ASA Annual Report 2023-24

2023–24 ANNUAL REPORT

CONTENTS VISION, PURPOSE AND STRATEGIC INTENT

3

CEO AND PRESIDENT’S REPORT

4

FINANCE RISK AND AUDIT CHAIR’S REPORT

6

PROMOTE THE PROFESSION

8

ADVOCATE FOR THE PROFESSION

12

DRIVE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF SONOGRAPHY PRACTICE

14

FACILITATE AND PROMOTE EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE WITHIN THE PROFESSION

18

PROVIDE LIFELONG LEARNING

20

THE TRUSTED LEADER IN ULTRASOUND

26

NURTURE A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE ORGANISATION AND PROFESSION

28

RECOGNISE AND REWARD OUTSTANDING SONOGRAPHERS

30

DIRECTORS’ REPORT

36

FINANCIALS

46

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

51

VISION, PURPOSE AND STRATEGIC INTENT

T

he ASA’s new Strategic Intent 2023–2025 outlines a clear plan for the next two years, aimed at supporting the sonography profession in delivering high quality ultrasound care for a healthier world.

The plan focuses on five main areas: promoting and advocating for the growth and advancement of the profession; driving the quality and standards of sonography practice; providing lifelong learning opportunities; establishing ASA as the trusted leader in ultrasound; and nurturing a diverse and inclusive organisation and profession. Together, these priorities aim to elevate the sonography profession and ensure excellence in care.

OUR VISION

A HEALTHIER WORLD THROUGH SONOGRAPHER EXPERTISE

OUR PURPOSE

FOSTERING A SONOGRAPHY PROFESSION THAT DELIVERS HIGH QUALITY ULTRASOUND

ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24 |

3

Anthony Wald

Dr Tony Coles

CEO AND PRESIDENT’S REPORT

W

e are delighted to deliver the ASA Annual Report for 2023–24, our first as ASA President and ASA CEO. This year, the ASA maintained its financial responsibility and dedication to strong governance. The organisation achieved significant growth through professional development initiatives and corporate partnerships, all while providing value to members and fulfilling the objectives of our strategic plan.

This year has brought with it so many highlights, including the largest-ever ASA Annual International Conference – providing professional development to over 2,300 delegates.

We have also seen the strength of our profession this year through increased international collaboration and developing important clinical resources, as well as in our ongoing advocacy efforts.

The new strategic intent for 2023–2025, developed by the ASA Board, reaffirms our commitment to the pillars of our profession. As our previous pillars become a part of everyday operations, this new strategic intent reaffirms the ASA’s priorities for building the ASA’s professional leadership, influence, recognition and impact. The pillars have been updated to reflect our aim to build the ASA into the trusted, go-to organisation for all things sonography and share our expertise locally and internationally to make a meaningful impact.

Promote and advocate for the advancement of the sonography profession In 2023–24, the ASA continues to advocate for sonographer regulation by joining the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS). Alongside this ongoing effort, we now seek other initiatives to raise the professional standards of the sonography profession, including working with key stakeholders to develop a scope of practice for 4 | ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24

sonographers, and a clinical training framework to support the effective training of sonographers.

Addressing workforce challenges remains a key focus for the ASA. Throughout 2023–24, we released both the Scan Times Research Project report, and the Workforce Health & Safety survey report to better understand the sonography workforce and issues of importance to members. Both reports were well received by key industry stakeholders and ASA members.

Following significant advocacy efforts, the ASA has achieved a major victory with the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), securing a change to the Australian and New Zealand Classification of Occupations. Sonography will now be recognised as a distinct health profession separate from ‘medical radiation practitioner’. This change will allow the ABS to gather more precise and comprehensive workforce data on sonographers going forward.

Celebrating the profession, ASA marked Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month and Australasian Sonographers Day with activities for members, employers, and partners. These included downloadable digital assets, testimonials from award recipients, and who could forget the sonography-themed socks. ASA’s Australasian Sonographers Day Morning Tea event builds in popularity every year. This year, 119 morning tea events were registered across Australia and New Zealand. These events encouraged sonographers to take time out with their colleagues to reflect on and celebrate their profession.

Drive the quality and standards of sonography practice This year the ASA produced a major resource for the sonography profession – the Ultrasound Assessment of the Gravid Cervix clinical guideline. Produced in conjunction with

the ASA’s guideline development group and sonographer feedback, this crucial guideline will now inform clinical decisions and provide clear direction on when and how to assess the gravid cervix, which will improve patient outcomes.

The ASA also introduced a new grant into the mix this year, offering AU$10,000 for two clinical audit grants. This, in addition to the existing AU$30,000 funding for one or more research grants, enabled the ASA to support and fund four projects to improve clinical practice for members.

Sonography, the ASA’s scientific journal, continues to thrive with an increase in article submissions and readership.

In early 2024, the journal transitioned to an online-only format, following international trends, and stopped sending printed copies to ASA members. Members can freely access all issues and articles through the ASA website. This shift is both environmentally friendly and provides ASA with more precise data on readership and trends.

Provide lifelong learning The ASA has continued to expand its continuous professional development (CPD) offerings for sonographers in Australasia and beyond, with a record-breaking 2024 Annual International Conference attracting our highest number of delegates to date, solidifying its reputation as the world’s largest conference for sonographers. Thanks to our partnership with RAB, the ASA once again offered free remote conference registration to sonographers from tier 3 and tier 4 countries, with 98 delegates taking advantage of this excellent opportunity.

A special thanks to Marsh Insurance for supporting seven sonographers from rural and remote areas, including floodaffected regions, by covering their flights, accommodation, and conference registration, enabling them to enhance their knowledge and skills and take them back to their communities.

Sonographers actively engage with the ASA’s on-demand CPD offerings on our website, which boasts over 184 hours of free learning through webinars, videos, podcasts, tests and online learning modules. Engagement has surged with educational video views up 153%, podcast listens rising 35%, and online learning module views increasing by 104% from the previous year. ASA issued over 75,000 CPD points to members this year.

We also introduced the Leadership Series: Empowering Clinical Supervisors, a six-part online initiative designed specifically for sonography clinical supervisors. The series offered members one-hour sessions focused on developing leadership skills, overcoming challenges, and building a supportive professional network.

to provide a shared pool of exclusive resources, granting access for ASA members and extending global reach through collaboration with international affiliates. Fetal Heart Month was particularly popular among sonographers, with resources being accessed nearly 1,500 times in July 2023 alone.

Our corporate partner program expanded from 52 to 55 partners, reflecting their continued commitment and the value they place in being part of the ASA community. The ASA extends its heartfelt thanks to all our partners for their ongoing support.

Nurture a diverse and inclusive organisation and profession At the ASA2024 Sydney Conference Gala Dinner, we honoured Dr Jennifer Alphonse, FASA, with the Pru Pratten Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr Alphonse’s dedication to the ASA and the sonography profession is clear in her contributions to research, volunteering, and her commitment to mentoring future sonographers. Her work in education, professional development, and the advancement of the sonography profession reflects her remarkable career.

Congratulations, Jennifer!

In 2023–24, the ASA’s Member Services team facilitated over 6,300 interactions, supporting a growing community of more than 7,500 members across more than 60 countries.

Strong renewal rates and steady growth were seen across all membership categories, especially among cardiac and New Zealand members.

The ASA’s strength comes from the exceptional individuals who drive it. A united team of permanent staff, volunteers, and contractors work collaboratively, embodying our core values and making the ASA an outstanding organisation to be a part of.

We sincerely thank all our volunteers for generously dedicating their time and expertise to the ASA throughout 2023–24. Over the past year, 385 members volunteered to support the ASA. In recognition of their invaluable contributions, the ASA announced during the ASA2024 Sydney Conference Gala Dinner that all volunteers would receive gift cards, marking our appreciation in celebration of the 30th Annual International Conference.

Thank you to the ASA staff and Board for making the leadership transition seamless and for working so hard to ensure the continued success of the ASA. Your dedication and commitment have been instrumental in maintaining high professional standards and fostering a strong, supportive community for all our members.

The trusted leader in ultrasound In 2023–24, the ASA continued its successful partnership with RAB to enhance ultrasound education in developing nations, extending complimentary overseas membership for sonographers in tier 3 and 4 countries. This support includes free access to ASA publications, educational resources, and assistance for authors to promote diversity in the Sonography journal.

Over the last financial year, the ASA partnered with the British Medical Ultrasound Society (BMUS), Sonography Canada, and the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS)

Dr Tony Coles CEO, Australasian Sonographers Association

Anthony Wald President, Australasian Sonographers Association

ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24

| 5

CEO AND PRESIDENT’S REPORT

ASA issued over 75,000 CPD points to members this year.

Alexandra Bell

FINANCE RISK AND AUDIT REPORT

T

he ASA delivered a positive operating surplus, before investment movements, of $506,000 for the year ended 30 June 2024. Investment performance was broadly in line with market benchmarks and increased the net result for the year to a surplus of $541,149 compared to a prior year surplus of $523,704.

We operate to provide an outstanding member experience, furthering the sonography profession in all we do. As Chair of the Finance, Risk and Audit Committee, I would like to extend a special thank you to the ASA staff for delivering such a strong operational result.

The cornerstone annual conference in May/June 2024 was a standout success. Delivered in a hybrid format for the fourth year running with the largest number of registrations to date (over 2000 in-person and online delegates).

Revenue The ASA’s revenue in 2024 was $6.3 million, an increase of 15% on the 2023 financial year. The variance was largely driven by 13% more in member subscriptions and 18% more in event income. Other contributing factors were a larger contribution from sponsorship income and increased interest income.

Expenses The ASA makes all expense and investment decisions in the best interests of our members.

Expenses overall were up 16% on the previous year, largely due to costs associated with additional staff employed to better serve the organisation and our membership as well as higher event costs.

During the year, the cost of insurance rose modestly (when compared to the increase between 2022 and 2023) with the ASA able to maintain a price for its members that is substantially cheaper than purchasing a policy on their own. Other costs were impacted by inflationary pressures.

6 | ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24

Investment performance The 2024 financial year was a volatile one for investment markets. The ASA holds a diversified and defensive investment portfolio that broadly performed in line with expectations and its benchmarks. These assets provide opportunities for the association to invest in the future of the sonography profession and deliver on its strategic intent for members.

The ASA makes all expense and investment decisions in the best interests of our members.

Assets and cash reserves The ASA finished the year in a strong financial position with net assets of $4.1 million as of 30 June 2024.

The ASA delivers valued services to members in a way that is sustainable through periods of uncertainty and change; it is financially set up to be able to continue to do this for many years into the future.

Alexandra Bell Director and Finance Risk and Audit Committee Chair Australasian Sonographers Association

PRESIDENT’S REPORT ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24

| 7

PROMOTE THE PROFESSION Public awareness of sonographers and their role remains limited. A recent ASA survey on public understanding of sonography revealed that while most individuals are familiar with ultrasound, they often cannot recognise the profession of the person performing the scan.

One of our aims at the ASA is to increase public awareness of the sonography profession and to build recognition of sonographers as the experts in ultrasound. The ASA continued its promotion of the profession in 2023–24 through social media, thought leadership and celebrating the sonography profession during Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month and Australasian Sonographers Day.

Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month 2023 student gallery

In 2023–24, the ASA significantly increased its social media engagement by leveraging a variety of content formats such as stories, carousels and reels, and implementing the social media integration platforms Linktree and ManyChat.

This strategic approach led to a significant increase in engagement, followers, and overall reach. By tailoring our strategy to meet the needs of different audience segments on each platform, the ASA effectively broadened its reach to a more diverse audience outside of the current followers, including an international audience, and enhanced awareness of the sonography profession.

