Paramedic Degrees

Where can I study a paramedic degree? The concept of paramedic degrees is relatively new to the profession of para-medicine. In Australia the paramedic bachelor degree was only first introduced in 1999 and until then all paramedics were considered tradespersons who had gained their qualifications as paramedics through vocational training and on the job traineeships. In 1999 Charles Sturt University (Bathurst) opened up a bachelor’s degree in paramedic science (clinical practice). At that stage, the paramedic degree was only really reserved for qualified paramedic wishing to go into senior paramedic management positions.

Universities That Teach Paramedics

What universities teach paramedics? The following are some of the current universities that teach paramedics, however they are growing all the time:

1. Charles Sturt University (Bathurst NSW) – 3 year bachelor degree in health science/clinical practice

2. Monash University (Victoria) – 3 year bachelor degree in paramedic science

3. Victoria University (Victoria)- 3 year bachelor degree in paramedics

4. University of the Sunshine Coast (USC) (QLD) has introduced a paramedic degree in 2008

5. University of Tasmania has both an internal paramedic degree program and a distance education paramedic degree program run out of Rozelle in NSW – which fast tracks a 3 year degree into two years.

6. Flinders University (South Australia) -3 year paramedic degree

7. Queensland University of Technology (QLD)

8. Australian Catholic University (Ballarat Victoria) 4 year combined double degree in paramedicine and nursing

9. Latrobe University (Bendigo Victoria) Bachelor of paramedics and Master’s of Paramedic Practice

10. Edith Cowan University (Western Australia) – 3 year bachelor degree in paramedics.

11. Australian Canberra University (ACT) – 3 year bachelor degree in paramedicine.

Paramedic Degree Courses

What is covered in a paramedic degree? Most paramedic degrees cover the following areas in a varaity of depths:

– Anatomy and physiology

– Science/biology, chemistry, and some basic physics (don’t be too concerned here if you haven’t done these sciences at high school – I didn’t and I got to learn them at university easily enough).

– Sociology

– Medical Research

– Indigenous Health

– Clinical Practice (where you learn the trade of being a paramedic)

– Clinical placements – where you will gain hands on experience in being a paramedic. This will be your first exposure to what the job actually entails.