Ambulance paramedic education, which was conducted over the past 30 years by
the Ambulance Officers' Training Centre (AOTC), has gained a national and
international reputation for the quality of its courses and the performance of
its graduates. In particular, the MICA paramedic course is regarded as a
national benchmark. As a result of a state government decision to mainstream
ambulance paramedic education, Monash University sought and won the contract to
provide ambulance paramedic education for ambulance services in Victoria for
five years from 1 July 1998. Monash University has a contractual responsibility
to deliver the ambulance paramedic course at diploma level, the MICA paramedic
course at advanced diploma level and a final-year program to allow all
paramedics to complete a degree, and provide course awards under its own
structure.
To meet these responsibilities, the university created the Centre for Ambulance
and Paramedic Studies (MUCAPS) within the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and
Health Sciences, which is located in a purpose-built building funded by the
State Government and located on the Peninsula campus. MUCAPS, in partnership
with industry, is developing an integrated program in ambulance and paramedic
studies to meet the needs of the industry. A new award is proposed for all new
entrant ambulance paramedics commencing employment with the Metropolitan
Ambulance Service and Rural Ambulance Victoria after 1 January 2000, which will
lead to a new Monash University bachelors degree -- the Bachelor of Paramedic
Studies.
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