Our audience on social media is interested in a variety of ASA activities including events and CPD opportunities, clinical news updates, and mentions of the profession in media, and they engage highly with content that honours and recognises our members. Our top posts for FY 2023–24:

As a part of the ASA’s Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month campaign, we celebrated and acknowledged students as the future of our profession by posting a small gallery of some of the current cohorts of sonography students enrolled in universities across Australasia.

The month of October celebrates the medical ultrasound profession and often focuses on those already practising. Due to the age demographic of our social media followers, we capture a high percentage of students and recent graduates, so the recognition of our students as a part of the profession garnered high engagement.

Ultrasound examinations scan times research project survey Following on from the commenced research on ultrasound examination scan times from the previous year, the ASA invited all accredited medical sonographers and sonography students across Australasia to participate in a survey.

In order to capture a wide audience across Australasia, the survey link was shared on all ASA social media platforms and resulted in over 5,000 impressions. This research project is in response to member feedback seeking advice and guidance on scan times, and so was of high interest to our membership and online following, resulting in high engagement in the form of clicks, reactions and shares across all platforms.

Media item: Cold gel, full bladders: This critical job has been in shortage for decades The ASA is consistently working to improve sonographer awareness among the general public and increase recognition within the sonography community. Mentions of sonography issues in media are always shared on ASA social media platforms as the online sonography community is highly engaged with these posts, and they often have a wider reach to audiences outside of the ASA’s social media account followers. This post performed well, with over 600 click-throughs, as the sonographer workforce shortage is a topic of high interest within the profession, the wider healthcare community and the public.

SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT INCREASED BY

12%

SOCIAL MEDIA INCREASE IN FOLLOWERS:

5,571 FOLLOWERS 5% INCREASE 1,676 FOLLOWERS 10% INCREASE 7,209 FOLLOWERS 18% INCREASE 2,714 FOLLOWERS 11% INCREASE

ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24

| 9

PROMOTE THE PROFESSION

Through social media

Through celebrating our profession Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month and Australasian Sonographers Day One of the key highlights of 2023 was October’s Medical Ultrasound Awareness Month (MUAM) and Australasian Sonographers Day (ASD). The ASA organised various activities for members, employers, and partners to participate in. These included creating digital assets for download and sharing, encouraging members and workplaces to host a morning tea on Australasian Sonographers Day, showcasing testimonials from our 2023 Awards of Excellence, Fellows, and Pru Pratten Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award recipients, and even designing sonography-themed socks.

SOCIAL MEDIA

9.29%

AVERAGE ENGAGEMENT RATE ACROSS ALL SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS FOR OCTOBER (5% INCREASE ON AVERAGE)

SOCKS

364

TOTAL PAIRS SOLD

ASSET DOWNLOADS

480

MORNING TEAS 2023

119

MORNING TEAS REGISTERED

10 | ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24

TOTAL OF DOWNLOADS OF MUAM/ASD ASSETS FROM THE ASA WEBSITE

In 2023–24, the ASA focused its attention on building sonographer awareness through opinion pieces written by CEO, Tony Coles, and shared on social media. The ASA used the opportunity of Australasian Sonographers Day to express concerns about workforce shortages threatening timely diagnoses and patient care. Addressing this shortage is crucial to maintaining the integrity of the healthcare system and ensuring access to essential ultrasound services. The second opinion piece discussed how the new National-led Coalition government in New Zealand is adopting a performance-focused healthcare approach with promises to reduce wait times, improve cancer treatment, and increase ultrasound use for faster diagnosis. This could lead to increased demand for sonographers, emphasising their critical role in early diagnosis. Both pieces were widely read by our social media followers and beyond.

AUSTRALASIAN SONOGRAPHERS DAY, COMMENT ON WORKFORCE:

3,069

IMPRESSIONS

NEW ZEALAND ELECTION – ADVOCATING FOR SONOGRAPHERS:

1,317

IMPRESSIONS

ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24

| 11

PROMOTE THE PROFESSION

Through thought leadership

ADVOCATE FOR THE PROFESSION The ASA advocates on behalf of members and the profession to highlight issues affecting sonographers, the health system and patient safety more broadly. These issues include increasing public safety and establishing enforceable standards of practice through the regulation of Australian sonographers, as well as ensuring the public have timely access to high quality ultrasound performed by expert sonographers, to reduce workforce pressures on sonographers and build a sustainable workforce. The ASA met with government representatives, health and regulatory agencies and key stakeholders across Australia and New Zealand to raise awareness and advocate on these issues throughout the year.

In 2023–24, the ASA continued its work to advance public health and safety through regulation. In recent years, the ASA has strongly advocated for the sonography profession to join the NRAS. While continuing to pursue this goal, ASA is at the same time, also seeking to pursue other initiatives to raise professional standards for the sonography profession. The ASA has met with the Australian Sonographer Accreditation Registry and the National Alliance of Self Regulating Health Professions to discuss further ways to improve and advance sonography self-regulation. A review of the ASA Code of Conduct and the development of a scope of practice for the sonography profession will also commence later in 2024.

Workforce Sonographer workforce issues continue to be a priority for the ASA. In 2023–24, the ASA undertook several research activities to better understand the sonography workforce and issues of importance to members. These include: • Scan Times Research Project report – The ASA commissioned UniSA to examine the relationship between appointment and transducer times and the quality of the healthcare service provided and to provide evidence to assist in developing recommendations in setting scheduled ultrasound examination times undertaken by sonographers to ensure sufficient time is allocated to support quality outcomes.

• Workforce Health & Safety Survey – In late 2023, the ASA undertook the biennial WHS survey. This iteration of the survey has included additional questions designed to uncover the mental health impacts associated with sonography work. More than half (57%) reported experiencing stress or anxiety in their role, while 19% have sought either professional assistance or other external support for their mental health. The results were released to members along with resources to support them in May 2024.

The ASA also undertook the second annual survey of major employers across Australia and New Zealand to quantify the size and impact of the ongoing sonographer workforce shortage.

After extensive advocacy, the ASA has successfully argued for the ABS for a change to the Australian and New Zealand Classification of Occupations to list sonography as a separate health profession rather than falling under ‘medical radiation practitioner’. This will enable the ABS to collect more accurate and detailed workforce data in the future about sonographers.

Stakeholder engagement

submissions to the government and other stakeholders.

The ASA is fortunate to have two active and engaged policy and advocacy groups – the Sonography Policy and Advisory Committee and the New Zealand Sonography Advisory Group to provide input into our policy and advocacy work throughout the year.

In Australia, key submissions included the ASA’s response to the Australian Government Scope of Practice Review and SA Parliamentary Enquiry into Endometriosis. The ASA also wrote to the Australian Ministers for Health and Education, calling for the Prac Payment Scheme – a payment for students undertaking clinical placements as part of their university degree – to be extended to sonography students.

In New Zealand, key work included submissions to the MRTB Competence Standards and – as part of the Ministry of Health’s Sonography Sector Reference Group – informing the development of the Hauora Haumi Allied Health Report 2024. In February 2024, New Zealand established a cardiac sonographer course at the University of Auckland – a win for sonography and a key issue that the ASA has been advocating for some time.

The ASA also prioritises collaborating with the wider health sector to represent members’ interests, including joining the National Rural Health Alliance in August 2023 and the Allied Health Professions Association in May 2024. Other recent activities this year include working with the British Medical Ultrasound Society (BMUS) to develop a joint resource on medicolegal information for sonographers and liaising with the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care on the development of the new national safety and quality medical imaging standards.

THE ASA PARTICIPATED IN

42

MEETINGS

THE ASA PARTICIPATED IN

13

CONSULTATION SUBMISSIONS TO GOVERNMENT

The ASA continues its program of strong engagement to ensure the voice of sonographers is heard and counted. The ASA participated in 42 meetings with key opinion leaders in government, political decision-makers, industry, and health officials. The ASA also provided a total of 13 consultation

ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24

| 13

ADVOCATE FOR THE PROFESSION

Regulation

DRIVE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF SONOGRAPHY PRACTICE The ASA is dedicated to enhancing and promoting high standards in the sonography profession. We do this by supporting and encouraging sonographers to engage in research projects, creating high quality resources and publications as well as producing evidencebased guidelines to ensure sonographers are making informed clinical decisions.

Producing high quality resources

The ASA has invested in research and clinical audits that assist in progressing and strengthening the profession. ASA Grants offer two significant funding pools. A$30,000 for one or more sonography research projects. There is also A$10,000 for two clinical audit projects in partnership with Marsh Advantage Insurance. The grants encourage and support sonographers to undertake new quality research that will lead to publications and contribute to the evidencebased practice of sonography.

In line with the ASA’s dedication to promoting best practices in medical sonography, a key focus is developing resources that support and guide sonographers in their professional work.

ASA posters, created by experts from the Special Interest Group Committees, are displayed in clinics, hospitals, and universities throughout Australasia.

DRIVE QUALITY AND STANDARDS OF SONOGRAPHY PRACTICE

Supporting and investing in research

Research Grant recipients for 2023 Dr Michelle Fenech, FASA Sonographic measurements of the superficial radial nerve and its proximity to the cephalic vein Central Queensland University, Brisbane Glenda McLean, FASA Term equivalent age cranial ultrasound screening of high-risk preterm neonates Monash Health Clinical Audit Grant recipients for 2023 Emma Perkins Ureteric jet angles as a predictor of vesico-ureteric reflux: a clinical audit in children Medical Imaging and Nuclear Medicine – Queensland Children’s Hospital Dr Kate Russo Image performance and reproducibility of abdominal circumference measurements for quality assurance SA Medical Imaging Women’s Ultrasound – Women’s and Children’s Hospital North Adelaide

300 ACCESSED OVER

TIMES FROM THE ASA WEBSITE

ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24

| 15

Making Waves Making Waves is a publication released twice yearly that offers a review of the latest sonography research from around the world.

Each issue, curated by members of our Special Interest Group Committees, compresses key findings and clinical applications into a more digestible format. Our online platform Issuu has continued to provide readers with the best user experience and accessibility across devices, with features such as scrollable text and single article view on mobile devices, page-turning on desktops, and a read-time function, making it easier for busy sonographers to keep up with current research.

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS

23,337

OVERALL READS

4,481

AVERAGE READ TIME: 3 MIN 31 SEC

Soundeffects news Soundeffects news is a biannual publication with a magazinestyle format offering insights, discussions and interviews with sonographers on current issues affecting the sonography profession.

The ASA also publishes an issue ahead of the Annual International Conference to create buzz, offer exclusive content and encourage attendees to register. The conference edition of Soundeffects news, titled ‘The Strength in Collaboration’, featured interviews with both national and international ASA2024 keynote speakers. These interviews covered a wide range of topics and areas of interest, ensuring valuable insights for all sonographers, whether attending the conference or not. Readers of Soundeffects news also benefited from the accessibility features of Issuu and had an average read time of five and a half minutes.

OVERALL IMPRESSIONS

13,188

OVERALL READS

2,882

AVERAGE READ TIME: 5 MIN 26 SEC

Through producing comprehensive clinical guidelines Ultrasound assessment of the gravid cervix

ACCESSED

3,500

TIMES FROM THE ASA WEBSITE

16 | ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24

Spontaneous preterm birth is a growing global health concern and a leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality. Sonographers and ultrasound imaging play a crucial role in assessing a pregnant patient’s risk, as ultrasound can detect a shortened cervix – one of the most common contributors to spontaneous preterm birth.

To support sonographers in making informed clinical decisions, this guideline was developed to provide clear direction on when and how to assess the gravid cervix. It offers comprehensive guidance on cervical assessment and measurement of cervical length to evaluate the risk of spontaneous preterm birth.

The guideline was collaboratively created by the ASA and the guideline development group with endorsement from the ASA Board.

Tailored specifically for sonographers, it serves as a valuable resource for optimising cervical assessment in pregnant patients.

ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24

| 17

FACILITATE AND PROMOTE EVIDENCEBASED PRACTICE WITHIN THE PROFESSION

The international, scientific, peer-reviewed journal Sonography is one of the mediums through which the ASA promotes excellence and improves and strengthens the quality and standards of ultrasound within the sonography profession. Sonography journal has four issues per year and publishes evidence-based research articles, educational articles, and case reports on a range of topics. Its goal is to educate sonographers on new tools, enhanced techniques, and to illustrate interesting cases, new research and new technologies.

FACILITATE AND PROMOTE EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE

Sonography Journal Sonography accepts articles from both Australasia and around the globe covering a wide spectrum of topics within diagnostic medical sonography. Australia is the dominant source of articles; however, articles have also been submitted from other countries (New Zealand, China, Serbia, India, Argentina, Columbia, USA, Turkey, Japan, Pakistan, Mexico, Tunisia, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, and Iran).

Submissions are continuing to increase with 47 articles submitted up to the end of June 2024. This compares with 46 submissions in 2022 and 88 submissions in 2023 (full-year data).

Sonography is read across 206 countries internationally.

Readership increased in 2023 from 2022 with 109,413 full text views compared to 79,718 in 2022. In the current year (2024, up to the end of June) the number of full text views is 55,350. The top four countries with the most readership are Australia, USA, India and the United Kingdom.

The number of articles published in each calendar year is increasing. In 2024 (up to the end of June), 50 articles were published. This is increased from the previous full calendar years: 39 in 2022 and 49 in 2023. The WileyCAUL (Council of Australian Libraries) agreement, which commenced in January 2022, has continued to impact the number of open access articles published in Sonography.

In 2021, previous to this agreement, only 1% of articles published in Sonography in 2021 were open access. This has increased to 21%, 14% and 32% for 2022, 2023 and 2024 (up to end June 2024), respectively.

2022 was the first year that Sonography received an Impact Factor (Clarivate) and CiteScore (Scopus) due to its listing on the SCOPUS database and the Web of Science Emerging Sources Citation Index. In 2023, the Impact Factor was 0.4 (the same as in 2022) and the Cite Score was 0.8 (increased from 0.6 in 2022).

In line with international trends, Sonography became an online-only journal in 2024, with no printed copies distributed to ASA members as previously. ASA members have free access to all Sonography issues and articles if they access the journal online through the ASA website via their login.

Abstracts In 2023–24, the ASA received 72 abstracts for inclusion in the 30th Annual International Conference. All 72 were accepted for inclusion as part of the conference program.

0.4

JOURNAL IMPACT FACTOR TOP COUNTRIES READING SONOGRAPHY:

USA 23% AUSTRALIA 22% INDIA 11% UK 8% CANADA 3%

72

ABSTRACTS

ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24

| 19

PROVIDE LIFELONG LEARNING The ASA continues to offer its members the most extensive range of CPD opportunities for sonographers in Australasia. This year, ASA events have gone from strength to strength, once again breaking records with the Annual International Conference, which attracted 2,300 delegates both online and in-person, reinforcing ASA2024 as the largest conference for sonographers worldwide. In-person events were highly sought after, with a series of successful Special Interest Group Days, Travelling Workshops, Branch meetings, and seminars held across Australasia, catering to sonographers of all expertise levels and specialities. Additionally, ASA’s on-demand learning platform achieved great success, providing a wide array of CPD options tailored to various sonography specialities and skill levels.

30th Annual International Conference – ASA2024 Sydney, 31 May – 2 June The ASA Annual International Conference is the largest conference for sonographers in the world. Over 2000 delegates come together for three days of presentations, live scanning workshops, discussions with industry leaders and networking. ASA2024 Sydney was bigger again, hosting 2,300 delegates in-person and online.

The conference boasted three days of workshops, masterclasses, panel discussions, trade exhibits and networking. Ten concurrent rooms ran live scanning demonstrations, presentations and hands-on scanning.

New to the conference program this year was the addition of masterclasses delivered on the final day, which included nine intimate sessions focused on facilitating more hands-on scanning and interaction opportunities for delegates.

Due to an overwhelming number of abstracts submitted this year, the ASA introduced an extra day of on-demand presentations to the program for all delegates to access for up to three months after the conference. Delegates were also able to receive two extra CPD points by viewing these additional presentations.

To capture all the insights and perspectives from the discussions at the ASA Arena, we invited a visual storyteller to bring the discussions to life. The artist observed all the panels and used images and text to pull together the themes of the discussion. Topics this year included: fostering sonographer longevity, workforce, navigating the evolution of ultrasound in medicine, making an impact, the digital health revolution, and duty of care and litigation. We displayed all these boards around the conference for all delegates to view.

Through our partnership with Radiology Across Borders (ASA), ASA was again able to offer free remote conference registration to sonographers from a tier 3 or 4 country.

Ninety-eight delegates took up this fantastic opportunity.

A special thank you to Marsh Advantage Insurance for supporting seven sonographers to attend the conference from rural and remote areas (including those affected by the floods), covering their flights, accommodation and conference registration to increase their knowledge to take back to their communities.

PROVIDE LIFELONG LEARNING

ASA offers a broad range of opportunities for sonographers to advance their professional knowledge.

THE LARGEST CONFERENCE FOR SONOGRAPHERS IN THE WORLD

2,300 ATTENDEES

11

NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

373

PRESENTERS

72

SUBMITTED ABSTRACTS

68

INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP SESSIONS

74,000 VIRTUAL HOURS VIEWED

ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2022–23

| 21

ASA2024 Sydney Conference The storyboarding was a fantastic way feedback

This year was fantastic. It was an enthusiastic crowd and a wonderful range of presentations and presenters – exceeded my expectations. Sydney also put on a show in terms of Vivid. A great turnout and fantastic conference. Well done, ASA!

to capture the ideas shared.

I really appreciate ASA, for their efforts to bring thirdtier sonographers on such a marvellous platform.

It definitely adds knowledge and quality of work in our field. And of course, for a person like me, who always wants to expand knowledge and expertise in ultrasound, it is a great opportunity and in future I would like to present or at least make a poster for the conference and will try to attend in person to witness the magnificent conference and renowned team.

The ASA conference is an annual reminder of how great our profession is and how much we can learn from one another. It’s fantastic to see old friends and make some new ones as we come together to educate and move our field forward.

ASA conference is always a highlight of the professional year. Every year the program offers a dynamic array of speakers and topics as well as interactive workshops, masterclasses, forums and trade exhibits. It’s a great way to stay current with best practices, new technology, professional issues and connect with other sonographers!

I work in a very remote, regional centre in WA. In order to attend the ASA conference, I must travel many hours and multiple flights, which is very time-consuming and costly.

Having access to complimentary attendance, travel and accommodation for the 2024 ASA Conference was of huge benefit and help! Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity!

Physically attending the conference was very useful as I could meet, learn and network with my fellow sonographers, speakers and vendors. A few of these contacts and interactions have already been utilised back in my home department. For example: I connected with our ultrasound machine brand applications specialist from Melbourne at the conference and she has already come over to our centre and helped us set up our machines to operate more efficiently! She has also given us her details so we can contact her at any time if we have any issues.

My favourite moment was when a speaker mentioned a very rare pathology in the pelvis that she had never seen.

I had randomly scanned the exact pathology the week before, had no idea what it was originally (and neither did the teleradiologist) and was able to talk to her face-toface about it.

Amazing!

Nienke Pley 2024 ASA Conference Rural and Remote Grant recipient

PROVIDE LIFELONG LEARNING

2024 Rural and Remote feedback

NEW ON-DEMAND ACTIVITIES FOR 2023–24:

5 WEBINARS 12 PODCASTS 10 CPD TESTS 3 EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS 6

ONLINE LEARNING MODULES

75,300

CPD POINTS ISSUED

12,500

WEBINAR VIEWS

On-demand Learning Sonographers embrace the variety of CPD offerings from the ASA, enjoying free access to over 184 hours of on-demand learning via the ASA website. With new CPD content added each year, the ASA provides a vast array of resources suitable for sonographers across all specialities and skill levels. The ASA’s online professional development opportunities include webinars, CPD tests, educational videos, podcasts, and learning modules.

Engagement with our on-demand content continues to grow, with increases in educational video views (153%), podcast listens (35%), and online learning module views (104%) compared to the previous year.

6,300

COMPLETED ONLINE TESTS

3,800

EDUCATIONAL VIDEO VIEWS

700

PODCAST LISTENS

2,400

ONLINE LEARNING MODULE VIEWS

ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24

| 23

59

IN-PERSON EVENTS

304

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP DAY ATTENDEES

280

GENERAL FUNDAMENTAL ULTRASOUND SEMINAR REGISTRATIONS

86

CARDIAC SEMINAR REGISTRATIONS

756

TRAVELLING WORKSHOPS REGISTRATIONS

1,028

BRANCH MEETING REGISTRATIONS

579

REGISTRATIONS TO WATCH SONOGRAPHY STUDENT SHOWCASE

137

EMPOWERING CLINICAL SUPERVISORS SERIES PARTICIPANTS

ASA Events In 2023–24, the demand for in-person events surged, with nearly 60 events organised by the ASA attracting enthusiastic participation from members. These events were held across Australia and New Zealand, ensuring all members had access to in-person learning no matter where they lived. The events included Special Interest Group Days, General and Cardiac Seminars, and Branch meetings. ASA’s Special Interest Group Days, held in capital cities, brought expert speakers and live scanning sessions to sonographers. Travelling Workshops provided professional development opportunities to those in regional and rural areas, reaching 23 towns from Tamworth to Davenport. The Sonography Student Showcase continues to thrive, with 23 students presenting video submissions on topics of their choice, showcasing the next cohort of sonography speakers.

This year, the ASA launched a new event, the Leadership Series: Empowering Clinical Supervisors, designed to boost the confidence, skills, and knowledge of clinical supervisors while promoting best practice. Over six months, 137 clinical supervisors participated in six sessions, each featuring live presentations, Q&A sessions, and valuable resources.

I recently attended the ASA’s Virtual Fundamental Ultrasound Seminar and was thoroughly impressed by the high quality content and expert speakers. The virtual platform was user-friendly, which made it easy to engage in the various sessions. The seminar was not only educational but also incredibly insightful, offering practical knowledge that I can immediately apply in my profession.

The commitment of the ASA to deliver such a beneficial experience to its members is commendable. Thank you for organising this valuable event, and I look forward to participating in future seminars. Loved how the speakers were open to help students and even stayed behind to answer questions, which as a student is really essential.

GENERAL FUNDAMENTAL ULTRASOUND SEMINAR ATTENDEE

Extremely high standard of speakers today.

All were very interesting to listen to and so inspiring. A really great education day.

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUP DAY ATTENDEE

The presenter was engaging and delivered the topic brilliantly.

TRAVELLING WORKSHOP ATTENDEE

24 | ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24

LIFELONG LEARNING

THE TRUSTED LEADER IN ULTRASOUND The ASA aims to build a reputation for being the go-to expert in all things sonography. We do this by collaborating internationally to share knowledge and insights, through sharing resources with international affiliates and their membership, and through establishing partnerships that are aligned with advancing the profession.

THE TRUSTED LEADER IN ULTRASOUND

Radiology Across Borders The ASA proudly continues its strong partnership with Radiology Across Borders (RAB) in 2023–24. Reinforcing the collaborative efforts initiated in previous years, ASA and RAB continue to work together to deliver ultrasound education in developing nations. Building upon the success of support offered in 2022–23, the ASA extended its support to sonographers residing in tier 3 and 4 countries by offering complimentary overseas membership. ASA membership provides many benefits, including free access to publications and guidelines, and the ASA online library: a comprehensive platform filled with webinars, podcasts, educational videos and learning modules. Additionally, the ASA aims to facilitate greater access to expert speakers, learning and advancements by providing free remote registration to the ASA Annual International Conference for sonographers in tier 3 and 4 countries.

