HLT51020 - DIPLOMA OF EMERGENCY HEALTH CARE
Formerly known as HLT51015 - Diploma of Paramedical Science
STUDY MODE
Blended online, clinical placement and hands-on Clinical Intensive Workshops.
COURSE DURATION
18-24 Months. Study when it suits you and your lifestyle.
PATHWAYS
Use this diploma to gain entry into university or work in the private emergency response sector.
We offer flexible online study, making it easy to fit your learning time around your current lifestyle. No matter where you live in Australia, you can study to become an emergency response medic. We’ve also made attending clinical workshops even easier, with training locations in NSW, VIC, QLD and WA.
YES! You can study this qualification online.
Study online, attend 2 x 7-day Clinical Intensive Workshops and placement. Select where you want to attend your workshops.
Choose from NSW, VIC, QLD and WA.
HLT51020 – Diploma of Emergency Health Care
(Formerly known as HLT51015 – Diploma of Paramedical Science)
The HLT51020 – Diploma of Emergency Health Care qualification allows you to work in the pre-hospital emergency health care industry. This diploma will offer you the skills required to effectively manage life-threatening patient situations and help you gain the skills and knowledge of paramedical equipment, drug administration and procedures used to save lives.
The course is a blended online and hands-on program which allows students to manage their other commitments around their studies. These could be work, family or personal obligations that need a flexible learning environment to study.
The Diploma of Emergency Health Care is Nationally Recognised qualification. It authorises the use of life-saving procedures, drug administration and clinical decision-making on a patient.
Graduates of the HLT51020 – Diploma of Emergency Health Care can use their qualification to gain work in a variety of areas in the private sector. Past students who have studied with Australian Paramedical College have used our courses to take them overseas to work or pathway to university to become a registered paramedic.

The HLT51020 – Diploma of Emergency Health Care is a nationally recognised pre-hospital emergency health care qualification.

PATHWAYS TO UNIVERSITY
If you missed out on a place at university, use this diploma as a pathway to get into university. Study to become an Ambulance Paramedic.

WORK LOCALLY AND OVERSEAS
Australian Paramedical College graduates have used this qualification to secure employment overseas; working as frontline emergency health care responders.
Your ATAR Doesn’t Matter
This Australian Paramedical College Diploma of Emergency Health Care could get you into university even if you have a low ATAR.
If you’re concerned about not having the highest marks to go straight into university from school, you DO NOT have to worry.
APC is an established private college, providing nationally recognised emergency health care training and industry-relevant qualifications.
Qualifications can be achieved by the effort you’re required to put in combined with APC support.
What are the benefits of completing the diploma then going to university?
- Completing the diploma first means you will be qualified to begin working in the industry faster, because you can apply for medic work or the like whilst you complete your degree at university.
- Imagine the advantages you’ll have by graduating from university with real industry experience?

Know Your Facts
Do your research and discover which course or career pathway is right for you at this time.
Studying the HLT51020 – Diploma of Emergency Health Care will allow you to work in the industry, create a pathway into university.
Note: Universities are very different from one another. It’s best to contact our admissions team before deciding to use this diploma as an entry pathway to university.
Careers you can do with this diploma.
The HLT51020 – Diploma of Emergency Health Care can help you to get a job in the industry. Begin working in the industry sooner than you think. Studying at your own pace, means you control how fast you get yourself into the workforce.
The following careers are just a handful of examples. Do your own research an discover which job suits you the best.

Private Medic

Event Medic

Industrial Medic

Remote Medic
Provide remote emergency response at remote and isolated sites where timely emergency response it limited. Requires additional skills such as wilderness survival etc.

Emergency Services Officer (ESO)
Work on mine sites, remote drilling rigs and quarries. This is a multi-skilled role requiring additional qualifications and knowledge of training, WHS, high-risk operations, breathing apparatus etc.

