University in Perth tackles shortage of sonographers in Western Australia

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Category: Health

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. tackle / ˈtæk əl / (v.) – to try to solve or handle a problem or difficult situation
    Example:

    The government is trying to tackle air pollution by encouraging people to use public transportation.


  2. off the bat / ɔf ðə bæt / (idiom) – in a way that is immediate or without delay
    Example:

    Jen knew off the bat that the job interview was going well because the manager was very friendly.


  3. accreditation / əˌkrɛd ɪˈteɪ ʃən / (n.) – official approval that someone/something meets the required standards to do something or provide service
    Example:

    Many companies prefer hiring people who have accreditation in their field.


  4. in demand / ɪn dɪˈmænd / (idiom) – needed or wanted by many people
    Example:

    Skilled workers in technology are in demand because many companies are expanding their digital services.


  5. keep up / kip ʌp / (phrasal v.) – to stay at the same level, speed, or progress as someone or something, especially when things are changing or happening quickly
    Example:

    The company receives many customer requests and has been keeping up by launching the products that its consumers want.


Article

Read the text below.

A new program at Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth is aiming to tackle an ongoing shortage of sonographers in Western Australia.


The specialized medical sonography course is the first of its kind in the state, but the industry remains worried about the current gap in workforce numbers, which is expected to increase.


Students take part in the new medical sonography course created at Edith Cowan University and no time is wasted to get them industry-ready. “I like how hands-on it is, like, even straight off the bat from first year we get to, like, start practicing and doing, like, actual practical hands-on work,” says student Sage Matys.


The course lasts four years and provides accreditation. It started in 2024 aiming to increase the number of people working in the industry.


According to Edith Cowan University, Western Australia would ideally need 30 to 35 sonographers every year just to meet demand, but it’s far from the case. This lack of sonographers is something the industry has warned about for many years.


“There were over 11 million Medicare-funded ultrasound services last year and that’s been growing in demand at around seven percent year on year for the last decade. And the workforce just hasn’t been keeping up,” says Tony Coles of the Australasian Sonographers Association.


Shani Watts is a senior lecturer at ECU and she also works for BreastScreen WA. Watts is worried about patients not being able to be attended to straight away and says it can sometimes take up to three weeks for a patient to get a breast ultrasound. She says other scans, like for knees, can take up to two months.


“It’s unacceptable really for some of the wait times that people have to be waiting, particularly if you’ve got something that you’re particularly worried about, for instance, with breast screen if you’ve got a concern about a lump, you want something done fairly soon.”


The Federal Government stated it is actively working to resolve workforce shortages in the allied health sector. ECU hopes its new course will help meet the state’s demand starting in 2028.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Shani Watts is worried that patients may not receive immediate attention because of the lack of sonographers. In your opinion, how do long wait times for medical scans affect patients (ex. cause anxiety, delay urgent treatment)? How would you feel if you had to wait weeks or months for an important medical scan? Discuss.
  • Are public hospitals in your country well-equipped with medical staff and technology for fast diagnoses? Why do you think so? Do people in your country prefer private healthcare for faster medical services, or do they mostly rely on public hospitals? Why? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • What are some benefits and challenges of working in a job that many people need, like healthcare or teaching (ex. benefit: easy to get a job, challenge: long work hours)? Would you be willing to work in a high-demand job if it meant longer hours or more stress? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • What jobs are in demand in your country? Why do you think these jobs are needed right now? What do you think could be done to attract more people to these jobs (ex. offer a higher salary, offer accreditation programs)? Discuss.