The ASA also offers extra support to authors submitting articles to our Sonography journal, exemplifying our dedication to increasing diversity within the journal and breaking down barriers to submission.

FETAL HEART MONTH – JULY 2023

1,466

PAGE VIEWS

International affiliates In 2023–24, the ASA collaborated with the BMUS, Sonography Canada, and the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography (SDMS) to offer a shared pool of resources to all members throughout the month. This initiative provided ASA members with exclusive access to resources typically unavailable from other associations, while also allowing our international affiliates to benefit from the ASA’s clinical expertise, extending our reach globally.

ENDOMETRIOSIS MONTH – MARCH 2024

1,008

PAGE VIEWS

Corporate partnerships Our Platinum Partners (GE HealthCare, Siemens Healthineers, Philips and Canon Medical) demonstrated their commitment and support to ASA CPD by partnering with us for all ASA live scanning events throughout 2023–24, including 23 Travelling Workshops, 6 Special Interest Days, 2 Cardiac Masterclasses and 10 educational videos.

ASA2024 Sydney, our Annual International Conference, continued to demonstrate its priority status with machine providers, employers, recruiters, and suppliers with 5 Gold, 6 Silver and 21 Bronze level partners attending.

Our corporate partner program continued to grow from 52 to 55 corporate partners, indicating the value they put in being part of the ASA community.

Similarly, our corporate partner employers were integral in supporting our student showcase with 12 employers providing fabulous prizes and heavily supporting our clinical supervisor leadership series sending over 90 of their staff sonographers.

The ASA extends its heartfelt thanks to all our partners for their ongoing support.

BOWEL MONTH – JUNE 2024

962

PAGE VIEWS

55

CORPORATE PARTNERSHIPS ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24

| 27

By delivering innovative services for our members Member website Sonographers.org plays a range of different roles for its key user groups: accredited medical sonographers and student sonographers. However, a recent member survey revealed that a number of website visitors struggle to use the website and find specific content within it.

In late 2023, the ASA engaged a user experience (UX) consultant to identify the key issues impacting specific users and to recommend how to fix them. The UX consultant also designed and outlined how these changes should be implemented. Some of the key areas to address include streamlined navigation, removal of duplication, encouraging users to browse, building a better user journey, as well as catering to the potential needs of secondary user groups or non-members.

The ASA hopes that addressing these issues will increase the number of users on our website, improve the users’ ability to navigate the website and find the information and resources they are looking for. The ASA aims to launch these changes to the ASA website in early 2025.

By living our values Staff and volunteers

NURTURE A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE ORGANISATION AND PROFESSION With over 6,300 member interactions in 2023–24, the ASA consistently delivered value to a growing community of more than 7,500 members across more than 60 countries. The ASA has seen strong renewal rates and steady growth across all membership categories, particularly among our cardiac and New Zealand members. Our commitment remains centred on our members, ensuring prompt and efficient support for every enquiry, while continuously enhancing the value we provide.

The strength of the ASA lies in the remarkable people behind it.

A dynamic, cohesive team of permanent staff, volunteers, and contractors work together seamlessly, embodying our values (member-focused, innovative, integrity, unity, accountable, courageous) and making the ASA an outstanding organisation to be part of.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all our volunteers for generously contributing their time and expertise to the ASA throughout 2023–24. Volunteers and committee members form the backbone of the ASA, and our growth and success are directly attributed to their invaluable contributions.

The ASA is supported by a range of volunteer committees and panels, including the Sonographer Policy and Advisory Committee, Education Advisory Committee, New Zealand Sonographers Advisory Group, Fellowships Panel, Sonography Editorial Board, Special Interest Groups, Branches, and Conference Program Committees.

In the past year, 385 members volunteered their time to support the ASA. This included 147 conference presenters, 219 committee and panel members (from Branch Committees and Special Interest Groups), and 19 local organisers for Travelling Workshops. During the ASA2024 Sydney Conference Gala Dinner, the ASA announced that all volunteers would receive gift cards in appreciation of their contributions, in honour of the 30th Annual International Conference.

BOARD Board Chair – Anthony Wald Governance Committee Chair – Anthony Wald Finance Risk and Audit Committee Chair – Alexandra Bell

Sonographer Policy and Advisory Committee Chair – Narelle Kennedy New Zealand Sonographer Advisory Group Chair – Sarah Stevens-Gieseg Education Advisory Committee Chair – Frauke Lever ASA Fellowship Panel Chair – Jessie Childs Sonography Journal Editorial Board Editor-in-Chief Kerry Thoirs

ASA2024 SYDNEY CONFERENCE PROGRAM COMMITTEE Paula Brown Inhwa Kang Matthew Adams Paul Stoodley Pepse Ryan Wendy Collier Kobe Pettersen Siobhan Tranter Catherine Robinson Donna Oomens Anita Tatham Linda Thebridge Jane McCrory

STUDENT AND EARLY CAREER WORKING GROUP Lisa Peng Mandy Kha Emily Klooger Jaimie Feeney Joshua Sultmann Georgia Hanley Charlotte Harman

SPECIAL INTEREST GROUPS SIG General Chair – Jane Keating Committee Members: Emily Klooger, Emma Jardine, Paula King, Donna Napier, Marilyn Zelesco SIG Cardiac Chair – Alison White Committee Members: Mitchell Hubble, Lucy Law, Chee Liew, Maria Ribeiro, Eswararaj Sivaraj, Christopher Thomas SIG Musculoskeletal Chair – Michelle Fenech Committee Members: Deborah Carmody, Susan Diep, Andrew Grant, Sophie O’Brien, Jacqueline Roots, Daniel Walkley, Craig Winnett, Sean Yeoh SIG Paediatric Chair – Cain Brockley Committee Members: Madonna Burnett, Paige Forbes, Leanne Lamborn, Lino Piotto, Sara Kernick, Keith VanHaltren SIG Research Chair – Helen Beets Committee Members: Afrooz Najafzadeh, Michelle Fenech, Anna Graves, Ellen Kolsky, Ling Lee, Glenda McLean, Tristan Reddan, Paul Stoodley, Caterina Watson

SIG Vascular Chair – Heath Edwards Committee Members: Matt Adams, Lara Anders, Katrina Dietrich, Kylie Elmore, James Maunder, Donna Oomens, Claire O’Reilly, Daniel Rae, Jacqui Robinson SIG Women’s Health Chair – Sophie O’Brien Committee Members: Joyce Chen, Jessica Coffey, Gina Humphries, Ling Lee, Frauke Lever, Nayana Parange, Ann Quinton, Catherine Robinson, Lakshmi Sanal SIG Sonographer Health and Wellbeing Chair – Peter Esselbach Committee Members: Nicole Cammack, Natalie Colley, Michele Dowling, Emma Jardine, Carien Morabito, Megha Singh Dangol, Jane Wardle SIG Emerging Technologies Chair – Caterina Watson Committee Members: Robyn Boman, Joanne King, Lisa McGuire, Jacqueline Roots, Ian Schroen SIG Clinical Supervisors Chair – Kate Russo Committee Members: Angela Farley, Carolynne Cormack, Deanne Chester, Helen Beets, Ilona Lavender, Jacqui Robinson, Jenny Parkes, Julie Archbold, Karen Barton, Louise Deshon, Louise Worley, Margaret Condon, Sheri A Rae

BRANCH COMMITTEES Alice Springs Chair – Ashtyn Lee Committee Members: Sarah Dick, Kirstie Geiger Auckland-Waikato Chair – Scott Allen Secretary – Kerrie Child Committee Members: Taylor Archer, Paula Edwards, Anabel Greville, Julie Heaney, Alison Keay, Nethanel Murania, Marion Raffaelli Australian Capital Territory Chair – Teri Carmody Committee Members: Les Burgess, Lisa Hicks, Rebecca Manning, Natalie Smith Central West NSW Chair – Jacqueline Spurway Vice Chair – Jenelle Toole Committee Members: Olivia Houghton, Kim Orr, Kathleen Wilson Darling Downs Chair – Haidee Janetzki Committee Member: Taylor Hansen Far North Queensland Chair – Lara Anders Committee Members: Danielle Burke, Lisa Wellby, Lee Williams Gold Coast Chair – Trang Nguyen Goulburn Valley Chair – Gavin Curley Committee Members: Kirsten Arthur, Timothy Fairgray, Minh Ly, Kathleen Steigenberger, Kristy Thomas Illawarra Chair – Lauren Dwight Vice Chair – Tony Chapman Secretary – Saheeda Zotter

Mackay Chair – Hannah Canavan Committee Member: Kylie Elmore Moreton Bay Chair – Chris Edwards Mid North Coast NSW Chair – Martin Bennie Committee Members: John Gordon, Joanne Lennox Newcastle Chair – Greg O’Connor Committee Members: Susan Cowie, Jessica Cox, Suzana Drinic, Chelsea Fairley, Sarah Fell, Warren Lewis, Gary O’Connor, Danny Pavan, Sonya Simpson, Debbie Slade, Adam Tolfree New South Wales Chair – Christina Farr Committee Members: Vaishali Bulsari, Trixie Kong, Mary McPhail, Solange Obeid, Kathryn Smith, Robyn Tantau, Lucy Taylor Queensland Chair – Michael Foster-Greenwood Secretary – Annie Chen Committee Members: Heather Allen, Mehrnaz Clifford, Chris Gilmore, Simone Karandrews, Belle Keys, Melissa Pisano, Melita Robert Riverina Chair – Simone Francis Committee Members: Jared Mooney, Jessica Talbot South Australia Chair – Kosta Hellmanns Vice Chair – Lino Piotto Committee Members: Julie Bakutis, Ellie Bruce, Jessie Childs, Melissa Farnham, Emma Godrik, Mark Matheson South West Western Australia Chair – Natalie Clements Vice Chair – Richard Ayre Secretary – Stacey Harrison Committee Members: Jane Donnelly, Amy Van Dijk, Samantha Ward, Susan Woodbridge Sunshine Coast Chair – Mitchell Cassin Secretary – Stacy Anderson Committee Members: Anthea Allen, LeShell Carter, Emma Chettle, Renee Dixon, Aisling Fox, Sarah-Jane Kenna, Dan Rae Tasmania Chair – Emma Brodribb Toowoomba Chair – Allison Gordon Committee Member: Taylor Hansen Victoria Chair – Meredith Hopps Secretary – Andrew Grant Committee Members: Paul Coussens, Ray Hora, Dalena Nguyen, Rigel Pandit, Ankitha Ramesh, Sharon Stafford Western Australia Chair – Gail Crawford Reporter – Kirstin MacLennan Trade Liaison – Natalie Colley Committee Members: Carla Elliott, Paige Forbes, Kelly Kinder, Rosemary Langat, Narelle Morin, Carly Styles

ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24

| 29

NURTURE A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE ORGANISATION AND PROFESSION

ADVISORY COMMITTEES

RECOGNISE AND REWARD OUTSTANDING SONOGRAPHERS With an attendance of almost 1000, the ASA’s annual Gala Dinner brought the sonography community together on Saturday, 1 June 2024, to honour a special group of sonographers as a part of the ASA2024 Annual International Conference in Sydney. Exceptional sonographers from across Australasia were celebrated for their remarkable achievements and unwavering dedication to the field. The evening featured the presentation of several prestigious awards, including the Awards of Excellence, the Pru Pratten Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award, and the induction of new ASA Fellows.

RECOGNISE AND REWARD OUTSTANDING SONOGRAPHERS

FELLOWS The ASA acknowledged several distinguished individuals within the profession this year. Four sonographers were inducted as ASA Fellows, the highest level of membership and a significant professional achievement. Our most recent inductees were celebrated at the Conference Gala Dinner in Sydney on Saturday, 1 June 2024. Each of these fellows made invaluable contributions to both the ASA and the sonography field.

