After studying 12 universities and their curriculum’s, it became quite clear as to how to segment each of the topics covered in all of the degrees on offer. This is not to be treated as the definitive list or guide; this is merely an observation of degree subjects on offer; and a natural way of grouping them.
List of universities whose curriculum subjects/courses allowed for the creation of this list. Compiling this list meant combining all subjects from each degree, removing duplicate entries or similar topics; and logically grouping them into the relevant category.
Categories were formed to logically group subjects so as to completely cover the spectrum of paramedic activities and responsibilities in the community, the sciences of paramedics, paramedic practice, paramedic function, educational development and personal well being.
Each of the categories, encapsulates the role, responsibilities, knowledge and deliverables within the field of paramedicine. It is also interesting and relevant to cite the Paramedicine Board of Australia and their adoption of professional capabilities for registered paramedics, which covers a multitude of topics.
These topics include providing good patient care, working with patients or clients, working with other practitioners, working within the healthcare system as a whole, minimising risk, managing professional performance, ensuring practitioner health, teaching, supervising and assessing and undertaking voluntary research.
Choosing which university to deliver the degree does require consideration. Not all universities deliver the same outcomes. Yes, the degree and it’s relevance remains much the same, yet graduates from each university will possess a different skill set and knowledge.
It’s clear, every university degree contains a common set of core skills and knowledge base forming a solid foundation in paramedic practice.
Where it gets interesting is when certain universities specialise in delivering subjects where they deem to be essential for the modern-day paramedic. Predicting the future skills needs of the paramedic workforce in Australia is not easy. It is for this reason, degree’s can change their focus and move towards more essential skills development in areas of patient mental health, drug abuse, care of an ageing population, personal mental health, stress management and/or communication, leadership and management.
Some degrees are weighted towards diversity, indigenous health, global health trends and human disease, whereas others concentrate on substance misuse and toxicology, epidemiology, pathology and/or cells and tissues.