How to become a Paramedic in Queensland: QAS Employment

How to become a Paramedic in Queensland: QAS Employment

Have you thought about becoming a Paramedic in Queensland? Did you know that there are many Queensland Paramedical career paths available.

Whether you have previous experience within the health services industry or no medical experience at all, there are always opportunities for;

• Support Staff
• Patient Transport Officers
• Control Room Staff – Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD)
• Paramedic Assistants
• Ambulance Paramedics
• Intensive Care Paramedics
• Advanced Care Paramedics and Managers

Step 1.
As you will discover, Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) Paramedic positions require a unique set of skills, education and training. In order to provide a high level of paramedic service and quality emergency health care, the Queensland Ambulance Service also offers a guide to the minimum standard of education and training that is acceptable for QLD paramedic jobs.

Guidelines and procedures regulate the paramedic industry across Australia. To be offered an employment contract with Queensland Ambulance Service, applicants must have completed a Bachelor of Paramedic Science degree at an approved university. There is another pathway into university by studying the Diploma of Paramedical Science (superseded by HLT51020 – Diploma of Emergency Health Care) for those who missed out on an opportunity to go to university.

Paramedics are now required to be registered with the Paramedicine Board of Australia and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority (AHPRA). This is to help improve the quality of patient care and make certain the term ‘Paramedic’ and ‘Paramedicine’ can only be used by suitably credentialed and registered persons.

Ambulance Paramedic

As a QAS Paramedic, you are classed as a registered health professional/practitioner, providing out-of-hospital emergency care and transport for sick and injured people in emergency and non-emergency situations.

Paramedics for the most part work in pairs and collaborate with many other departments within the QAS and additional health care and emergency services providing quality patient care to the Queensland community.

As part of the recruitment process with QAS, applicants may be required to undergo some clinical testing. QAS also recommend applicants have some form of work experience, although this not not mandatory; and do state so on the QAS website.

To be eligible for employment with QAS, you also must have the right to work in Australia.

Queensland is a big State and as such, there are 15 Local Ambulance Service Networks (LASNs) across Queensland, ranging from Cape York in the far North to the South West, Darling downs areas, out West and of course the metropolitan areas of SE Queensland. Each of the local ambulance services has a network of ambulance stations which are well-equipped with a wide range of vehicles and specialised equipment.

Intensive Care Paramedic (ICP)

Moving up from the job of an Ambulance Paramedic, the Queensland Ambulance Service employs Intensive Care Paramedics (ICP) who are equipped with superior Paramedic training, thus possessing the skills to make difficult and complex clinical decisions without further medical consultation.

Intensive Care Paramedics are highly skilled emergency medical professionals and as such are trained to perform advanced medical procedures that go well beyond that clinical scope of practice of most Paramedics.

Understandably so, there is a high set of standards for those wishing to be an IC paramedic QLD ambulance service employee:

• Complete a Graduate Diploma in Intensive Care Paramedical Practice (or equivalent). This is offset by an Australian Ambulance service jurisdiction in-service qualification.
• Prove your authority to practice as an ICP that is equivalent to the QLD paramedic QAS standards.
• 5 years experience (minimum) as a paramedic in the pre-hospital care/emergency environment.
• At least 2 years as a full-time Intensive Care Paramedic.
• Ability to perform Intensive Care Paramedic procedures.
• Demonstrate skills as a clinical mentor.
• Proof of capacity to support and maintain a high level of clinical governance.
• Demonstrate knowledge and competency with the Drug Therapy Protocols.
• Provide evidence of current/recent experience within this field, commensurate with the role of paramedic QLD employee.

Advanced Care Paramedic (ACP)

The role of an Advanced Care Paramedic (APC) within the Queensland Ambulance Service is to provide the highest level of emergency care and be proficient in all forms of paramedical disciplines. They are the critical link between life and death whenever a medical crisis occurs, with extensive experience in pre-hospital care.

Advanced Care Paramedics must also possess a number of non-medical skills and personal qualities, such as superior communication skills, a courageous and compassionate disposition and be calm under pressure – performing their tasks with precision and poise.

These are the minimum standards that the Queensland Ambulance Service requires of all APC applicants:

• A degree in Paramedic Science or equivalent. This is offset by an Australian Ambulance service jurisdiction in-service qualification.
• Prove your authority to practice as an ACP that is equivalent to the QLD paramedic QAS standards.
• 3 years experience (minimum) as a paramedic in the pre-hospital care/emergency environment.
• Ability to perform Advanced Care Paramedic procedures.
• Demonstrate skills as a clinical mentor.
• Demonstrate knowledge and competency with the Drug Therapy Protocols.
• Provide evidence of current/recent experience within this field, commensurate with the role of paramedic QLD employee.

Pathways to paramedical careers.

There are two distinct pathways into QAS as a Paramedic.

1. Take your time and study a diploma first. This means you can study in your own time with less interruption to your current lifestyle/family/job. You’ll learn a lot of essential emergency medical skills which on-road Paramedics employ. The diploma is no substitute for the degree; however, it’s the perfect place to begin. Find out more about the HLT51015 – Diploma of Paramedical Science (superseded by HLT51020 – Diploma of Emergency Health Care) and you can >use the diploma to get into university.
2. Enrol directly into the Bachelor of Paramedic Science degree. See how many credits you can get towards the degree with the APC Diploma of Emergency Health Care (superseded by HLT51020 – Diploma of Emergency Health Care).
   There are many universities who offer the degree, there’s no shortage of choice.

Contact the QAS Recruitment Team

To contact the QAS Recruitment Team, you can email [email protected]

Links:

* Paramedicine Board
* Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Authority (AHPRA)
* Bachelor of Paramedic Science degree