Gary Liu Donna Oomens Gregory O’Connor Daniel Rae On behalf of the ASA and its members, we extended our deepest gratitude for their dedication and efforts over the years.

To date, just over 40 ASA members have been honoured with this distinction, and these inductees have been entitled to use the post-nominal letters FASA to denote their ASA Fellowship.

Congratulations to these exceptional members.

40 JUST OVER

ASA MEMBERS HAVE BEEN HONOURED WITH THIS DISTINCTION

ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24

| 31

AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE The ASA’s Sonographer of the Year Awards highlight individuals who have demonstrated exceptional dedication, a commitment to excellence, and meaningful contributions to advancing sonography over the past year.

This year, 11 sonographers were honoured with a Sonographer of the Year Award in the following categories: NSW, Vic, Qld, SA, WA, Tas, ACT, and New Zealand, as well as Researcher of the Year, Tutor of the Year and Volunteer of the Year.

Join us in congratulating our 2024 Awards of Excellence recipients

Sonographer of the Year New South Wales

Sonographer of the Year New Zealand

Sonographer of the Year Queensland

Sonographer of the Year South Australia

Sonographer of the Year Victoria

Sonographer of the Year Western Australia

Robyn Boman, FASA

Dr Kate Russo

32 | ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24

Jo McCann

Margaret Condon

Aaron Fleming

Dr Sandra O’Hara, FASA

Cynthia Dawes

Tutor of the Year

Lewis Newman

Sonographer of the Year Australian Capital Territory

Rob McGregor, AFASA

RECOGNISE AND REWARD OUTSTANDING SONOGRAPHERS

Sonographer of the Year Tasmania

Researcher of the Year

Dr Michelle Fenech, FASA

The Sue Caitcheon Memorial Award ASA Volunteer of the Year

Dr Ann Quinton, FASA

ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24

| 33

PRU PRATTEN MEMORIAL LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Awarded to Dr Jennifer Alphonse, FASA, 2024

The recipient of the 2024 Pru Pratten Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award is Dr Jennifer Alphonse, FASA. Since 1993, Jennifer has been a dedicated member of the ASA, starting as a trainee while studying at The University of Sydney. Inspired by her educators, Jennifer has actively contributed to the ASA through presentations at various conferences and workshops, sharing her knowledge and advancing the sonography profession. Jennifer has a strong commitment to supporting sonographers in regional, rural, and remote areas of Australia, providing education and networking opportunities.

Jennifer’s service includes roles on multiple organising committees, such as coconvenor of the obstetric and gynaecological stream and involvement in the Inaugural Educational Advisory Committee. Jennifer has also contributed to research through her own PhD and associated publications; she has co-authored several papers and acted as a PhD mentor. As a former ASA Director and President, Jennifer played a key role in stabilising the ASA financially and growing its membership. Her commitment to education, professional development, and the advancement of sonography is evident throughout her extensive career.

The ASA is proud to present Jennifer with this prestigious award. We thank her for her continued service to the ASA, peers and profession.

34 | ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24

DIRECTORS’ REPORT The Directors present their report, together with the financial statements, on the company for the year ended 30 June 2024.

36 | ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24

DIRECTORS’ REPORT

Directors The following persons were directors of the company during the financial year and up to the date of this report, unless otherwise stated:

Ian Schroen

Narelle Kennedy

Alexandra Bell

BAppSc (Medical Radiations), Dip Med Ultra (Vasc), M Med Ultra, GAICD, AFASA

Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine), Graduate Diploma of Applied Science (Medical Ultrasonography), Bachelor of Applied Science Medical Radiation Technology (Conversion), Diploma of Applied Science Medical Radiation Technology (Diagnostic Radiography)

BSc Economics and Accounting with Law, Fellow Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales, Member of Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand

Ian’s career has been diverse and challenging, centred around ultrasound.

Ian first gained a passion for vascular ultrasound during the 1990s, and after several years in clinical ultrasound, he moved to a corporate role. Well known for his work at Philips Healthcare, Ian returned to clinical ultrasound and completed a Master of Medical Ultrasound. Engaged in clinical ultrasound, research and teaching opportunities, Ian has a passion for all aspects of ultrasound. Ian presents regularly in various forums across a range of clinical and non-clinical topics.

He has been a board director since 2017, was vice president in 2018 and president between December 2019 and November 2023.

Special Responsibilities

• Member, Finance, Risk and Audit Committee

Narelle is a senior research sonographer specialising in obstetrics and gynaecology at South Western Sydney District Obstetric Research unit at Liverpool Hospital, with over 25 years’ experience working in ultrasound in the private and public sectors in clinical and administrative positions. She completed her philosophy doctorate in 2018, completing her original research on obesity in pregnancy. Narelle has extensive experience in research, is a member of the editorial board for Sonography and has reviewed manuscripts for several national and international journals. She continues her passion for research as an affiliate of the University of Sydney and the Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research with an honorary position of research fellow. Narelle was appointed to the ASA Board in October 2020.

She is the Chair of the Sonographer Policy and Advisory Committee.

Alexandra (Alex) was appointed chief financial officer of Challenger Limited in December 2022, having previously held a number of senior roles at Challenger, including group deputy CFO and CFO Funds Management.

Alex was previously a partner in KPMG’s CFO Advisory Practice and has extensive experience across life insurance and wealth management, including roles at BT Financial Group.

Special Responsibilities

• Chair, Finance, Audit and Risk Committee

Special Responsibilities

• Member, Governance Committee • Member, Nominations Committee

ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24 |

37

Sean Coveney

Michele Dowling

Kelly Griffiths

MMedSon, GradDipMedSon, BMedRad(DiagRadiog), DipGov(Management), GIA(Affiliated)

GradDipAppSc Medical Ultrasound, BAppSc Diagnostic Radiography, Dip Radiography (Therapy)

LLB Hons, BA, GradDip Intellectual Property Laws

Sean spent almost 20 years with SA Health (SAMI) at the Repat Hospital in Adelaide. He started his career as a diagnostic radiographer, developing skills in angiography before specialising in ultrasound. He is now the SA operations manager for Mobile Radiology Australia, working with the national team to grow this area of ultrasound, providing in-home and residential aged care facility imaging to patients with limited mobility or capacity to attend off-site departments.

He has a strong interest in developing both people and the profession.

Sean is currently studying for his MBA in Healthcare Management.

He hopes to continue to see and be a part of the profession, growing in stature along with the professional recognition of sonographers for the skills and attributes they bring to the role.

Sean first joined the ASA as a full member in 2009 and the ASA Board in 2022. He was appointed vice president of the ASA in November 2023.

Michele is currently a senior sonographer at a private imaging group in Sydney, having begun her career in London as a radiation therapy radiographer, and then as a diagnostic radiographer in Sydney, Australia. She has extensive clinical management experience as a group practice chief sonographer managing a large team of sonographers and students across nine locations.

Michele has been a member of the ASA Board of Directors since November 2016. Michele is a member of the Sonographer Policy and Advisory Committee.

Special Responsibilities

• Vice President • Member, Finance, Audit and Risk Committee • Member, Governance Committee • Member, Nominations Committee

38 | ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24

Special Responsibilities

• Member, Governance Committee • Member, Nominations Committee

Kelly is a partner and deputy head of the disputes and investigations practice of Gadens, a leading Australian law firm. Before this role, Kelly was head of government affairs and policy and chief legal counsel for GSK, one of the world’s largest biopharmaceutical companies, in Australia and New Zealand. Kelly has also formerly worked for toptier law firms and in enforcement at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. Kelly advises companies operating in highly regulated industries with healthcare and life sciences expertise. Kelly is a non-executive director on a number of not-for-profit boards, including the Melanoma Patients Association, Ranters Theatre and the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne Human Research Ethics Committee.

Special Responsibilities

• Member, Governance Committee • Member, Nominations Committee

DIRECTORS’ REPORT Roger Lee

Brooke Osborne

Julie Toop

GradDip in Medical Ultrasound, Bachelor of Radiography and Medical Imaging, Certificate in Leadership and Management

SFHEA FASA GradDipEd, MMedSon, BHlthSc (Hons), BMedRad, PhD

Bachelor of Laws, Graduate Diploma Notarial Studies, Graduate DSCV Mediation Course, GAICD

Brooke is an accredited medical sonographer with experience mainly in tertiary referral hospitals and specialising in obstetric and gynaecological ultrasound within a maternal-fetal medicine unit. Brooke left clinical practice to complete an education degree after which she started her academic career. Brooke was the program director for the medical sonography programs at the University of South Australia from 2017 to 2022 and is currently an academic developer within the Teaching Innovation Unit at UniSA. Brooke’s primary research focus is on student agency in clinical skills development, particularly through work-integrated learning, and she continues to contribute to research and consultancy work across a range of ultrasound and allied health projects. Brooke is a member of the Sonographer Policy and Advisory Committee.

Julie has a diverse background as a banker, lawyer, notary public, accredited mediator and a non-executive company director.

She has extensive expertise in risk management, finance, cultural transformations, governance, stakeholder management and business development.

A collaborative leader, Julie has demonstrated capability in advising boards and communities. Julie held a range of legal and banking roles in her 15-year career at ANZ, including establishing a very successful specialist health banking proposition backed by a team of bankers dedicated to meeting the business and personal banking needs of medical practitioners and pharmacists. Before joining ANZ, Julie was a special counsel at Allens Linklaters. She has worked across various areas of law throughout her lengthy career, and while at Allens Linklaters, she specialised in property, estate planning, probate, succession, trusts and the provision of general commercial advice to not-for-profit and charitable organisations.

Julie is an experienced notary public who provides notarial services to individuals and corporations. A director of Accordo Pty Ltd, a mediation business established in 2023, Julie assists parties in dispute to explore options and find areas for agreement. Julie is the chairperson of the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation and an ex officio member of all advisory committees.

Roger is a commercial manager for Capital Radiology with a keen interest in the US profession.

With numerous years spent as an operational manager, clinical and tutor sonographer, and years of experience in the public and private sectors, he deeply understands the industry in Australia and abroad.

Roger is passionate about driving the sonography industry forward in a future filled with possibilities. Both AI and disruption to the industry will present themselves in the coming years and he hopes to assist the ASA to position sonographers in the best place to leverage these opportunities.

Special Responsibilities

Member, Finance, Risk and Audit Committee

Special Responsibilities

• Member, Finance Risk and Audit Committee

ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24 |

39

Anthony Wald

Company Secretaries

Registered Office

BTech, ACCP (Cardiac), AMS, PDM, MClinEd

The following persons held the position of company secretary during the reporting period: • Anthony Wald • Rachel Portelli (resigned 5 January 2024) • Chris Booton (appointed 24 February 2024)

The company’s registered office is: Australasian Sonographers Association Ltd Level 2, 93–95 Queen Street Melbourne, Vic 3000

Anthony qualified as a cardiac sonographer in South Africa. Since relocating to Melbourne almost 25 years ago, he has spent most of his career in public healthcare.

He is currently the senior clinical support and applications specialist for Mindray Australia, having previously been a member of the transition management team for the Victorian Heart Hospital. He was the chief cardiac physiologist for Monash Heart from 2004 until 2015. From 2015 to 2022, he worked as an educator in the Point of Care Ultrasound program at Monash Health. Anthony was appointed president of the ASA in November 2023.

Special Responsibilities

• President and Board Chair • Ex officio member, Finance, Audit and Risk Committee • Chair, Governance Committee • Chair, Nominations Committee • Company Secretary

40 | ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24

Corporate Governance The company is incorporated under the Corporations Act 2001 and is a company limited by guarantee. The company is established and operates under its Constitution.

