Pre-hospital emergency health care careers

Becoming a medic/Paramedic is a popular career choice for many people. This vocation offers a wide range of opportunities to work on the front line of emergency health care. Times have changed; with new online training methods, advanced learning systems, apps, videos, online lectures, forums and Zoom, Messenger, Skype, Slack communication – today’s students have so much more collaboration tools at their fingertips. When you think about it, it’s hard to find an excuse not to get started.

At the Australian Paramedical College, we believe the pathway to becoming an Ambulance Paramedic or Basic/Advanced Life Support Medic in the private sector should be made clear. There are many stages of learning to become an emergency medical professional.

If you’re like most people, the thought of becoming a Paramedic/Life Support Medic and working full/part-time has been a lifelong dream. Or perhaps a personal trauma in your life has made you realise the most fulfilling job you can do is to help people and perhaps even save a life one day.

You may already know that direct entry into university to study paramedicine is a popular pathway direct from school. Although what about adult education? How can older Australian’s get back into the study mode and balance their hectic lifestyles. Everyone has their own idea of how their life should evolve, although at times, life can be unpredictable – take Coronavirus, for instance.

The reality is, if you did not do so well at school or are perhaps a mature-aged student (18 years +) looking for a career change or just wanting to give themselves a better chance at living a full life, getting into university may not be an option. Let’s be clear, if you want to work as an Ambulance Paramedic (a person who drives those ambulances with red and blue flashing lights), there’s no option but to get a degree.

If that seems like a plan, but it’s way off at the moment – keep reading, because we have some good news on how you can keep doing what you’re doing now and study in your spare time.

One of the best ways to understand what training and career options you have is to create a Paramedical Career Development Plan.

Pathways to becoming a Paramedic – from Diploma to university.

Choose which option suits you the best.

1. Study online, in your own time and gain Nationally Recognised qualification HLT51015 – Diploma of Paramedical Science (superseded by HLT51020 – Diploma of Emergency Health Care) and first find employment in the private sector; gain valuable experience and decide what’s next. There are many jobs in pre-hospital (sometimes called out-of-hospital) emergency health care, ranging from event medics to mining and offshore medical officers. You can also study the diploma and/or continue on to university to study a Bachelor of Paramedic Science. The degree is essential to become a registered Ambulance Paramedic in Australia. When we use the term Paramedic, we are referring to someone who has been registered to practice paramedicine with a state ambulance service. NOTE: the HLT51020 – Diploma of Emergency Health Care on its own, is not sufficient to become a Paramedic and be employed by a State Ambulance Service.
2. Study full-time in a classroom at a TAFE and/or work in the private sector – then apply to a university to study the Bachelor degree.
3. Enrol directly into university, study a 3-year Bachelor of Paramedic Science degree; complete one year working as a probationary/student Paramedic with a state ambulance service; then apply for a full-time position.

University pathways to becoming an Ambulance Paramedic.

If your career goal is to work as a registered Ambulance Paramedic, you must be prepared to go to university and complete your degree. For some, this is a preferred option because the degree means you have more employment opportunities and have the security of a government-backed job.

The National Registration and Accreditation Scheme requires all Paramedics to be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). University graduates submit their application to the Paramedicine Board of Australia in order to become officially recognised as member of the ‘Paramedic’ profession.

The HLT51020 – Diploma of Emergency Health Care does not allow you to work as an Ambulance Paramedic; however, you can work as a Basic/Advanced Life Support Medic in the private sector. Working in the sports, events, construction and mining industries. There is plenty of opportunity to build your connections network by meeting and working with various employers. Many graduates of APC will work in the private sector, gain invaluable experience, then decide to advance their knowledge at university.

Pathways via the HLT51020 – Diploma of Emergency Health Care.

*Formerly know as the HLT51015 – Diploma of Paramedical Science.

Many people choose to study the APC diploma because;

• It can be studied online in your own time.
• Online learning is made easy with a student portal and mobile App.
• The diploma is a Nationally Recognised and is a level-5 Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualification.
• No matter where you live in Australia, you have the opportunity to study paramedical concepts.
• The pre-hospital emergency health care private sector is growing rapidly.
• You don’t need a degree to work in the private sector.
• The diploma provides a recognised pathway into university.
• Credit towards the Bachelor degree may be awarded upon completion of the diploma.