The purpose of ASUM is to promote the highest possible standards of medical ultrasound practice in Australia and New Zealand.

Diagnostic ultrasound is one of the most rapidly expanding branches of medicine. Technological developments permit higher resolution images to be obtained with smaller and smaller transducers. As a result, ultrasound in now used to examine virtually every part of the body.

The primary role of ASUM is to assist in the dissemination of scientific information, to provide education and to set standards of practice in this continually developing specialty.

The aims of ASUM are to encourage and assist education and research in diagnostic ultrasound; to lay down appropriate standards of practice; to provide certification indicating proficiency in ultrasound; to advise Government and Statutory Authorities on aspects of the practice of diagnostic ultrasound; and to provide social intercourse and good fellowship among practitioners.

Several of the royal colleges include diagnostic ultrasound in their own area of interest, but only ASUM provides regular education in diagnostic ultrasound across all disciplines. ASUM's members include virtually all medical specialties, sonographers, scientists, physicists, engineers, veterinary surgeons and corporate representatives. The Society is affiliated with the World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (WFUMB) and has linkages with ultrasound societies in Asia.

ASUM is unique in that it focuses the efforts of a broadly based, multi-disciplinary group, bringing together a range of views, skills, and experience involving all aspects of diagnostic ultrasound The breadth of experience and expertise found within ASUM is unequalled by any other organisation in the field.