The Board of Directors is accountable to the members for the governance, management and control of the activities, business and affairs of the company. As shown under its Constitution, the Board comprises seven elected General Directors and three appointed External Directors. Office bearers include both a President and Vice-President.

The Australasian Sonographers Association operates under the terms and guiding doctrines of its Constitution and supporting governance policies. The company is registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission (ACNC).

To assist the Board in fulfilling its duties, it has established three committees: (i) a Finance, Risk and Audit Committee, (ii) a Governance Committee, and (iii) a Nominations Committee.

Each Board committee operates under approved terms of reference setting out clear delegation and responsibilities from and to the Board for the operations of the committee. The day-to-day management of the company has been delegated to the CEO.

Principal Activities The purpose of the Australasian Sonographers Association Ltd is to foster a sonography profession that delivers high quality ultrasound with a vision of creating a healthier world through sonographer expertise. The company is a notfor-profit organisation and is a registered charity working to advance the health of the public and to advance the education of those performing ultrasound.

The principal activities of the company during the reporting period included advocating for the profession to become regulated to protect the public and prevent harm, raising professional standards, increasing the recognition of

42 | ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24

sonographers being experts in ultrasound, as well as focusing on increasing sonographers’ professional development opportunities and supporting evidence-based research which will help to deliver better healthcare outcomes for patients in Australia and New Zealand.

No significant changes in the nature of the entity’s activity occurred during the financial year.

Strategic Intent and Short-term Objectives The ASA’s five strategic objectives, as outlined in the current strategic plan, are as follows: • To promote and advocate for the advancement of the sonography profession by positioning the sonographer as the expert and principal provider of diagnostic medical ultrasound, progressing sonographer regulation and raising professional standards, taking the lead in establishing a sustainable future workforce supply and clinical placement pathways in Australia and New Zealand so that all patients can have access to sonographer-performed ultrasound, and ensuring sonographers are part of the conversation involving new and emerging technologies.

• To drive the quality and standards of sonography practice by contributing to high quality professional practice through the development of recommendations for sonography, facilitating and promoting evidence-based practice within the profession, supporting and investing in research that assists in progressing and strengthening the profession, as well as contributing to safe, appropriate, effective and equitable care for Australians and New Zealanders.

• To facilitate comprehensive skills and professional development opportunities in ultrasound by providing a broad range of opportunities for sonographers to advance their professional knowledge, digital literacy and careers, as well as collaborating with key stakeholders to increase other professions’ knowledge of ultrasound and advancing

• To innovate and evolve to deliver organisational excellence, sustainability and value for members by delivering and communicating practical and tangible value to members throughout their career, adapting and collaborating to provide members with a personalised and valuable experience, prioritising membership growth within the sonography profession (locally and internationally), as well as actively growing our partnerships with aligned corporate partners that deliver value to members.

• To nurture a great organisation to belong to by committing to living our values, being resourced by quality people, systems and operations, as well as providing easily accessible resources to promote health, safety and wellbeing, creating a diverse, inclusive, and caring culture that supports high performance for all and empowering and enabling our people to be their best.

performed in December, and a final appraisal performed at the end of the financial year.

Operating Results The surplus/(deficit) of the company for the reporting period after provision for income tax and before other comprehensive income was: 2024 $

2023 $

541,149

523,704

Meetings of Directors The number of meetings of the company’s Board of Directors (‘the Board’) and of each Board committee held during the year ended 30 June 2024, and the number of meetings attended by each Director were:

Long-term Objectives The company’s long-term objectives are to continue to operate as the professional association furthering the sonography profession, the interests of all sonographers, and the health outcomes for their patients across Australasia by: • promoting and advocating for the advancement of the sonography profession • supporting and disseminating research that contributes to the sonography profession’s body of knowledge • positioning sonographers as the experts and principal providers of diagnostic medical ultrasound • contributing to the quality and standards of sonography practice by developing recommendations for sonographers and the sonography profession • engaging with Government and other healthcare providers to improve the quality and accessibility of sonography services and the future supply of sonographers in the workforce

Finance, Risk and Audit Committee

Board Attended

Eligible to Attend

Attended

Eligible to Attend

Alexandra Bell

7

8

4

4

Sean Coveney

7

8

2

2

Michele Dowling

8

Kelly Griffiths

Governance & Nominations Committee Attended

Eligible to Attend

3

3

8

3

3

6

8

1

3

Narelle Kennedy

6

8

3

3

Roger Lee

7

8

2

4

Brooke Osborne

7

8

2

2

Ian Schroen

8

8

4

4

1

1

Julie Toop

7

8

2

4

Anthony Wald

8

8

2

2

2 2

2

• offering a broad range of opportunities for sonographers to advance their professional knowledge

Eligible to attend represents the number of meetings held during the time the Director held office or was a member of the relevant committee. Whilst the CEO is not a member of the Board or Board committees, it is company practice for the CEO to be in attendance at all Board and Board Committee meetings.

• advancing the education of those performing ultrasound and other people involved in sonography for improved health outcomes

Key Events during the Reporting Period

• facilitating professional development opportunities through conferences, meetings, workshops and online activities

• undertaking other actions or activities necessary, incidental, or conducive to advance these objects.

Key Performance Measures Each year, key performance indicators are set across the business based on the strategic intent and the short-term goals of the organisation. Individual performance plans are agreed to by each staff member, with clear performance and behavioural targets outlined in July, a half-yearly review

DIRECTORS’ REPORT

the education of those performing ultrasound for improved health outcomes.

Dr Tony Coles was appointed to the position of CEO on 25 September 2023. Tony replaced Ms Jodie Long whose last day was 12 July 2023. Dr Vanda Fortunato served as interim CEO until Tony’s appointment.

On 2 November 2023, the following Directors were re-elected to the Board: • Michele Dowling • Narelle Kennedy • Roger Lee • Anthony Wald

ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24 |

43

Significant Changes in the State of Affairs In the opinion of the Directors, there were no significant changes in the state of affairs of the company that occurred during the financial year under review not otherwise disclosed in this report or the financial statements.

Matters Subsequent to the End of the Financial Year There are no matters or circumstances that have arisen since the end of the financial year that have significantly affected or may significantly affect the operations of the company, the results of those operations or the state of affairs of the company, in future years.

Likely Developments

Dividends The Australasian Sonographers Association is a company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. The Directors of the Australasian Sonographers Association are precluded by the company’s Constitution from declaring a dividend.

Members’ Guarantee At the end of the reporting period, Australasian Sonographers Association Ltd had 7,713 members (30 June 2023 - 7457 members).

Australasian Sonographers Association Ltd is a company limited by guarantee. In the event of, and for the purpose of winding up of the company, the amount capable of being called up from each member and any person or association who ceased to be a member in the year prior to the winding up, is limited to $20, subject to the provisions of the Company’s Constitution.

Likely developments in the operations of the company and the expected results of those operations in future financial years have not been included in this report as the inclusion of such information is likely to result in unreasonable prejudice to the company.

At 30 June 2024, the collective liability of members was $154,260 (30 June 2023: $149,140).

Privacy and Environmental Regulation

A copy of the auditor’s independence declaration as required under section 60-40 of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012 is set out on page 9.

As a professional association, the Australasian Sonographers Association holds personal information concerning its members. The company is cognisant of Commonwealth and State legislation concerning privacy and has ensured that its Privacy Policy management practices are consistent with good governance.

The company is aware of and abides by relevant Commonwealth and State Privacy legislation. The company is not subject to any significant environmental regulation under either Commonwealth or State legislation.

Indemnification and Insurance of Officers and Auditors The Australasian Sonographers Association had and continues to hold Directors’ and Officers’ insurance in respect to these persons whilst legitimately performing their duties. The company indemnifies its directors and officers against any liability incurred during the course of executing their duties on behalf of the company with the exception of the director or officer being found to be in breach of his/ her/their obligations under the Corporations Act 2001. The company has not entered into an agreement to indemnify its auditors.

44 | ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24

Auditor’s Independence Declaration

This report is made in accordance with a resolution of directors, pursuant to section 298(2)(a) of the Corporations Act 2001.

On behalf of the directors

Mr Anthony Wald Director and Chair of the Board 14 September 2024 Melbourne

AUDITOR’S DECLARATION

Level 6, 30 Collins Street Melbourne Victoria 3000 TELEPHONE +61 3 8899 6199 FACSIMILE +61 3 9650 5751 www.dfkkidsons.com.au

AUDITOR’S INDEPENDENCE DECLARATION TO THE DIRECTORS OF AUSTRALASIAN SONOGRAPHERS ASSOCIATION LTD In accordance with the requirements of section 60-40 of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012, I declare that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, during the year ended 30 June 2024 there have been: (i)

no contraventions of the auditor independence requirements as set out in the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012 in relation to the audit; and

(ii) no contraventions of any applicable code of professional conduct in relation to the audit.

Michael L Port Partner Melbourne 14 September 2024

Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards Legislation A member firm of DFK International, a worldwide association of independent accounting firms and business advisers

ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24 |

45

FINANCIALS General Information The financial statements cover Australasian Sonographers Association Ltd as an individual entity. The financial statements are presented in Australian dollars, which is Australasian Sonographers Association Ltd’s functional and presentation currency.

Australasian Sonographers Association Ltd is a not-for-profit unlisted public company limited by guarantee, incorporated and domiciled in Australia. Its registered office and principal place of business is: Level 2, 93–95 Queen Street Melbourne VIC 3000 A description of the nature of the Company’s operations and its principal activities are included in the Directors’ report, which is not part of the financial statements.

The financial statements were authorised for issue, in accordance with a resolution of directors, upon the date of signing this report. The directors have the power to amend and reissue the financial statements.

46 | ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24

DIRECTORS’ REPORT

AUSTRALASIAN SONOGRAPHERS ASSOCIATION LTD STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2024 Notes

2024 $

2023 $

Revenue Revenue from activities

3

6,099,692

5,359,814

Investment income

3

185,351

114,044

6,285,043

5,473,858

Employee benefits expense

2,339,648

2,015,628

Events and meeting expenses

1,509,409

1,163,621

Members insurance

932,490

800,546

Administration expenses

338,289

338,549

IT, website and software development costs

233,420

194,756

Grants, research and sponsorship

198,924

155,475

Total revenue Expenses

Depreciation and amortisation Depreciation of plant and equipment

7

28,485

50,130

Amortisation of right of use building asset

8

97,345

100,229

Professional fees

63,261

171,321

Finance cost on lease liability

37,772

2,953

5,779,043

4,993,208

506,000

480,650

Total expenses Surplus before investment movements Investment gains / (losses) Profit / (loss) on sale of investments

6

115

(9,583)

Net fair value gains / (losses) on investments

6

35,034

52,637

Total investments gains / (losses)

35,149

43,054

Surplus for the year

541,149

523,704

Other comprehensive income for the year

−

Total comprehensive income for the year

541,149

− 523,704

The above statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes

ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24 |

47

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS AT 30 JUNE 2024 Notes

2024 $

2023 $

Cash and cash equivalents

4

3,967,843

3,427,039

Trade and other receivables

5

70,051

27,466

Financial assets

6

3,163,402

3,244,771

363,262

237,873

7,564,558

6,937,149

ASSETS Current Assets

Prepayments Total Current Assets Non-current Assets Financial assets

6

85,478

81,793

Property, plant and equipment

7

65,066

53,601

Right of use assets

8

381,265

478,610

531,809

614,004

8,096,367

7,551,153

Total Non-current Assets Total Assets LIABILITIES Current liabilities Trade and other payables

