How to become a Flight Paramedic

Do you dream of an exciting career in emergency medicine and being responsible for saving lives?

Do you want to challenge yourself in an ever-changing environment?

Rather than operating in the same suburbs day in day out from the inside of an ambulance, becoming a Flight Paramedic will ensure each day is totally different to the next. One day you could be assisting an injured bush walker and the next help a kidney patient in a remote country town reach a major medical centre.

Become a Flight Paramedic with LifeFlight

Note: this is a sample of a real job advertised on one of the big online jobs websites in Australia. We do this to educate our readers as to the possibilities out there to create a meaningful and rewarding career in the health care sector.

LifeFlight is a world leader in aeromedical care and Australia’s most diversified service with both a fixed and rotary wing fleet of aircraft. As a member of the LifeFlight medical team you will assist with rapid response and scheduled air-medical transports throughout Australia and across the globe.

LifeFlight provides flight paramedics with a working environment designed to ensure you thrive, including ongoing training in aero-medical care through their internationally recognised LifeFlight Training Academy, flexible work arrangements and a competitive salary.

The role

• Assist the PIC (Person in Charge) and Flight Physician to prepare for and execute aeromedical and other operations
• Advise PIC of any matters affecting the safety or effectiveness of the aircraft or operation
• Complete clinical documentation
• Help ensure the well-being and safety of patients, crew, staff and passengers
• Partake in and complete training sessions in safety, fitness and technical matters

Training to become a Flight Paramedic can take some time. Would you like to know how to begin training fr this type of career? Why not speak with Course Advisors and find the answers you’re looking for? A one-on-one chat can make all the difference.

Requirements

Mandatory:

• Certificate of Clinical Practice – Australian state or territory ambulance service
• Satisfactory completion of CareFlight Aircrew Fitness Test
• Current manual driver’s license. Queensland license to be obtained and maintained upon employment
• Australian Citizenship/Permanent Residency or NZ Citizenship
• At least 5 years experience as a paramedic in a pre-hospital care emergency environment, including experience within the last 12 months
• Reliable, ethical and teamwork orientated
• Ability to withstand pressure

Desirable:

• Helicopter air medical rescue and retrieval experience
• CAO 20.11 Helicopter Safety Familiarisation Certificate
• Dangerous Goods Certificate
• Generic Coal Mine Induction Certificate (Standard 11)
• CRM Certificate
• Helicopter Search and Rescue (SAR) Training
• Aviation Underwater Escape Training

Whilst we realise you might not be ready to enter this line of work straight away, we wanted to show you what the role consists of and what is required so you have a goal to work towards. If this is a career path you are serious about, we encourage you to start gaining the mandatory and desirable requirements to give you the best possible chance at landing your dream job! What’s stopping you?!

How to become a paramedic

The Australian Paramedical College is the largest pre-hospital health care training provider in Australia. We are dedicated to providing training of the highest standard for all students who enrol in our training programs.

APC offers the HLT41120 – Certificate IV in Health Care and a HLT51020 – Diploma of Emergency Health Care. Our training programs provide a flexible and affordable pathways for those who wish to work in the private sector or choose to continue their education at university.