BECOME A PARAMEDIC Work in the private sector or go on to university

Transcription

1 BECOME A PARAMEDIC Work in the private sector or go on to university 2016 INFORMATION GUIDE For more information or to enrol call: enrol@apcollege.com.au

2 Did you know that it s possible to become a Basic Life Support medic in less than 12 months When you study with the Australian Paramedical College, attaining qualifications in the health care and paramedic sector is now even easier. With many new courses now available, the HLT Certificate IV in Health Care opens up many employment opportunities in the private health services sector. By adding the higher qualifications of the HLT Diploma of Paramedical Science, you open up many more employment opportunities. The real truth about becoming a paramedic The idea that you need to spend tens of thousands of your hard-earned cash and devote years of your life studying at a university is not entirely accurate. Times have changed; with advances in technology and the availability of online and distance learning opportunities; the affordability of paramedical study is now within everyone s reach. In fact, with a growing demand for paramedic specialists across many industries, both in Australia and overseas), there s never been a better time to consider a career as a paramedic. Become a paramedic sooner much sooner! At the Australian Paramedical College, we deliver accredited training and nationally recognised qualifications to put you in the best position to get a job as a medic/ paramedic. Everyone has their own learning style and abilities; however, with the right amount of effort and study time, we have seen student complete the Certificate IV in Health Care for example, in a few short months. We have the leading paramedic courses and Australia s most experienced paramedic instructors who offer assistance throughout the entire learning time frame.

3 Taking the first step It s never an easy choice to decide to enrol in a paramedical course as there are many things to consider. To make learning easy, the Australian Paramedical College has paramedic trainers who possess many years of real-life experience and know what it is like when you take the first step to becoming a paramedic. They are available to answer questions that any students may have as they progress through the course. They will give you encouragement, provide you with advice and will be available even if you just want to chat. Questions about paramedical courses At the Australian Paramedical College, we receive literally hundreds of questions from people just like you who are thinking about becoming a Paramedic. We will answer some of them in a moment, but first, let s look at the history of what it took to become a paramedic back in the day. To be a paramedic, the requirement used to be: Obtain employment as a student paramedic through a State Ambulance Service, such as the Ambulance Service of NSW Complete the Diploma of Paramedic Science over 3 years whilst working full- time with the service provider Obtain a Certificate of Practice as an Advanced Life Support (ALS) Paramedic on completion Having attained the above, you could possibly work anywhere in Australia with the State or private ambulance services.

4 It all changed in 2012 In late 2012, the State Ambulance Services in Australia transitioned from vocational education and training to making a university degree the standard qualification to become a paramedic, apart from the Ambulance Service of New South Wales who have continued on under the studentship scheme for a limited number of staff. To be employed by a State Ambulance Service, they only accepted applications for the position of Graduate Paramedic from those who possessed a Bachelor degree-level qualification in the field of paramedic health science from an Australian or New Zealand university. However, there are still private ambulance and paramedical services that only require a Certificate IV in Health Care or Diploma of Paramedical Science. To work with Private Ambulance or Paramedical Services, you are employable with your Certificate IV in Health Care as a Basic Life Support Medic, or with the Diploma as an Advanced Life Support Medic The higher the qualification, you can apply for jobs immediately. Paramedic Service Providers There are a number of private paramedic service providers offering emergency service worker positions throughout Australia. These can be in categories such as mining, oil & gas rigs, construction, industrial projects, amusement and entertainment, sports & leisure and recreation. In addition, organisers of activities will hire Cert IV medics for events that are regarded as high-risk such as motorsports, film and TV productions, music festivals, concerts and major sporting events. Experience counts Should you decide to complete your training with the Australian Paramedical College and work within the private sector, you will be gaining valuable experience straight away. However, you can also transfer your skills to university and be awarded credits towards the Bachelor of Paramedic Science degree.

