POINT OF CARE ULTRASOUND & BASIC ECHO
A full day of practical, skills-focused training for vets
Did you know that ultrasound is better at detecting pleural effusion and pneumothorax than radiography?
June 27th, 2026
Brisbane Airport Conference Centre
NSW 12.5 CPD Points
All Other States: 8 CPD Points
Watch the Workshop Experience
Proudly Partnered With
GOT AN ULTRASOUND MACHINE? Make every scan count with POCUS — from triage to treatment.
As a participant in this workshop, you’ll learn how to use a standard clinic ultrasound set up to get patient-side ultrasound images of the chest, heart and abdomen. You’ll scan a variety of live volunteer demonstration dogs and be able to appreciate healthy-normal images in the locations where trouble sometimes lurks. You’ll also come away from this workshop with an understanding of abnormal findings, and we’ll share which red flags require intervention straight away.
In veterinary practice, we often need answers in a hurry – either because a patient is crashing, or because we have a million other patients awaiting attention. Sound familiar? Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) techniques can help you make good clinical decisions under pressure. To help you get across this, we’ve engaged experienced, practicing emergency veterinarians to show you how to get thoracic and abdominal images that count.
The POCUS scan
Rapid triage for respiratory and abdominal emergencies
Identify pleural, pericardial, and abdominal fluid fast
Assess liver, kidneys, bladder, and GI health
Track treatment progress in real time
Safely guide diagnostic procedures like cysto- and thoracocentesis
Monitor fluid status and perfusion cageside
Echocardiogram (echo) basics
- Perform a cardiac FAST scan
- Assessment of the left atrial to aortic ratio (LA:Ao)
- Subjective assessment of cardiac contractility and volume status
With great teaching, any vet can learn these skills in a day.
Our education team is ready to share point-of-care ultrasound skills with you. Embrace the quick ‘n’ dirty side of ultrasound to increase your clinical scope, get your first cardiac views, and keep current with diagnostic technology and client expectations.
Why This Workshop is Different
Enhance Clinical Accuracy
You’ll learn to identify pneumothorax, pleural, and pericardial effusions, while recognising common artefacts and pitfalls in POCUS scans, helping you interpret results confidently and plan the best next steps for your patients.
Build Foundational Skills
Start with basic echo views and bedside ultrasound to boost triage and decision-making, learning to detect free fluid in the abdomen or thorax and fluid in interstitial or alveolar spaces to manage critical cases with confidence.
More Than CPD Points
It’s that moment mid-shift when your hands move with certainty and you realise: you’ve got this. We provide the workshop, and you deserve the credit.
Streamline Your Clinical Workflow
Manage clinical cases efficiently, make clear rule-ins and rule-outs, and confidently determine your next diagnostic or treatment steps, and monitor your patients’ progress to see what’s working.
Real-world Training
Learn in the same way you work. Work together, learn together. We give you clinical context & full support so things make sense when you get back to the clinic.
What's On Offer
Why POCUS Matters
Fluid scores and B-lines aren’t just tools for emergency vets. If you manage trauma cases, perform surgery, or handle internal medicine patients, point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) can completely change your approach. Beyond trauma and fluid checks, it’s a versatile, real-time decision-making tool across almost every area of small-animal practice.
Transform Your Practice
Learning POCUS techniques will revolutionise how you think about diagnostic imaging and help you make faster, more confident clinical decisions. This training is designed for all veterinarians; general practice, emergency, or clinical, and no previous ultrasound experience is required.
Faster, Clearer Answers
This workshop is designed for veterinarians managing clinical cases who want to sharpen their diagnostic approach. If you’re looking to get answers faster, more accurately establish rule-ins and rule-outs, and plan your next diagnostic or treatment steps with greater clarity, this training is for you.
Workshop Breakdown
What’s Included?
1 Full Days of Training with over 7 Hours of Practical Lab Time
All Materials & Equipment Provided
CPD Certificate with 22 Points NSW, 14 Points All Other States.
A printed practical handbook and digital notes to review on your own time
Lunch, Morning Tea & Afternoon Tea
Need to Travel?
We’ll send you a recommended
accommodation list and provide the details you need ahead of time.
Your Educators
Dr Sarah Purcell
Qualifications: BVSc (Hons) MANZCVSc MVECC DACVECC
Realising her passion for emergency and critical care, in 2012 Sarah moved to Perth to complete a residency in Small Animal Emergency and Critical Care at Murdoch University. During this time she obtained membership to the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists in Small Animal Surgery, and Small Animal Emergency & Critical Care. Sarah became board certified with the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care in 2015, and completed a Masters of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care in 2016.
Dr Adam Whitelock
Qualifications: BVSc(Hons) GC-SAUA MANZCVS (ECC) DACVECC
Following graduation from The University of Queensland (UQ) Adam undertook a rotating internship at UQ while also working in emergency practices throughout Brisbane.
