2808 - Diploma of Ambulance Paramedic Studies

This course prepares students to work as qualified ambulance paramedics with Victorian ambulance services.

By completion of this course, the graduate should demonstrate the knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes to:

• meet the needs of the community, the industry and the profession as an ambulance paramedic and member of the health care team
• continue to develop and further enhance their personal and professional development as an ambulance paramedic
• recognise and assess appropriate symptom-syndrome patterns and to care for patients as required at the scene of sudden illness or injury, within the Ambulance Service Clinical Practice Guidelines
• provide and/or assist with care during the transport of patients of all ages suffering from illness, injury or disability, whether physical or mental, acute or chronic including retrieval or escorted patients - this includes demonstration of the competencies required of a patient transport officer
• ensure that care and treatment is maintained on arrival at hospital, until responsibility is handed over to the appropriate personnel
• communicate and work effectively with other emergency services personnel and other members of the health care team
• manage the associated social, cultural, religious, emotional and communication aspects of sick and injured persons, their relatives, carers and bystanders
• practice as an ambulance paramedic within an appropriate ethical and professional construct whilst adhering to relevant legislation, regulations and Ambulance Service policies
• provide basic instruction to individuals and small groups
• initiate and/or assist with rescue techniques as appropriate and to initially manage multi-casualty incidents, including the nature of critical incident stress management
• contribute to Ambulance Services' information technology and research programs and practice within an evidence-based paradigm.

The course consists of three core units in first year and three core units in second year followed by one year of additional clinical experience. Each unit is conducted over the full academic year.

First year

• APS1010 Foundations of ambulance paramedic practice
• APS1020 Foundations of ambulance paramedic care
• APS1030 Clinical practice 1

Second year

• APS1040 The professional ambulance paramedic
• APS1050 Ambulance paramedic care
• APS1060 Clinical practice 2

Third year

• AMB1003 Industrial experience year

Diploma of Ambulance Paramedic Studies

* Where more than one award is listed, or in the case of double degrees, where more than one award is listed for one or both components of the double degree, the actual award/s conferred may depend on units/majors/streams/specialisations studied, the level of academic merit achieved (eg in the case of 'with honours' programs), or other factors relevant to the individual student's program of study.