State Ambulance Paramedics are essential frontline employees of the government. They respond to accidents and emergencies and provide immediate treatment before transporting patients to hospital.
A career that is as rewarding as it can be demanding, paramedics are expected to be extremely empathetic, while being both physically and mentally strong.
The job requires you to think and adapt quickly to ever-changing situations, while remaining calm under pressure. Paramedics can go from physically lifting patients into ambulances to comforting accident victims and their families in a matter of minutes.
Although challenging, being a paramedic/medic is an extremely rewarding career that allows you to interact with a wide spectrum of the community and have a positive impact every day. Paramedics often describe the role as ‘the best job in the world’.
One of the considerations when deciding to study to become a paramedic/medic is whether there will be enough jobs to go round. Joboutlook.gov.au predicts strong growth in the demand for State Ambulance Paramedics over the next five years to 2026.
A State Ambulance Paramedic can earn between $53,000-$98,000 per year.
Like many careers, newly-qualified graduates can expect their earnings to be at the lower end of the scale, with salaries increasing as you gain experience over time. Paramedic salaries can vary based on your location and could increase further depending on your level of experience, overtime worked in the year and additional allowances. Find out more about paramedic salaries here.
At APC, the clinical workshops that are a core part of our diploma course help you get an idea of what real-life situations as a paramedic are like – from dealing with mental health issues to attending crash scenes. Take a look at how these students deal with a crash trauma scenario.
To become a registered Paramedic in Australia, you’re required to hold a relevant bachelor’s degree. There are a few ways APC can help you start your journey towards uni and becoming a paramedic.
If you’re not ready to go straight into a degree, the HLT51020 – Diploma of Emergency Health Care, is a good pathway option. The diploma qualification fully prepares you to transition into university and depending on which university you choose, you could be awarded degree credits.
You can complete a basic ambulance driver/patient transport course such as the HLT31120 – Certificate III in Non-Emergency Patient Transport, then move on to the HLT41120 – Certificate IV in Health Care to qualify as a Basic Life Support Medic.
Starting in an entry-level role, such as an ambulance driver or a non-emergency patient transport officer is a very popular entry-pathway into the sector.