In 2022 Adam began a residency in small animal emergency and critical care at UQ and the Animal Referral Hospital Brisbane. During his residency, Adam also took on a Master’s in Science (veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia) and a Doctor of Veterinary Clinical Science developing research interests in feline vascular ultrasound and fluid responsiveness. In 2025 Adam passed his board exams, becoming a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. Adam enjoys all aspects of critical care with particular interests in point-of-care ultrasound and mechanical ventilation.
Dr Sarah Stallard
Qualifications: BVSc MACVSC cert IVUSS
Sarah graduated from the University of Bristol in the UK and migrated to Australia in 2004. She began her career in emergency and critical care, obtaining her memberships in 2008. In 2018, she moved to Cairns and established her ultrasound company, Mobile Imaging Cairns. She completed a Graduate Certificate in Abdominal Ultrasound at the University of Melbourne, followed by certification with the International Veterinary Ultrasound Society in 2023. Sarah now works at Manly Road 24 Hour Hospital in Brisbane.
Dr Katie Nash
Qualifications: BVSc MS MANZCVS(ECC) DACVECC
Katie is a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care and has worked in the US and Australia in both private and academic practice.
Katie loves breaking complex topics down into digestible pieces and watching staff members and students flourish as they gain knowledge and confidence. Her clinical interests include transfusion medicine, polytrauma, perioperative critical care, mechanical ventilation, and any ‘cool’ case with a chance for a good outcome despite a poor initial prognosis.
Payment Options
What Vets Are Saying
Hear It from Past Attendees:
– Kim Wright
– Melinda Van de Ven
Don’t Miss Out!
Addressing Common Questions
"Is the Point of Care Ultrasound & Basic Echo Workshop worth the investment?”
Yes! The skills you’ll explore at the Point of Care Ultrasound & Basic Echo Workshop can pay for themselves many times over. By learning practical techniques in focused assessment with sonography for real-time decision-making and treatment tracking, as well as basic echocardiography, you’ll gain speed and clarity in clinical decision-making, reduce stress during critical cases, and improve patient awareness of key findings.
"I don’t have time to take off work. Why should I attend?"
If you need CPD points, why not choose training that has a direct impact on your clinical practice? Spending just one day at the Point of Care Ultrasound & Basic Echo Workshop can save you time later by helping you gather key diagnostic information more efficiently, make faster patient-side decisions, and approach urgent cases with greater clarity. It’s an investment of time that can pay back in smoother workflows, improved patient care, and reduced stress in the clinic.
"Will I actually be able to apply these skills?"
Absolutely! The Point of Care Ultrasound & Basic Echo Workshop focuses on practical, real-world training. You’ll spend hands-on time performing patient-side ultrasound scans, working with live volunteer dogs and models, and receiving guidance from experienced emergency veterinarians. Everything you practice is designed to reflect what you’ll encounter in your clinic, so you leave with experience you can put into practice immediately.
Reserve Your Spot Now
Only 30 Places Available
Investment: $1,750 AUD
CPD Points: NSW 12.5, All Other States 8
Ready to Take Your Skills to the Next Level? Secure your place today!
See ultrasound in action and understand what normal and abnormal looks like, right at the patient’s side. Through hands-on demonstrations with live volunteer dogs, you’ll explore chest, heart, and abdominal imaging, spotting subtle changes that can make a big difference in your clinical decisions.
Your Questions Answered
Are group discounts available?
Yes. At the Point of Care Ultrasound & Basic Echo Workshop we believe in work together, learn together. If three or more veterinarians from the same clinic register under one booking, you’ll automatically receive a 5% discount at checkout when you book through our website.
Will I get CPD points and a CPD certificate?
Yes. Every participant in the Point of Care Ultrasound & Basic Echo Workshop will earn CPD points and receive a personalised CPD certificate. Certificates are emailed within seven days of the workshop, making it easy to update your professional records straight away.
What kind of learning materials are included?
At the Point of Care Ultrasound & Basic Echo Workshop, all participants receive comprehensive learning materials. You’ll get digital course notes for easy reference and a printed copy of the practical guide to support your hands-on training. These resources ensure you can revisit key techniques and tips long after the workshop ends.
What happens if I pay and then later can’t attend?
If you need to transfer or change your registration to another workshop, an administration fee of $50 applies. Cancellations made within 45 days of the workshop start date will incur a fee equal to 50% of the course investment. Please note that cancellations made within 7 days of the workshop commencement are non-refundable.
Can I pay in instalments, or do you offer payment plans?
Yes! At VetPrac we are pleased to offer payment plans for our online courses and workshops. We want to make it manageable for you to invest in your professional development.
For more information regarding our payment plans, please email [email protected].
What happens if the workshop is cancelled?
If VetPrac cancels the Point of Care Ultrasound & Basic Echo Workshop, your course fees will be refunded in full. Please note that VetPrac cannot be held responsible for any travel, accommodation, or other expenses you may have incurred.