top of page

The POCUS Course

Designed for FACEMs seeking formal credentialing or a qualification in POCUS, this one-day course provides practical insights, expert tips, and hands-on training.

Date

26 November 2026

Mode

In-person

Format

One-day Workshop

Registration 2

This course is available for all FACEMs


APPROVALS & ACCREDITATIONS:

  • ACEM - Approved for 8 CPD hours

  • ACRRM - CPD Hours to be provided


OVERVIEW:

Participants will enhance their POCUS (Point of Care Ultrasound) capabilities and gain the foundational knowledge and experience required for competency in four core modalities. This comprehensive face-to-face session is your gateway to advancing your emergency ultrasound expertise.


This one-day course tailored for FACEMs seeking formal credentialing or qualifications. Designed by an experienced Emergency Physician and led by a team of experts, this program aligns with ACEM's recommendations to ensure all Emergency Physicians are competent in essential emergency ultrasound modalities.


What to Expect:

  • Hands-on training and practical insights from expert faculty.

  • Skills stations for focused scanning practice.

  • Optional summative assessments to demonstrate competency.


Core Focus Areas:

  • Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA)

  • Extended Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma (EFAST)

  • Focused Echo in Life Support (FELS)

  • Lung

 

TARGET AUDIENCE

  • FACEMs


The POCUS course targets participants who have been conducting scans for some time. 


LOCATION: Sandringham Hospital, SIM Room, 193 Bluff Road, Sandringham, VIC 3191

Link to map.

Dr Elissa Kennedy-Smith

Dr. Elissa Kennedy-Smith is an Emergency Physician who works at Sandringham Hospital Emergency Department and The Royal Women’s Hospital in their Early Pregnancy Assessment Service, and is an Affiliate at Monash University. Elissa has an avid interest in all Emergency applications of Point of Care Ultrasound, completing her CCPU in AAA, E-FAST and 1st trimester in 2012, and then going on to attain her Diploma of Diagnostic Ultrasound (Emergency) in October 2017. She enjoys teaching, especially Focused Ultrasound in the ED, has been an instructor on many courses, and is currently the Ultrasound Lead for Emergency Medicine at Alfred Health, as well as being a Committee member for EMUGs Victoria.

Oriana Tolo

Oriana began her ultrasound career at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne in 1994, where she developed a strong foundation in education by teaching paediatric ultrasound to radiology registrars. In 1998, she transitioned into general ultrasound in private practice with Mayne Health, before joining Victoria House Medical Imaging in 2001.

Between 2001 and 2004, Oriana continued her role at the Royal Children’s Hospital as a tutor sonographer, while also specialising in musculoskeletal ultrasound at Victoria House, a focus she maintained until 2010. From late 2007 to late 2019, she co-founded and co-owned Ultrasound Training Solutions, now known as Zedu, an education company delivering point-of-care ultrasound training to physicians across a wide range of medical specialties.

In late 2019, Oriana returned to public hospital radiology as a clinical sonographer, working across The Northern Hospital, Eastern Health, and Monash Health until April 2023. In April 2023, she took on the role of Sonographer Educator in the Emergency Department at Alfred Health, where she established the Point-of-Care Ultrasound program. She continues in this role with great enthusiasm, while also maintaining her clinical practice as a sonographer at The Northern Hospital.

Dr Adam Bystrzycki

Dr Adam Bystrzycki is an Emergency Physician at the Alfred Emergency and Trauma Centre with over 20 years experience in the management of major trauma. He is also the former Director of Sandringham Emergency and Deputy Director of Emergency Services for Alfred Health. He has interests in trauma resuscitation, point-of-care ultrasound and critical care echocardiography. He has been involved in educating clinicians in the use of ultrasound for bedside clinical decision support for the last 10 years and has served on the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine’s Ultrasound Subcommittee.

Dr Rob Buttner

Rob is an Emergency Physician and co-Ultrasound Lead for Emergency Medicine at The Alfred Hospital.

In 2024, he completed the Diploma of Diagnostic Ultrasound in Emergency Medicine. During his training he undertook an ultrasound fellowship at The Royal Children’s Hospital, and served on the ACEM Ultrasound Committee, contributing to the development of the new FACEM ultrasound curriculum.

He has special interests in medical education, transthoracic echocardiography, and the emergence of ultrasound-guided regional anaesthesia as an innovative tool for improving pre-hospital and hospital care.

bottom of page