“I grew up in Alexandra in regional North East Victoria with a strong interest in sports and fitness. I was interested in a career in sports medicine but didn’t have ambitions of being a doctor, and enjoyed completing work experience in ultrasound and physiotherapy.

After high school, I commenced studying radiography at Monash University in Clayton. Monash provided a recognised and well-respected undergraduate degree in medical imaging and a clear pathway into the post graduate medical ultrasound (sonography) degree.  We had a great cohort of students in radiography - the relatively small intake size meant that we all got to know each other well, it was a social group where we all found ourselves surrounded by like-minded people with similar interests. Great friendships were made, many of which will last for life, including meeting my wife Claire!

Part of my final year of radiography involved a 3-month rotation through Goulburn Valley Health in Shepparton. As a result, when we graduated, Claire and I moved to Shepparton with the aim of securing ultrasound trainee positions. Claire was the successful applicant for the first ultrasound trainee position and I was lucky enough to undergo MRI training, whilst waiting for my turn.

After Claire qualified as a sonographer, we relocated to Bendigo. We both joined Bendigo Radiology, Claire as a sonographer and myself as an ultrasound trainee, and I qualified at the end of 2012.

When children came along, Claire and I were fortunate enough to job-share a single sonography position for a period, which allowed us both to enjoy spending time with the kids while they were young and keeping up our clinical skills and professional lives. Sonography is a great career in that regard, providing flexibility and opportunities.

Now as Chief Sonographer, I manage the ultrasound department for Bendigo Radiology - which has 7 ultrasound rooms here in Bendigo, along with regional sites including Kerang, Castlemaine and Hamilton. My role involves overseeing staffing, working alongside the radiologists in developing ultrasound policies and protocols, and most importantly overseeing the training of our ultrasound students (who are currently completing the Monash course). Watching the trainees learn, qualify and then start their own careers as qualified sonographers is exceptionally satisfying, knowing they have a rewarding career ahead.

Working regionally, every day is different and you never quite know what's going to come through the door. A typical day could involve running a list of my own patients - we have a good mix of musculoskeletal, obstetric, general and vascular patients, working with radiologists on ultrasound-guided interventional procedures, hands-on training with our ultrasound trainees, or administration days working on policies and protocols and rostering requirements.

My advice to aspiring sonographers would be to persevere and don't be afraid to go rural. Rural sites often provide an exceptionally well-rounded training experience, rather than being pigeon-holed into a single facet of sonography, such as obstetrics or vascular which some metropolitan sites may specialize in.

So go rural, spend some time consolidating the basic skills and work out what aspect of ultrasound you enjoy the most.”

Learn more about the Master of Medical Ultrasound