How to become a State Ambulance Paramedic

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.

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’.

Typical job duties of a State Ambulance Paramedic

  • Attending accidents, emergencies and requests for medical assistance
  • Assessing health of patients, determining need for assistance, and assessing specialised needs and factors affecting patients’ conditions
  • Performing therapies and administering drugs according to protocol
  • Resuscitating and defibrillating patients and operating life-support equipment
  • Transporting accident victims to medical facilities
  • Transporting sick and disabled persons to and from medical facilities for specialised treatment and rehabilitation
  • Instructing community groups and essential service workers in first aid
  • Attending public gatherings and sporting events where accidents and other health emergencies may occur
  • Ensuring that ambulances are adequately maintained and stocked with medical supplies, and that equipment is clean, sterilized and in good working order
  • Preparing written reports on the state of patients’ injuries and treatment provided

Employment outlook

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.

State Ambulance Paramedic salary

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.

What it’s really like to be a State Ambulance Paramedic

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.

How to become a State Ambulance Paramedic

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.

  1. Prepare for university with a diploma pathway

    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.

  2. Start with an entry-level role and work your way up

    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.

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