Diagnostic imaging careers

Diagnostic imaging is a rewarding health field to explore. It’s crucial to modern medicine, involving the visualisation of a person’s internal body structures and functions through non-invasive methods.

You’ll work alongside other medical professionals to investigate and diagnose medical conditions and appropriate treatments. Depending on the degree you study, diagnostic imaging careers include roles such as a:  

  • medical sonographer (or ultrasonographer),
  • echocardiographer (or cardiac sonographer), or
  • radiographer.

Your career will lead you to employment opportunities in public and private health facilities, working with people of all ages and backgrounds.  

Playing a pivotal role in medical diagnosis means this profession is highly sought-after and comes with stable employment outcomes. Labour Market Insights (2022) is projecting strong employment growth, of 14.7%, or 2,300 more jobs by 2026.  

Skills and traits

With a career in diagnostic imaging, you’ll have strong technical expertise, as well as communication and interpersonal skills that help you work with patients from varied backgrounds and make informed recommendations to physicians. Your emotional intelligence sees you provide compassionate care and support to patients.

  • Strong communication skills
  • Technical expertise
  • Attention to detail
  • Critical thinking to analyse images and report on findings
  • Empathetic and compassionate
  • Physical dexterity
  • Excellent hand eye coordination
  • Adaptability with advancements in imaging technology
  • sonam-jalota.jpg
    I would love to work in a hospital or practice as a cardiac sonographer – I love the patient interaction. And hopefully someday, when I have enough experience, I would love to open up my own practice.

    Sonam Jalota

    Bachelor of Echocardiography (Cardiac Physiology) / Graduate Diploma of Echocardiography