9

406,434

474,422

Provisions

10

164,971

125,781

Income received in advance

11

2,958,009

2,864,218

Lease liabilities

12

Total Current Liabilities

84,511

73,656

3,613,925

3,538,077

Non-current Liabilities Provisions

10

82,823

70,094

Lease liabilities

12

319,298

403,810

402,121

473,904

Total liabilities

4,011,981

4,011,981

Net Assets

4,080,321

3,539,172

Accumulated surplus

4,080,321

3,539,172

Total Equity

4,080,321

3,539,172

Total Non-current Liabilities

EQUITY

The above statement of financial position should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes

48 | ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24

DIRECTORS’ REPORT

STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2024 Accumulated Surplus $

Balance at 1 July 2022

Reserves $

Total Equity $

2,805,468

210,000

3,015,468

Surplus for the year

523,704

−

523,704

Transfer to Accumulated Surplus

210,000

(210,000)

Balance at 30 June 2023

3,539,172

Balance at 1 July 2023

3,539,172

−

3,539,172

541,149

−

541,149

4,080,321

−

4,080,321

Surplus for the year Balance at 30 June 2024

3,539,172

The above statement of changes in Equity should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes

ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24 |

49

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2024 Cash flows from Operating Activities

Note

Receipts from operations

2024 $

2023 $

6,745,856

6,086,204

Dividends received

90,588

61,054

Interest received

94,763

52,990

Interest paid on lease liabilities

(37,772)

(2,953)

(6,097,468)

(5,210,515)

(254,390)

(231,530)

541,577

755,250

Proceeds from investments

185,908

219,721

Payments for investments

(73,075)

(1,266,173)

Payments for property, plant and equipment

(39,950)

(10,408)

Net cash (used in) / provided by investing activities

72,883

(1,056,860)

Repayment of lease liabilities

(73,656)

(130,691)

Net cash used in financing activities

(73,656)

(130,691)

Net (decrease) / increase in cash and cash equivalents held

540,804

(432,301)

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the financial year

3,427,039

3,859,340

3,967,843

3,427,039

Payments to suppliers and employees Net GST paid Net cash provided by operating activities

18

Cash flows from Investing Activities

Cash flows from Financing Activities

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the financial year

4

The above statement of cash flows should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes

50 | ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2024

Note 1. Material accounting policy information

Note 1. Material accounting policy information The material accounting policies adopted in the preparation of the financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.

New, revised or amending Accounting Standards and Interpretations adopted The company has adopted all of the new or amended Accounting Standards and Interpretations issued by the Australian Accounting Standards Board (‘AASB’) that are mandatory for the current reporting period. The adoption of these Accounting Standards and Interpretations did not have any significant impact on the company.

Basis of preparation These general purpose financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards - Simplified Disclosures issued by the Australian Accounting Standards Board (‘AASB’), the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012 and the Corporations Act 2001, as appropriate for not-for-profit oriented entities.

AASB 1060 General Purpose Financial Statements Simplified Disclosures for For-Profit and Not-for-Profit Tier 2 Entities

service to be delivered; and recognises revenue when or as each performance obligation is satisfied in a manner that depicts the transfer to the customer of the goods or services promised.

Variable consideration within the transaction price, if any, reflects concessions provided to the customer such as discounts, rebates and refunds, any potential bonuses receivable from the customer and any other contingent events. Such estimates are determined using either the ‘expected value’ or ‘most likely amount’ method.

The measurement of variable consideration is subject to a constraining principle whereby revenue will only be recognised to the extent that it is highly probable that a significant reversal in the amount of cumulative revenue recognised will not occur. The measurement constraint continues until the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is subsequently resolved.

Amounts received that are subject to the constraining principle are recognised as a refund liability.

Interest Interest revenue is recognised as interest accrues using the effective interest method, which for floating rate financial assets is the rate inherent in the instrument.

Dividend revenue

The standard provides a Tier 2 reporting framework with simplified disclosures that are based on the requirements of IFRS for SMEs.

Dividend revenue is recognised when the right to receive a dividend has been established.

Historical cost convention

Other revenue is recognised when it is received or when the right to receive payment is established.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

Critical accounting estimates The preparation of the financial statements requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires management to exercise its judgement in the process of applying the company’s accounting policies. The areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the financial statements, are disclosed in note 2.

Revenue recognition The company recognises revenue as follows: Revenue from contracts with customers (member subscriptions, sponsorship income, event revenue, advertising income, education registrations) Revenue is recognised at an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company is expected to be entitled in exchange for transferring goods or services to a customer. For each contract with a customer, the company: identifies the contract with a customer; identifies the performance obligations in the contract; determines the transaction price which takes into account estimates of variable consideration and the time value of money; allocates the transaction price to the separate performance obligations on the basis of the relative stand-alone selling price of each distinct good or

Other revenue

Income tax As the company is a charitable institution in terms of subsection 50-5 of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997, as amended, it is exempt from paying income tax.

Current and non-current classification Assets and liabilities are presented in the statement of financial position based on current and non-current classification.

An asset is classified as current when: it is either expected to be realised or intended to be sold or consumed in the company’s normal operating cycle; it is held primarily for the purpose of trading; it is expected to be realised within 12 months after the reporting period; or the asset is cash or cash equivalent unless restricted from being exchanged or used to settle a liability for at least 12 months after the reporting period. All other assets are classified as non-current.

A liability is classified as current when: it is either expected to be settled in the company’s normal operating cycle; it is held primarily for the purpose of trading; it is due to be settled within 12 months after the reporting period; or there is no unconditional right to defer the settlement of the liability for at least 12 months after the reporting period. All other liabilities are classified as non-current.

ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24 |

51

Note 1. Material accounting policy information

Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand, deposits held at call with financial institutions, other short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and which are subject to an insignificant risk of changes in value.

Trade and other receivables Other receivables are recognised at amortised cost, less any allowance for expected credit losses.

Financial Assets The company classifies its financial assets between current and non-current assets based on the purpose for which the assets were acquired. Management determines the classification of its financial assets at initial recognition.

to the company. Gains and losses between the carrying amount and the disposal proceeds are taken to the statement of profit or loss.

Right of use assets A right-of-use asset is recognised at the commencement date of a lease. The right-of-use asset is measured at cost, which comprises the initial amount of the lease liability, adjusted for, as applicable, any lease payments made at or before the commencement date net of any lease incentives received, any initial direct costs incurred, and, except where included in the cost of inventories, an estimate of costs expected to be incurred for dismantling and removing the underlying asset, and restoring the site or asset.

The company assesses at each balance sheet date whether a financial asset or group of financial assets is impaired. All financial assets except those measured at fair value through profit or loss are subject to annual review for impairment.

Right-of-use assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the unexpired period of the lease or the estimated useful life of the asset, whichever is the shorter. Where the company expects to obtain ownership of the leased asset at the end of the lease term, the depreciation is over its estimated useful life. Right-of-use assets are subject to impairment or adjusted for any remeasurement of lease liabilities.

Impairment of financial assets

Impairment of non-financial assets

At the end of each reporting period the company assesses whether there is objective evidence that a financial asset or group of financial assets is impaired. All financial assets, except those measured at fair value through the Statement of Profit or Loss and other comprehensive Income, are subject to annual review for impairment.

In order to determine an appropriate fair value as at 30 June 2024 for its portfolio of financial assets, the company used the market value of investments held.

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss Equity instruments (managed investment portfolio) that are held for trading as well as derivative instruments are classified as fair value through profit or loss.

Other financial assets are required to be measured at fair value through profit or loss unless they are measured at amortised cost or fair value through other comprehensive income.

Property, plant and equipment Plant and equipment is stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment. Historical cost includes expenditure that is directly attributable to the acquisition of the items.

Depreciation is calculated on a straight-line basis to write off the net cost of each item of property, plant and equipment (excluding land) over their expected useful lives as follows: Office equipment Leasehold improvements

3–5 years 5 years

The residual values, useful lives and depreciation methods are reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at each reporting date.

An item of property, plant and equipment is derecognised upon disposal or when there is no future economic benefit

52 | ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24

Non-financial assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognised for the amount by which the asset’s carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount.

Recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s fair value less costs of disposal and value-in-use. The value-in-use is the present value of the estimated future cash flows relating to the asset using a pre-tax discount rate specific to the asset or cash-generating unit to which the asset belongs.

Assets that do not have independent cash flows are grouped together to form a cash-generating unit.

Trade and other payables These amounts represent liabilities for goods and services provided to the company prior to the end of the financial year and which are unpaid. Due to their short-term nature, they are measured at amortised cost and are not discounted. The amounts are unsecured and are usually paid within 30 days of recognition.

Employee benefits Short-term employee benefits Liabilities for wages and salaries, including non-monetary benefits, annual leave and long service leave expected to be settled wholly within 12 months of the reporting date are measured at the amounts expected to be paid when the liabilities are settled.

Other long-term employee benefits The liability for annual leave and long service leave not expected to be settled within 12 months of the reporting date are measured at the present value of expected future payments to be made in respect of services provided by employees up to the reporting date using the projected unit credit method. Consideration is given to expected future wage and salary levels, experience of employee departures

Defined contribution superannuation expense Contributions to defined contribution superannuation plans are expensed in the period in which they are incurred.

Lease liabilities A lease liability is recognised at the commencement date of a lease. The lease liability is initially recognised at the present value of the lease payments to be made over the term of the lease, discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease or, if that rate cannot be readily determined, the company’s incremental borrowing rate.

Lease payments comprise of fixed payments less any lease incentives receivable, variable lease payments that depend on an index or a rate, amounts expected to be paid under residual value guarantees, exercise price of a purchase option when the exercise of the option is reasonably certain to occur, and any anticipated termination penalties. The variable lease payments that do not depend on an index or a rate are expensed in the period in which they are incurred.

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2024

and periods of service. Expected future payments are discounted using market yields at the reporting date on national government bonds with terms to maturity and currency that match, as closely as possible, the estimated future cash outflows.

rate used; residual guarantee; lease term; certainty of a purchase option and termination penalties. When a lease liability is remeasured, an adjustment is made to the corresponding right-of use asset, or to profit or loss if the carrying amount of the right-of-use asset is fully written down.

Fair value measurement When an asset or liability, financial or non-financial, is measured at fair value for recognition or disclosure purposes, the fair value is based on the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date; and assumes that the transaction will take place either: in the principal market; or in the absence of a principal market, in the most advantageous market.

Fair value is measured using the assumptions that market participants would use when pricing the asset or liability, assuming they act in their economic best interests.

For non-financial assets, the fair value measurement is based on its highest and best use. Valuation techniques that are appropriate in the circumstances and for which sufficient data are available to measure fair value, are used, maximising the use of relevant observable inputs and minimising the use of unobservable inputs.

Lease liabilities are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. The carrying amounts are remeasured if there is a change in the following: future lease payments arising from a change in an index, or a

ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24 |

53

Note 2. Critical accounting judgements, estimates and assumptions

Note 2. Critical accounting judgements, estimates and assumptions The preparation of the financial statements requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts in the financial statements. Management continually evaluates its judgements and estimates in relation to assets, liabilities, contingent liabilities, revenue, and expenses. Management bases its judgements, estimates and assumptions on historical experience and on other various factors, including expectations of future events, management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. The resulting accounting judgements and estimates will seldom equal the related actual results. The judgements, estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities (refer to the respective notes) within the next financial year are discussed below.

Estimation of useful lives of assets The company determines the estimated useful lives and related depreciation charges for its property, plant and equipment. The useful lives could change significantly as a result of technical innovations or some other event. The depreciation charge will increase where the useful lives are less than previously estimated lives, or technically obsolete or non-strategic assets that have been abandoned or sold will be written off or written down.

Impairment of non-financial assets other than goodwill and other indefinite life intangible assets The company assesses impairment of non-financial assets other than goodwill and other indefinite life intangible assets at each reporting date by evaluating conditions specific to the company and to the particular asset that may lead to impairment. If an impairment trigger exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is determined. This involves fair value less costs of disposal or value-in-use calculations, which incorporate a number of key estimates and assumptions.