5 When you finally get your degree you will be able to seek employment with a State Ambulance Service. There are 3 types of students who have opted to study with the Australia Paramedical College 1. Those who applied to a University and didn t get accepted; or the entry requirements were not met. Solution: Complete one certificate with the Australian Paramedical College, then reapply after completing the course, creating a better chance of being accepted because of the new knowledge and qualification they have attained. A Certificate IV in Health Care will provide you with an entry level equivalent to an OP 13, or ATAR Those who have work or family commitments meaning attending university is simply not an option. Solution: Study online with the Australian Paramedical College, with the flexibility of being able to study from home in your own time, as well as 24/7 support, a thriving social media community and payment options to spread the cost of study. 3. Those who have no interest in working with a State Ambulance Services, but would like to work in the thriving private sector (mining, oil and gas, industrial or construction). Solution: Our nationally recognised qualifications allow you to work within the private sector straight away. The Certificate IV in Health Care and Diploma of Paramedical Science is well recognised in the mining and resources industry in QLD, NSW, NT and WA. The role of Emergency Services Officers is frequently advertised. Now that you have this knowledge, the next thing to look at is which study options best suit your situation.

6 Motivation and self- discipline As the majority of the Australian Paramedical College courses are delivered by correspondence/ distance learning, being motivated and possessing self-discipline will allow you to complete the course in good time. Start your paramedical career here The first qualification you can do is the Diploma of Paramedical Science, which has no entry requirements; meaning you can enrol today and start studying straight away! This qualification provides the perfect entry into paramedic/medic jobs in the private sector; or as an entry into university to continue study in health sciences. The Diploma is made up of 17 units. The Certificate IV in Health is made up of 16 units. Clinical workshops, assessments and scenarios For the clinical workshops and assessments, you will be able to book a date that suits your schedule and learning time frames. The clinical workshops and assessments are held on the Gold Coast in QLD, or in NSW and VIC. Locations change dependent on the number of students attending.

7 A step-by-step plan to becoming a paramedic in the private health sector Step 1: Enrol in the Certificate IV Health Care or Diploma of Paramedical Science This Certificate IV in Health Care was the entry-level paramedic course providing you with the basic life-support qualification you need to work in pre-hospital emergency care in the role of first responder. This qualification provides the necessary foundation in health sciences whereby you could extend your training by completing the Diploma of Paramedical Science. From here, the Bachelor s Degree in Paramedic Science is attainable. The Certificate IV in Health Care takes about 12 months whereas the Diploma takes a bit longer, months, depending on your circumstances. Step 2: Gain valuable paramedic experience while you Study There is no substitute for experience, especially when it comes to applying for your first paramedic job. The benefit of completing the qualifications online is you will be studying in your own time, which enables you to volunteer (or find paid work) with a paramedic provider. This means that you will be able to put into practice what you are learning and have the opportunity to earn while you learn. Your future employer will also look favourably when you apply for a position as you will be able to demonstrate you ve had hands-on paramedical experience.

8 Paramedic jobs Knowing where to look for paramedic jobs is just as important as having the right qualifications. While others spend months looking for work, you can land a Basic Life Support medic job in just a matter of weeks with a Certificate IV in Health Care, even days if you know where to look. We can provide links to the best online jobs boards where paramedical jobs are featured. Completing the Diploma means you can actively pursue work in the mining, heavy construction, industrial and oil & gas sectors as they are constantly in need of trained paramedical specialists. Many of these companies look to hire newly qualified medics too as they often prefer the fresh new mindset of new recruits. You may require extra qualifications to work in these sectors such as security licenses, rescue qualifications, mining inductions, Training & Assessing (TAE) and WHS certification. You can often earn a good salary whilst working in remote locations on mining sites and gain valuable experience if you intend to extend your training down the track. As an industrial medic, we highly recommend getting extra qualifications, it makes all the difference and give you a lot of options for promotion and a paves the way for a more varied work/ life balance scenario. How much can paramedics earn? Queensland example: The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) is one of the world s largest ambulance services in the world today. That means many paramedic QLD opportunities exist to service over 4 million people in an area covering almost 1.8 million square kilometres. Paramedic QLD estimates that 2,780 paramedics are currently employed by the QAS stationed in over 260 response centres state-wide. These simple facts indicate the growing need of paramedic services and the importance of recruiting more paramedics over the coming years.