Oil and Gas Medic On/Offshore

Adventure and Expedition
Want to learn more?
Below are more details about what the HLT51020 – Diploma of Emergency Health Care course involves. Find out about admission requirements, study options, course units, timelines, training, support and clinical skills learnt during the training.
Additional Information
Getting Started
The HLT51020 – Diploma of Emergency Health Care has 17 units of study. Most units can be studied online; each has an accompanying learner guide and materials to help complete questions and assessments. The learner guide will help explain the main study areas of the unit. Download the entire course and print it out for ease of use.
After completion of the first 10 units, it’s time to attend Clinical Intensive Workshop #1, where you get to put the theory into practice. This workshop is held over 7 days at locations in QLD, NSW, VIC and WA. After completing Clinical Intensive Workshop #1, it’s time to carry out the clinical placement.
Units Of Study
This qualification contains 17 units of competency.
Online Study
Course Duration
Maximum allowed completion time 24 months. Students are able to complete this in less time (if desired).
Additional Course Requirements
- 2x 7-day Clinical Intensive Workshops
- 160 hours of Clinical Placement
Payment options
Low deposit payment plan options are available.
Admissions Requirements
- Minimum 16 years of age
- Language Literacy Numeracy requirements will require a good level of English reading and writing ability
- Parent consent if under 18 years of age
- Computer literacy
- Australian resident/citizen or approved temporary visa
- Medical consent if a medical condition is applicable
Although the Australian Paramedical College is the largest pre-hospital emergency health care training provider in Australia, we offer personalised training for small groups of students.
Our Gold Coast main campus contains our most state of the art facilities.
This includes:- Clinical practice environments
- Dedicated rooms for self-directed medical learning
- Fully-equipped lecture rooms
- Scenario and medical emergency simulation facilities
- 2 fully equipped, used state Ambulances
- An in-house, life-sized simulator ambulance
- Latest paramedical equipment
Students enjoy a full range of support and help from our dedicated in-house student success team, assessors and trainers to make sure you get the most out of the training.
Additionally, there is a private Facebook group for students where a strong community of like-minded people gather to help, inspire and motivate one another. This is an integral part of the learning environment because surrounding yourself with people who you share common goals with is a perfect recipe for successful study outcomes.
Clinical Skills Learned At This Level
The clinical skills learned at Diploma-level are to the standard and competencies of basic life support. The scope of training is thorough and prepares graduates to be ready for anything – including;
- 12 lead ECG acquisition and interpretation,
- P-wave, QRS, STEMI, Tachycardias
- In-depth education on clinical practice processes and procedure
- Pediatric assessment,
- respiratory assessment,
- managing trauma,
- hospital handover,
- intramuscular injection,
- nebulisation,
- haemorrhage control
- arterial tourniquets,
- history taking,
- Laryngoscopy,
- Hypovolaemia,
- SADs,
- Korotkoff sounds,
- Capillary refill Time – CRT,
- Acute pain management with Methoxyflurane – Penthrox,
- Glyceryl Trinitrate – GTN,
- Central nervous system,
- Nexus criteria (Intermediate) C Spine,
Just to name a few.
Course Units
- BSBMED301 – Interpret and apply medical terminology appropriately
- HLTINF001 – Comply with infection prevention and control policies and procedures
- HLTAAP002 – Confirm physical health status
- HLTOUT010– Communicate in complex situations to support health care
- HLTOUT007 – Transport non-emergency patients under operational conditions
- HLTWHS002 – Follow safe work practices for direct client care
- HLTOUT008 – Manage a scene
- HLTOUT004 – Assess and deliver basic clinical care
- HLTOUT001 – Implement safe access and egress
- CHCCCS020 – Respond effectively to behaviours of concern
CLINICAL INTENSIVE WORKSHOP 1. – 7 Days
CLINICAL PLACEMENT – 40 hours
- HLTOUT005 – Assess and deliver standard clinical care
- HLTOUT009 – Manage the scene of a major incident
CLINICAL INTENSIVE WORKSHOP 2. – 7 Days
CLINICAL PLACEMENT – 120 hours
- CHCPRP003 – Reflect on and improve own professional practice
- BSBFLM303 – Contribute to effective workplace relationships
- CHCLEG001 – Work legally and ethically
- CHCDIV001 – Work with diverse people
- HLTWHS006 – Manage personal stressors in the work environment
Clinical Placement – 160 Hours Total
Clinical placement is classed as supervised activities in a pre-hospital medical support role. Placements may be conducted within the event medical services, private first response or security companies, sporting associations, State Emergency Service, GP surgeries and even as a medic with a mining company.
The college maintains regular contact with medical services providers in most states. Our dedicated team are continually adding new providers which in turn allows our students to complete their clinical placement requirements. We have students who are working as an Emergency Services Officer (ESO) on mine sites and can arrange placements from time to time.
**Note: Students are requested to source their own placement. We alert companies and students of available placement opportunities. However it is up to the student to follow up and apply for placement.
Australian Qualifications Framework Level 5
Knowledge: technical and theoretical knowledge in a specific area (pre-hospital emergency health care).
Skills: a broad range of cognitive, technical and communication skills to select and apply methods and technologies to:
- Analyse information to complete a range of activities.
- Provide and transmit solutions to sometimes complex problems.
- Transmit information and skills to others.
Application of knowledge and skills: Graduates will be able to apply knowledge and skills to demonstrate autonomy, judgement and defined responsibility in known or changing contexts and within broad but established parameters.
BEGIN YOUR APPLICATION
It is easy- only 4 simple steps
1. Complete the application study form
2. Your application will be reviewed by a selection panel
3. If successful, a formal offer will be made to study at the college
4. You accept and confirm enrolment
THEN YOU CAN START STUDYING