This course is only available to Australian citizens or permanent residents, and New Zealand citizens
Overview
- Graduates are eligible for membership with Paramedics Australasia.
- Gain extensive experience with Queensland Ambulance Service – first placement begins in first year.
- Study anatomy and physiology of the human body, pathology, pathophysiology, pharmacology and clinical practice.
- Queensland’s longest running paramedic course.
- For health graduates: consider the Bachelor of Paramedic Science – Graduate entry.
| QTAC course code | 425592 |
| QUT course code | CS43 |
| Attendance | Full-time |
| Course duration | 3 years full-time |
| Start month | 2013 February |
| Deferment | You can defer your offer and postpone the start of your course for one year. |
| Delivery |
On campus
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| Faculty |
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| Course contact |
Student Business Services (SBS) Admissions:
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| Careers |
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Double degrees
Details
Why choose this course?
This course was Queensland’s first degree in paramedics and is ideal if you want a career in the healthcare industry in a fast-paced, emergency medical response and specialised transportation capacity. You will complete extensive work experience in the field, and may have the opportunity to travel overseas and assist with the provision of health care in developing countries. You will develop specific skills in the Clinical Simulation Centre at Kelvin Grove campus, a facility that simulates environments and situations that mirror workplace experiences.
Course summary
The first year of the course focuses on foundation studies in the anatomy and physiology of the human body, and an introduction to pathology, pathophysiology, pharmacology and clinical practice. During second and third years, you will continue theoretical studies but with an increasing emphasis on clinical skills and practice. You will complete supervised clinical practice with the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS).
Students undertake clinical practice during the summer semester at the end of first year, followed by second year studies in advanced paramedic management and ethics and law in health service delivery. In third year, students undertake clinical practice in semester one and two, in addition to studies in transition to professional practice, incident management and mental health issues.
Career outcomes
Graduates have the knowledge, skills and competencies required to practise as an ambulance paramedic with the QAS, and national and international agencies. Employment prospects in this field are excellent.
On a day-to-day basis paramedics may deal with any number of call outs, however it's important to consider the work is varied and not all 'code one' (emergencies). Much of a paramedic's work consists of patient transport of elderly people and people who have regular dialysis treatment. Paramedics learn to deal with the emotional situations that accompany their work by understanding people and by learning how to comfort families during stressful times.
Graduates can also complete further study for a career as an intensive care paramedic or for careers in health service management, public health, or emergency and disaster management.
Course requirements
See the Entry Requirements tab for further information regarding course requirements.
Professional recognition
Graduates are eligible for membership with Paramedics Australasia.
Units
All course structures
Entry requirements
Assumed knowledge
Before you start this course we assume you have sound knowledge in these areas:
- English
We assume that you have knowledge equivalent to four semesters at high school level (Years 11 and 12) with sound achievement (4, SA).
Course requirements
Uniform
A uniform is required for Paramedic placements. Students will need to cover this cost.
Vaccination
You will be required to undertake clinical experience in healthcare settings. As a result, you will have direct patient contact during the placement and may be exposed to blood and body fluids of patients. Consequently you must be vaccinated for Hepatitis B and must provide a post vaccination pathological report or similar certification showing proof of immunity prior to undertaking the first clinical placement.
Students will need to cover this cost.Vaccination
The Queensland Ambulance Service strongly advises students to be immunised against the following before undertaking a clinical placement: Tetanus, Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Poliomyelitis.
Students will need to cover this cost.
Criminal History Check
Students are required to have a Police Records Check and will need to cover this cost.
Health related fitness assessment
A large component of a Paramedic's work involves manual handling, which is defined as any activity requiring a person to lift, lower, push, pull, carry, move, hold or restrain any animate or inanimate object. Paramedics frequently perform all of these functions with patients weighing up to and over 150kg, while implementing various pre-hospital emergency care procedures. As such, students will be required to undergo a fitness assessment to ensure they possess the cardiovascular and muscular abilities to perform the role of a paramedic.
Students will need to cover the cost of the assessment.
Off-campus placements
Students will be required to undertake placements off campus and will need to cover travel and accommodation costs.
Did you get an OP 1-5?
If you receive an OP 1-5 or equivalent, you're guaranteed an offer for this course in the major offer round.
Course fees
Your actual fees may vary depending on which units you choose. All fees are based on current fixed fee prices. We review fees annually.
2013: CSP $4,200 (indicative) per Semester (48 credit points) (subject to annual review)
Student Services and Amenities Fee
You'll need to pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) as part of your course costs.
HECS-HELP: loans to help you pay your course fees
You may not have to pay anything upfront if you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan.
Find out if you're eligible for a HECS-HELP loan
Scholarships and financial support
You can apply for scholarships to help you with study and living costs.
You may also be eligible for Centrelink payments
Apply
How to apply for Bachelor of Paramedic Science
You apply through QTAC for all our undergraduate courses.
Are you ready to submit your application?
You're ready if you've:
- Found all the courses you want to apply for - you can apply for up to 6.
- Checked important dates.
- Checked you meet the entry requirements.
- Checked your course costs and if you're eligible for financial support.
All done? Then you're ready to apply.
Important: Make a note of the QTAC code for this course (425592) because you'll need to enter it as part of your QTAC application.
After you've submitted your application to QTAC
If you've studied before or if you have at least two years' work experience, you may want to apply for credit for prior learning.
