Transfer your skills from school
While navigating a post-school plan can be daunting, Australian Paramedical College (APC) specialises in supporting school leavers. This means you can feel rest-assured knowing you or your loved one are in good hands as they transition into their next study chapter!
Check out some transferrable skills and attributes school leavers typically possess making them well-suited for a career in healthcare:
- Adaptable and enthusiastic
- Quick learners and open-minded
- Collaborative
Why choose a career in healthcare
Did you know job growth for healthcare workers in Australia is predicted to increase by 8.4% over the next few years alone*?
You can get qualified as soon as you finish school to become a Patient Transport Officer, Emergency Medical Technician or even explore a Pathway to Paramedicine. Join an in-demand industry that makes up the largest employer across Australia.
*Sources: Seek.com; Australian Bureau of Statistics, APC student survey (July 2023)
70K+ Job Vacancies in Healthcare*
Average AUD Salary between $85K – $100K+*
High Job Satisfaction (4+ Stars)*
*APC Student Survey (2023)
Helping you to become a medic/ paramedic
Our School Leaver Scheme
We are passionate about delivering quality education for our students that is also accessible and easy. This means providing direct entry for students aged 16-25 with no ATAR requirement.
Why study with us?
- Study online so you can work at the same time
- Hands-on learning via Clinical Workshops and Clinical Placement
- Gain a nationally recognised qualification to seek employment across Australia
- Possibly gain credit or Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) towards a university degree
Apply for Direct Entry
In Conversation | Florence Simpson
School Leaver to Diploma Graduate
Not knowing what path she wanted to take following school, Florence dropped out of Year 11. It wasn’t until she noticed that when ambulances passed by, she realised her interest was sparked and that’s what she wanted to do as a career. After coming across Australian Paramedical College, Florence applied and couldn’t be happier.
The next step for Florence is to further her studies to become a paramedic. “Go for it, it will be the best experience of your life!”
Learn about University PathwaysGetting started with APC
Choosing a course
Whether you’ve just finished school or haven’t studied in a little while, everyone has different goals for studying emergency and non-emergency healthcare. That means it’s important to find out which course is best for you depending on what you’re looking to achieve.
Our nationally recognised courses are designed so you can study online, no matter where you’re based in Australia:
Meeting a Course Advisor
We are proud to have a dedicated team of Course Advisors who are there to help you navigate your study journey from day one!
From working with you to develop a personal Career Development Plan to answering any questions you have about our School Leaver Scheme, they will support you so you feel comfortable in taking the first steps towards enrolment.
University Pathways
Is your goal to become a paramedic? The HLT51020 – Diploma of Emergency Health Care is an excellent starting point for many school leavers.
This pathway enables you to develop practical skills, medical knowledge, and qualifies you for healthcare employment before pursuing university studies. The best part is – your ATAR doesn’t matter!
Learn more here about what’s involved in this pathway and which Australian universities accept VET Entry and have RPL available so when the time comes to apply, you can see if you’re eligible!
Learn how to become a paramedicIn Conversation | Carissa Bellato
School Leaver to Diploma Graduate
With sights set on becoming a State Ambulance Paramedic, Carissa began studying the Diploma with APC while still completing her secondary schooling.
Due to her dedication and commitment to her future at such a young age, Carissa was nominated for and won the “Vocational Student of the Year” in the 2021 NSW Training Awards for the Riverina/Murray Region.
“If you’re interested in paramedicine, definitely APC is such a great place to study because you’re not locking into a degree.”
Frequently Asked Questions
That’s ok! When you choose to study with APC, your Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) does not matter.
Whether you don’t have one at all, or received a low score, this won’t hold you back from starting a career in healthcare! APC supports individuals of all backgrounds and experience levels, so don’t worry if you never finished high school.
Learn more about why your ATAR doesn’t matter here.
Concerns about being smart enough to study are very common. We’re here to assure you’re not alone, and many of our students who have shared these worries have found the supportive learning environment of APC helped them overcome any initial doubts they had very quickly!
Through a combination of our incredible Trainers & Assessors, Student Success Team as well as Facebook forum where you can connect with other students – there’s a range of support at your fingertips as a student.
There are many skills that school leavers or under 25 year old’s possess which closely align to that of a medic/ paramedic.
Check out the following skills and attributes which you likely have in common and can enable you to become successful in the healthcare industry!
Transferrable Skills and Attributes:
- Adaptable and enthusiastic: Younger individuals are able to make the most of their situation, even if it’s sometimes stressful. As a school leaver you will have the ability to quickly adapt in fast-paced environments and jump in with enthusiasm, especially if it’s something new to you!
- Quick learners and open-minded: A typical 16-25 year old are fairly accustomed to learning new information which is a highly regarded skill as a student, or even acquiring new medical knowledge in the field.
- Collaborative: School often means extracurricular activities which is fantastic preparation for entering the healthcare industry where collaboration is key! Having the ability to work effectively in a team environment is paramount to being a healthcare professional.
- Technologically proficient: In this day and age, younger individuals grew up with technology at their fingertips! This means they’re extremely comfortable with learning new technologies and will ensure a smooth transition into modern healthcare practices which embraces the digital age.
APC is a great choice to get you started in the emergency health care sector. There are many career pathways you can take as an APC graduate that do not require you to go to university, which you can learn more about here.
The best part is we are partnered with a number of organisations across Australia which students can complete their Clinical Placement with. This means you can work alongside and learn from real healthcare professionals while studying which may even lead to a job afterwards!
To become a Registered Paramedic and work with a State Ambulance Service you will need to obtain a Bachelor’s degree from a university. However, one of the most popular pathways to become a Registered Paramedic is to complete a Diploma first.
What are the benefits to completing the Diploma first?
- If you do not have an ATAR or a high enough ATAR, the Diploma can act as a bridging or steppingstone qualification to help you gain entry to the Bachelor’s degree.
- What you learn in the Diploma is very similar to what you will learn in your first year of university, making what you do have to complete in that first year a lot easier and less stressful as you will already have that foundational knowledge.
- You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning which can shorten your degree. This will vary on your chosen university and is assessed on a case by case basis.
- The biggest advantage is becoming nationally qualified to start working in the private sector as soon as you graduate from APC! This means you can have the advantage of working in the industry whilst studying your degree, which means you’ll have more practical experience and confidence as a health care professional when you graduate from university!
We encourage you to speak with one our Course Advisors who will be able to help answer any questions you might have and provide guidance on the best way forward for you!
Quick Enquiry
If you’re interested in applying for Direct Entry with Australian Paramedical College, please fill out the below form to get started today.
