent and promote Australian sonographers in everything they do, including consultations, professional development opportunities, professional guidelines and standards, research projects and surveys.

All ASA members are encouraged and regularly invited to comment on or contribute to our submissions and policy work in ASA’s fortnightly Cross Section. I would recommend any member who is interested in policy and advocacy matters to email policy@sonographers.org.