Graduate Diploma in Perioperative Medicine
Course code: GD-PERIMED
March, July
AUD $24,992 (2026 indicative first year fee). Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) are not available
March, July
AUD $24,992 (2026 indicative first year fee)
IELTS 7.0: with no band less than 7.0
Course structure
Overview
In the Graduate Diploma of Perioperative Medicine you will learn multiple uses of clinical ultrasound integrated with medical knowledge of managing patients in the perioperative environment.
You will learn to critically evaluate current medical knowledge and clinical applications of ultrasound specific to perioperative medicine. In particular, patient management prior to surgery, enhanced recovery after surgery pathways, diagnosis and management of perioperative complications, patient-centred quality of recovery, and patient safety and team leadership.
Course structure
The Graduate Diploma of Perioperative Medicine consists of two sets of four subjects focusing on the use of clinical ultrasound in the perioperative period.
The first set of subjects to relates to Clinical Ultrasound. The second set relates to medical management, integrating the knowledge of clinical ultrasound into the perioperative setting.
Workload
You should expect to commit approximately 8 - 10 hours per week to each subject. This includes formal learning activities, reading, and private study.
On completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge of perioperative clinical ultrasound, perioperative medicine and Enhanced Recovery after Surgery pathways
- Integrate medical knowledge and clinical ultrasound into the management of patients in the perioperative environment and to effectively convey complex clinical problems to others
- Critique and apply knowledge of clinical ultrasound, perioperative medicine and Enhanced Recovery after Surgery pathways to perioperative patients
- Critique the diagnosis and management of perioperative complications and the role of clinical ultrasound
- Critique current measurement of post-operative quality of recovery and its role in perioperative care
- Interpret online case studies and record and reflect upon clinical cases of perioperative medicine application.
Note: If you have previously graduated from the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Ultrasound you are only required to complete the following subjects:
- MEDI90103 Prehabilitation and Risk Assessment
- MEDI90104 Enhanced Recovery After Surgery
- MEDI90105 Perioperative Complications
- MEDI90106 Post-op Quality of Recovery Practicum.
Explore this course
Explore the subjects you could choose as part of this diploma.
First 50 credit points
Choose 1 core and 3 elective to make 50 credit points.
| Accordion | |
|---|---|
| Principles of Ultrasound Heart Scan · 12.5 pts |
This subject will outline a physics related to medical ultrasound use; an introduction to transthoracic echocardiography using the focused assessment technique HEARTscan (Haemodyanmic Echocardiography Assessment in Real Time). Topics include:
|
Second 50 credit points
Complete all four core subjects.
| Accordion | |
|---|---|
| Prehabilitation and Risk Assessment · 12.5 pts |
In this subject, students will critically evaluate the role of clinical ultrasound in its application to the preoperative patient. They will interpret cardiovascular and other investigations used to risk stratify patients prior to surgery, and assess how these impact on perioperative planning. They will evaluate how best to optimise the patient condition prior to surgery, including appraisal of preoperative management of cardiovascular, respiratory, endocrine, renal and hepatic, neurological and psychiatric conditions and the role of clinical ultrasound in these settings. |
| Enhanced Recovery After Surgery · 12.5 pts |
In this subject, students will critically evaluate the principles of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS), including an assessment of the role of perioperative ultrasound, the team-based approach to the entire patient journey and the components of care at each stage. Students will critically evaluate the concept of ERAS, its intraoperative and postoperative considerations for multiple different types of surgeries and the role of clinical ultrasound within its framework. |
| Perioperative Complications · 12.5 pts |
In the subject, students will critically evaluate the aetiology, diagnosis and management of the most common and important perioperative complications, as well as management of analgesia, fluids and nutrition. This subject will also critically evaluate the pivotal and integral role that focused clinical ultrasound has on clinical diagnosis and decision-making in the perioperative period. |
| Post-op Quality of Recovery Practicum · 12.5 pts |
In this subject, students will learn about patient centred care and measurement of patient reported outcomes. Students will critically evaluate quality of recovery that extends well beyond the hospital discharge, the concept of real-time recovery feedback and the use of clinical ultrasound in the extended perioperative period. Team-based care and leadership issues, as well as consent, power of attorney and advanced care directives will be assessed. Cumulative assessment of the entire course’s content will be evaluated by completion of a practicum consisting of electronic logbook of 50 clinical cases in the perioperative environment. |
First 50 credit points
| Accordion | |
|---|---|
| Doppler Echocardiography · 12.5 pts |
This subject will introduce Doppler echocardiography to complement basic transthoracic echocardiography imaging. Topics include:
|
| Ventricular Function · 12.5 pts |
This subject will expand the knowledge of transthoracic echocardiography by learning pathophysiology and assessment of ventricular function, including in diastolic function. Topics include:
|
| Ultrasound Guided Procedures · 12.5 pts |
This subject will outline the technique of using ultrasound to guide percutaneous procedures. Procedures will include vessel access, nerve blocks, and trauma related procedures. There will be an elective of either "Nerve Blocks" or "Critical Care Procedures". Topics include:
|
| Abdominal and Peri-Arrest Ultrasound · 12.5 pts |
In the subject, the student will learn about ultrasound assessment of the abdomen and learn to integrate abdominal, lung and cardiac ultrasound in the peri-arrest scenario. |
| Obstetrics Gynaecology and Practicum · 12.5 pts |
In the subject, the student will learn about basic ultrasound assessment of pregnant women, and for gynecological emergencies, as well as completing a logbook of 20 clinical cases. |
| Vessels Nerves Lungs and Musculoskeletal · 12.5 pts |
In the subject, the student will learn about ultrasound assessment of lung and musculoskeletal ultrasound and learn how to perform ultrasound guided vascular access and nerve blocks |