9 Currently, QAS offers two categories of employment for qualified paramedics: Permanent Full- time and Casual employment. Advanced Care Paramedics and Intensive Care Paramedics are the most common positions held within the Queensland Ambulance Service. These positions are held after years of field work and training, so don t expect to walk into these roles any time soon. Paramedic QLD permanent full-time employment * The following examples are to be used as a guide only. The Australian Paramedical College accepts no responsibility for in accurate information relating to pay scales, working hours and job responsibilities. Paramedics that are successful in gaining employment with the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) on a permanent full-time basis work a normal roster and are eligible to receive all the leave entitlements allotted to them as per the Award. A normal roster for full-time paramedics with the Queensland Ambulance Service is a rotating shift system that adds up to 38 hours a week. In the real world, the rosters are 40 hours a week, with the additional 2 hours assessed as accrued time and can be amassed and taken in planned blocks. Any scheduled time off as a result of the accrued time must be taken in accordance with the Queensland Ambulance Service Scheduled Absence Policy and Procedure. Paramedic QLD full-time salary example The standard paramedic Queensland salary expectations are some of the best nationwide when compared to other state ambulance services. It is also commensurate with private health service companies for position of paramedic QLD wide. The starting salary of an Advanced Care Paramedic is around $55, (per year). This salary currently has schedule increases to $57, (per year) within just a few years.

10 Likewise, the starting salary of an Intensive Care Paramedic is around $61, (per year). This salary currently has schedule increases to 64, (per year) within just a few years. There is no telling what additional experience and qualifications can do to further increase your salary above the paramedic Queensland average. Paramedic QLD casual employment Those who are employed on a casual basis with the Queensland Ambulance Service are not entitled to annual or sick leave. Alternatively, casual paramedics are paid a loading in lieu of these entitlements. As per paramedic Queensland standards, casual paramedics are only entitled to pro-rata Long Service Leave. Casual employment is strictly paid on an hourly rate. Additional information It is well worth noting that in addition to the base salary/wage rate, QAS employees are eligible to receive additional penalty rates and allowances. These can be accrued for working regular hours on the weekend or public holidays, in addition to shift penalties for afternoon and night shifts. Queensland Public Sector employees are required to use the Q Super superannuation scheme. This is standard for all paramedic employees with the Queensland Ambulance Service. In some cases, those who have previously been employed with an interstate ambulance service prior to your appointment as a Queensland Ambulance Service paramedic you may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Service (RPS). Provided there is no break in service of more than 3 months. In this case, interstate ambulance services employees can maintain their leave benefits. This applies to Long Service and Sick Leave purposes only.

11 Private Sector Paramedic wage rates In the private sector the rates are generally higher than State service providers. For event companies (sporting, cultural, film and television, etc.) the usual casual rates of around $35-40 per hour are an industry standard. In the construction industry the rates move up towards $40 to $45 per hour, depending on location of the project. In the mining and resources industry the rates vary from State to State standard for east coast Australia are around $50 to $55 per hour, and west coast around $55 to $60 per hour. Factor in FIFO penalty rates and wages go up even further. Many projects in the private sector range from 1 month projects up to 5 year projects. The usual standard is the less time involved in the contract, the higher the hourly rate. Finding employment As you can see, there are many benefits to becoming a paramedic in Queensland, especially with the Queensland Ambulance Service. Serving with one of the largest ambulance services in the world provides a doorway to so many exciting career opportunities. Whether you plan to work on a casual or full-time basis, you will need the experience and education to set yourself above the rest of the competition. Likewise, if it s the private sector that interests you and you re looking for the higher contract rates offered - that is where the Australian Paramedical College can help. There are many jobs board advertising jobs in the pre-hospital emergency care sector. The most obvious one is SEEK, then there is Indeed.com, Jora, Adzuma, MyCareer and many more smaller ones, but stick with the big websites as this is where most jobs are advertised.

