How to work with NSW Ambulance

*The content of this blog has been updated on 1/02/2023.

NSW Ambulance is a diverse organisation, employing more than 4600 people at over 255 locations. Choosing a career with NSW Ambulance can offer you the personal reward of being part of one of the largest ambulance services in the world, servicing a population more than 7 million. Read on to explore how you can work with NSW Ambulance before studying an accredited university degree.

There are three pathways to becoming a paramedic with NSW Ambulance;

1. Trainee Paramedic (Vocational) pathway
2. Paramedic Intern (University Graduate) pathway
3. Qualified Paramedic pathway

In this article, we’ll discuss option 1 – Trainee Paramedic (Vocational) pathway, as Australian Paramedical College courses may provide student graduates with a direct pathway to working with NSW Ambulance as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and gain automatic entry into a University program.*

What is the Trainee Paramedic (Vocational) pathway to work with NSW Ambulance?

This pathway can enable APC graduates the ability to gain employment with NSW Ambulance (if you meet their entry requirements), before studying an Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) accredited tertiary qualification such as a Bachelor of Paramedicine at University.

This pathway provides an excellent way for people who are in any of the following situations:

• Do not have an ATAR high enough to qualify for direct entry to University, as it allows people to gain employment with NSW Ambulance and a university pathway upon completion of a nationally recognised Diploma
• Would prefer to secure employment with NSW Ambulance before starting a 3–4-year Bachelor’s Degree at University
• Want to work as an EMT with NSW Ambulance while studying Bachelor’s Degree

What is the eligibility criteria to apply?

You need to be eligible based on BOTH of the following sets of crtieria:

NSW Ambulance Criteria

To be eligible to apply for the pathway, you must be able to say YES to the following –

1. Be an Australian or New Zealand Citizen, or an Australian Permanent Resident, or on a bridging visa to Permanent Residency
2. Be over 18 years of age
3. You have or can obtain an Unrestricted Light Rigid Manual Drives Licence within three months of commencement
4. Do you have a minimum of 6 demerit points remaining on your Drivers Licence and no cancellation of your licence in the last two years
5. Be medically fit
6. Be prepared to work rotating shift work including night shifts, weekends and public holidays
7. Be willing to undergo psychometric testing to ensure you can perform the inherent requirements of paramedic duties
8. Be willing to be posted to ANY location in New South Wales at the direction of the Commissioner NSW Ambulance

University criteria

1. Completed High School Certificate with an ATAR of 75 or higher (including adjustment factors) or equivalent.

OR

2. Successful completion of four or more university level subjects (AQF level Associate Degree or higher) demonstrating a reasonable prospect of success through the Grade Point Average (GPA) gained in these studies.

OR

3. A completed AQF Certificate IV or higher-level qualification.
   – The HLT51020 – Diploma of Emergency Health Care, or
   – The HLT41120 – Certificate IV in Health Care

OR

4. A completed Tertiary Preparation Course from an Australian University or an accredited provider demonstrating a reasonable prospect of success through the Grade Point Average (GPA) gained in these studies OR Completed a course at university Diploma level or higher at any Australian higher education provider (or equivalent overseas qualification)

*NSW Ambulance advertises positions for this program intermittently, with no guarantee that it will be ongoing and no guarantee of the number of places available. They also may change the eligibility criteria at any time. Therefore, it is best to contact NSW Ambulance directly to discuss their employment entry pathways.