Become a Paramedic

Working as an ambulance paramedic means that no two days are ever the same. What a paramedic does can be as varied as restarting a patient’s heart down to helping solve social welfare issues.

Ambulance paramedics are called when people feel they have no other options and are suffering what feels like an emergency to them. An interesting fact to remember when applying to become a paramedic is that the majority of our workload is not lights and sirens driving to save a patient's life. This job is more about helping people in their time of need as opposed to been a hero.

On any given day, ambulance paramedics may perform the following tasks:

• attend medical emergencies and accidents which may require the administration of advanced life support
• assess, treat and manage the patients treatment en route to hospital
• perform invasive techniques such as intravenous canulation, administration of pain relieving drugs, fluid resuscitation in the trauma setting and advanced airway management
• lift and place patients on stretchers, load the stretchers into ambulances and transport patients to hospital
• drive ambulances to sites of emergencies and transport patients to medical facilities
• prepare patient care records and other written reports on the state of a patient's injuries and the treatment provided
• triage patients to the most appropriate medical facility
• provide routine transport for patients from home to hospital and return, e.g. for patients requiring further treatment or specialised treatment such as occupational therapy and chemotherapy
• perform daily vehicle and equipment check making sure that ambulances and medical supplies, including drugs are accounted for and that equipment is in good working order
• attend public gatherings, such as large sports events, where accidents or other health emergencies may occur

Ambulance paramedics work to variety of rosters that rotate across 7 days per week, 24 hours per day. Rosters are provided five weeks in advance to ensure adequate planning time.