12 Common questions Do you do mid-year intake or is there only one start date? Studying with the Australian Paramedical College does not mean you have to attend a physical location unless of course you are doing your clinical workshop assessments (in QLD, NSW or Vic). Enrolments are open all year round, although there is strong demand at present. There is an enrolment process to go through before being offered a spot at the college. As our training is 90 percent online, you have complete flexibility - because unlike universities, there are no semesters; you just work through the course at your own pace. Is HECS-HELP or VET FEE HELP available? VET FEE HELP is not available. There are payment plan options (with a deposit) to approved students only. Other requirements A current unrestricted driver s license is essential. As Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support paramedic, you will be required to undertake a variety of physical tasks, a suitable level of general health and fitness is mandatory. Most of the ambulance services will insist on some form of fitness test. This level of fitness is prescribed in more detail by individual employers. Paramedics are required to confirm their suitability to work with vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly via a criminal history check. Some States require a paramedic to have attained for instance a Blue card, which is proof they have authority to work with children.

13 If I get asked to re-submit an assessment, do I have to pay again? No, definitely not that s not the way we do things at the Australian Paramedical College; you don t have to pay again. Fees are for the entire course, no matter how long it takes. If I can t manage the course what can I do? At the Australian Paramedical College, we don t want to see people drop out or lose confidence in their ability to see the course through to the end. However, let s be honest, becoming a paramedic presents a whole new set of challenges in terms of learning. There are times when you may question your choice to work in the sector and feel the career is not what you thought it was. So it s fair to say some students may feel overwhelmed and question their ability to complete the course in the recommended time frame. This is only natural, therefore we have on staff a qualified development and learning coach who will guide and mentor you when/if you start to feel overwhelmed. We re not going to let that happen to you! Our student success team, paramedic trainers and qualified support coach will give you the emotional support you need to beat those debilitating feelings of overwhelm and doubt. As an example, we have had students in the past that have not answered a question correctly. What happens next is a paramedical trainer will contact you to discuss the question and walk you through ways to get to the desired answer. More often than not, he question can be worked through in a private session with a trainer or the development and learning coach.

14 Can I get help if I find the clinical workshops challenging? Yes, absolutely. The clinical workshops are often the pivoting moment when you realise, this is what I was meant to be a paramedic. Although, there are times when the classes can be demanding, help is at hand from the trainers and assessors who spend a lot of time with students to get an understanding of who they are and where they want take their paramedical career. They are themselves highly-trained paramedics who, by the very nature of their profession are focused on helping those who need it most. If at any time you feel you are overwhelmed by the task ahead of you or you may have missed something, just let your trainer know and they will be there to help. There is also a private facebook group where students gather and talk about their course, and share their dreams and aspirations for their future as a paramedic. This is the perfect place to find help, inspiration and additional information from students who are already working through their course. There is an atmosphere of collaboration, support and assistance for all new students, which, from the feedback we receive, proves to be helpful in so many ways. When can I attend the clinical workshops? The clinical workshop training varies because of the requirements of each course. For instance the Diploma of Paramedical Science requires 3 x 5 separate days of theory and practical scenario assessments and the Certificate IV needs only 2 x 5 days. Normally, after studying for around 6 months, you will be ready to attend the clinical workshops and assessments which are held on the Gold Coast, in NSW and VIC.

15 Self-paced education Paramedical training for the most part is delivered online. This method of learning offers you the option to study when it suits your time frames. Of course, everyone is different and what works for one person, may not work for another. Self-paced learning can also be very challenging and it requires discipline and focus to meet the demands of this type of training. Self-education is for the most part just that, you will be by yourself, which is something many people have not faced before; although with our online student forum, you will never be alone. What s next? If you feel like taking the steps to become a paramedic is something you would like to do call (07) and speak with a paramedic course coordinator, 8.30am-5pm weekdays. Or go to to chat with one of our course coordinators. Copyright 2016 Australian Paramedical College The Australian Paramedical College accepts no responsibility for errors or inaccuracies in this guide. Information is provided as a sample of many options that are available when researching a career in the paramedical sector.