Lease term The lease term is a significant component in the measurement of both the right-of-use asset and lease liability. Judgement is exercised in determining whether there is reasonable certainty that an option to extend the lease or purchase the underlying asset will be exercised, or an option to terminate the lease will not be exercised, when ascertaining the periods to be included in the lease term.

In determining the lease term, all facts and circumstances that create an economical incentive to exercise an extension option, or not to exercise a termination option, are considered at the lease commencement date. Factors considered may include the importance of the asset to the company’s operations; comparison of terms and conditions to prevailing market rates; incurrence of significant penalties; existence of significant leasehold improvements; and the costs and disruption to replace the asset. The company reassesses whether it is reasonably certain to exercise an extension option, or not exercise a termination option, if there is a significant event or significant change in circumstances.

54 | ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24

Incremental borrowing rate Where the interest rate implicit in a lease cannot be readily determined, an incremental borrowing rate is estimated to discount future lease payments to measure the present value of the lease liability at the lease commencement date. Such a rate is based on what the company estimates it would have to pay a third party to borrow the funds necessary to obtain an asset of a similar value to the rightof-use asset, with similar terms, security, and economic environment.

Employee benefits provision As discussed in note 1, the liability for employee benefits expected to be settled more than 12 months from the reporting date are recognised and measured at the present value of the estimated future cash flows to be made in respect of all employees at the reporting date. In determining the present value of the liability, estimates of attrition rates and pay increases through promotion and inflation have been taken into account.

Lease make good provision A provision has been made for the present value of anticipated costs for future restoration of leased premises.

The provision includes future cost estimates associated with closure of the premises. The calculation of this provision requires assumptions such as application of closure dates and cost estimates. The provision recognised is periodically reviewed and updated based on the facts and circumstances available at the time. Changes to the estimated future costs for sites are recognised in the statement of financial position by adjusting the asset and the provision. Reductions in the provision that exceed the carrying amount of the asset will be recognised in profit or loss.

2024 $

2023 $

Member subscriptions

4,154,769

3,655,415

Sponsorship income

431,857

384,368

1,399,254

1,183,524

69,378

60,467

Note 3. Revenue

Event income Advertising income Sundry income

44,434

76,040

6,099,692

5,359,814

94,763

52,990

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2024

Note 3. Revenue / Note 4. Cash and Cash Equivalents / Note 5. Trade and Other Receivables / Note 6. Financial Assets

Investment income Interest income Dividends and distributions

Note 4. Cash and Cash Equivalents

90,588

61,054

185,351

114,044

2024 $

2023 $

153

153

Cash on hand

3,881,211

3,333,502

Cash at bank

86,479

93,384

3,967,843

3,427,039

2024 $

2023 $

Current

Note 5. Trade and Other Receivables Current Trade debtors

28,197

26,466

Other receivable

41,854

1,000

70,051

27,466

2024 $

2023 $

Managed investment portfolio

1,605,002

1,519,750

Term deposits

1,558,400

1,725,021

3,163,402

3,244,771

85,478

81,793

Note 6. Financial Assets Current

Non-current Term deposits restricted * * Non-current term deposits are restricted assets in the form of bank guarantees held.

Movements in carrying amounts Movement in the carrying amounts for managed investment portfolio between the beginning and the end of the current financial year: $

Opening balance

$

1,519,750

1,455,852

Purchases during the year

73,075

240,565

Disposal (Proceeds)

(22,972)

(219,721)

115

(9,583)

35,034

52,637

1,605,002

1,519,750

Net profit / (loss) on sales Net fair value gains / (losses) on investments

ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24 |

55

Note 7. Property, plant and equipment / Note 8. Right of use assets

Note 7. Property, plant and equipment 2024 $

Non-current

2023 $

Leasehold improvements - at cost

189,527

171,014

Less: Accumulated depreciation

(168,854)

(159,655)

20,673

11,359

Office equipment - at cost

157,918

136,482

Less: Accumulated depreciation

(113,525)

(94,240)

44,393

42,242

65,066

53,601

Movements in carrying amounts Movement in the carrying amounts for each class of property, plant and equipment between the beginning and the end of the current financial year: Leasehold Improvements $

Balance at 1 July 2023

11,359

Office Equipment $

Total $

42,242

53,601

Additions

18,513

21,437

39,950

Depreciation expense

(9,199)

(19,286)

(28,485)

Balance at 30 June 2024

20,673

44,393

65,066

Note 8. Right of use assets Non-current

2023 $

2023 $

Right of use asset – property lease

486,722

486,722

Less: Accumulated amortisation

(105,457)

(8,112)

381,265

478,610

Movements in carrying amounts Movement in the carrying amounts of each right of use asset between the beginning and the end of the current financial year: 2024 $

Balance at 1 July

2023 $

478,610

92,118

–

486,721

Amortisation expense

(97,345)

(100,229)

Balance at 30 June

381,265

478,610

Additions

Refer to Note 12 for office lease details

56 | ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2024

Note 9. Trade and Other Payables / Note 10. Provisions / Note 11. Income received in advance / Note 12. Lease liabilities / Note 13. Related parties and related party transactions

Note 9. Trade and Other Payables Non-current

2024 $

2023 $

Trade creditors

60,922

74,054

Accrued expenses

88,951

138,525

GST payable

239,041

257,955

Other payables

17,520

3,888

406,434

474,422

Current

2024 $

2023 $

Provision for Annual leave

130,591

97,314

Provision for Long service leave

34,380

28,467

164,971

125,781

Note 10. Provisions

Non-current Provision for make good - leased premise

57,700

42,200

Provision for Long service leave

25,123

27,894

82,823

70,094

Note 11. Income received in advance Current

2024 $

2023 $

Membership subscriptions

2,802,632

2,688,864

155,377

175,354

2,958,009

2,864,218

2024 $

2023 $

Other

Note 12. Lease liabilities Current Property lease

84,511

73,656

319,298

403,810

Non-current

The company has leased offices at Level 2, 93–95 Queen Street, Melbourne for a 5-year term from 1 June 2023.

Note 13. Related parties and related party transactions Directors’ compensation The directors act in an honorary capacity and receive no compensation for their services other than honorarium claims.

Short-term benefits – honorarium claims

2024 $

2023 $

8,050

6,174

ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24 |

57

Note 13. Related parties and related party transactions / Note 14. Remuneration of auditors / Note 15. Contingent liabilities / Note 16. Commitments / Note 17. Events subsequent to balance date/ Note 18. Reconciliation of result for the year to net cash inflow / (outflow) from operating activities

Key management personnel compensation The aggregate compensation made to members of key management personnel (other than directors) of the company is set out below:

Aggregate compensation

2024 $

2023 $

949,140

294,464

Transactions with related parties Other than amounts paid to key management personnel there were no transactions with related parties during the current and previous financial year.

Receivable from and payable to related parties There were no trade receivables from or trade payables to related parties at the current and previous reporting date.

Loans to/from related parties There were no loans to or from related parties at the current and previous reporting date.

Note 14. Remuneration of auditors During the financial year the following fees were paid or payable for services provided by DFK Kidsons Partnership, the auditor of the company:

Audit services – DFK Kidsons Partnership

2024 $

2023 $

Audit of the financial statements

18,500

17,600

Payable – minimum payments

2024 $

2023 $

Not later than 1 year

118,766

88,768

Between 1 and 5 years

293,733

351,304

412,499

440,072

Note 15. Contingent liabilities The company had no contingent liabilities as at 30 June 2024 and 30 June 2023.

Note 16. Commitments Other commitments for expenditure (including journal publishing):

Note 17. Events subsequent to the end of the financial year No matters or circumstances have arisen since 30 June 2024 that has significantly affected, or may significantly affect the company’s operations, the results of those operations, or the company’s state of affairs in future financial years.

Note 18. Reconciliation of result for the year to net cash inflow / (outflow) from operating activities 2024 $

2023 $

541,149

523,704

Depreciation and amortisation

125,830

150,359

Unrealised (gain) / loss of financial assets

(35,149)

(43,054)

(Increase)/decrease in receivables

(42,585)

24,180

Comprehensive result for the year Non-Cash Movements

Movements in assets & liabilities (Increase)/decrease in prepayments

(125,389)

(140,910)

Increase/(decrease) in payables

(67,989)

50,903

Increase/(decrease) in prepaid income

93,791

160,943

Increase/(decrease) in provisions Net Cash Inflow in Operating Activities

58 | ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24

51,919

29,125

541,577

755,250

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2024

Directors’ Declaration In the Directors’ opinion: ● the attached financial statements and notes comply with the Corporations Act 2001, the Australian Accounting Standards - Simplified Disclosures, the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012, the Corporations Regulations 2001 and other mandatory professional reporting requirements; ● the attached financial statements and notes give a true and fair view of the company’s financial position as at 30 June 2024 and of its performance for the financial year ended on that date; and ● there are reasonable grounds to believe that the company will be able to pay its debts as and when they become due and payable.

Signed in accordance with a resolution of directors made pursuant to section 295(5)(a) of the Corporations Act 2001.

On behalf of the Directors:

Anthony Wald Director

Alexandra Bell Director

14 September 2024 Melbourne

14 September 2024 Melbourne

ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24 |

59

Independent Auditor’s Report

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF AUSTRALASIAN SONOGRAPHERS ASSOCIATION LTD Opinion We have audited the financial report of Australasian Sonographers Association Ltd which comprises the statement of financial position as at 30 June 2024, the statement of comprehensive income, statement of changes in equity and statement of cash flows for the year then ended, and notes to the financial statements, including material accounting policy information, and the directors' declaration.

In our opinion, the accompanying financial report of Australasian Sonographers Association Ltd, is in accordance with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012, including: (a) giving a true and fair view of the company's financial position as at 30 June 2024 and of its financial performance for the year then ended; and (b) complying with Australian Accounting Standards – Simplified Disclosures and Division 60 of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Regulation 2013.

Basis for Opinion We conducted our audit in accordance with Australian Auditing Standards. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor's Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Report section of our report. We are independent of the Company in accordance with the auditor independence requirements of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012 and the ethical requirements of the Accounting Professional and Ethical Standards Board's APES 110 Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (the Code) that are relevant to our audit of the financial report in Australia. We have also fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with the Code.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Responsibilities of the Directors for the Financial Report The directors of the Company are responsible for the preparation of the financial report that gives a true and fair view in accordance with Australian Accounting Standards - Simplified Disclosures and the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission Act 2012 and for such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of the financial report that gives a true and fair view and is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial report, the directors are responsible for assessing the Company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the Company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Those charged with governance are responsible for overseeing the Company's financial reporting process.

60 | ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2024

Auditor's Responsibilities for the Audit of the Financial Report Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial report as a whole is free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with the Australian Auditing Standards will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of this financial report.

As part of an audit in accordance with the Australian Auditing Standards, we exercise professional judgement and maintain professional scepticism throughout the audit. We also: •

Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial report, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.

•

Obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control.

•

Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by the directors.

•

Conclude on the appropriateness of the directors' use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor's report to the related disclosures in the financial report or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor's report. However, future events or conditions may cause the Company to cease to continue as a going concern.

•

Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the financial report, including the disclosures, and whether the financial report represents the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.

We communicate with the directors regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.

We also provide the directors with a statement that we have complied with relevant ethical requirements regarding independence, and to communicate with them all relationships and other matters that may reasonably be thought to bear on our independence, and where applicable, related safeguards.

DFK Kidsons Partnership Chartered Accountants

Michael L Port Partner

Melbourne 14 September 2024

MONTH 2015

Page 2

ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24 |

61

Level 2, 93–95 Queen Street, Melbourne 3000, Victoria, Australia T +61 3 9552 0000 W www.sonographers.org 62 | ASA ANNUAL REPORT 2023–24