Not all heroes wear capes – some ride in an ambulance. Are you passionate about helping people? Want to make a meaningful difference in your community? Have a strong interest in the health and wellbeing of others? Then a paramedicine qualification could open doors to a very rewarding career.
What’s life as a paramedic like?
No two days are ever alike in the fast-paced world of a paramedic. Paramedics perform therapies and administer medications according to protocol. They also transport accident victims, the sick and injured to medical facilities, and operate resuscitation equipment, life-support equipment and defibrillators. You can expect anything from attending accidents and emergencies to treating patients at road accidents, resuscitating people at beaches or pools, or treating heart-attack victims at shopping centres or in the home.
You’ll work with patients from diverse backgrounds and cultures and treat anyone from infants and children to adults and the elderly. Want a career that can really take you places? A career as a paramedic can take you almost anywhere in the world, from your local community, to interstate, to overseas.
What does it take to become a paramedic?
It takes a special kind of person to walk in the shoes of a paramedic. As a first-line responder, you’ll need to keep a cool head when the pressure is on. Being able to think quickly on your feet and make rational decisions is also extremely important. After all, emergency situations often require on-the-spot decision-making. Having , and Highly valued abilities in paramedics include:
- Problem sensitivity (noticing when something is wrong or likely to go wrong)
- Deductive reasoning (using rules to solve problems)
- Inductive reasoning (coming up with answers from lots of detailed information)
In addition to your excellent communication, interpersonal and teamwork skills, you’ll need to be armed with a degree in paramedicine.
Did you know Charles Sturt University was Australia’s first provider of a paramedicine degree?
Ready to start your career as a paramedic?
If you’ve got your heart set on making a real difference by becoming a paramedic, get set to start now. offers the springboard to your future career as one of the most trusted professionals.
With a strong track record of delivering quality paramedicine education since 1994, it’s safe to say that when it comes to educating the next generation of paramedics, we know what we’re doing. From teaching you the best way to administer intravenous medication and how to effectively operate a defibrillator, to setting you up to provide high-quality emergency treatment, we cover all the bases you could need out in the field.
In fact, our Bachelor of Paramedicine is the only dedicated paramedicine qualification in New South Wales that carries full accreditation with the Council of Ambulance Authorities, and can take you from outback Australia to the heart of London, or many places in between.
“By my second year, I was travelling the world. I was in Canada with 10 other Charles Sturt students doing ride-alongs with British Columbia Ambulance Service and also Alberta Health Services in their on-road and air ambulance. There are so many opportunities for you, just put your hand up and have a go!”
Crystal Cooke, paramedicine graduate
Join the most trusted profession
There are diverse opportunities working with New South Wales Ambulance. Further to being a paramedic, you could work in patient transport, in control centres across the state taking triple zero (000) calls or even become a team leader, station manager or director of operations. And you can even earn while you are studying to be a paramedic because New South Wales Ambulance recruits Charles Sturt students while they’re still learning, giving them a job at the end of the course. You may even be eligible for the Accelerated Pathway Program, where New South Wales Ambulance pays for some of the subjects studied at the university.
Already in the industry? Advance your career
If you’re already working as a paramedic, we have some good news! Charles Sturt University is now offering a brand-new course that will open doors beyond traditional paramedic practice and allow you to make even more of a mark in your profession.
Our Master of Paramedicine (with specialisations) gives you the skills and knowledge to specialise as either a critical care paramedic or an extended care paramedic. You could also use the master’s degree to pursue leadership, research or education roles.
You can choose from two specialisations.
Critical care specialisation
Learn to integrate advanced medical care, respiratory care, cardiac care and trauma technique into your current practice. Make expert judgements to ensure your patients get the best care possible.
Extended care specialisation
Integrate your skills and training in advanced medical examination, risk assessment and patient management. Determine the most appropriate treatment for a range of common medical issues and refer patients on to other health providers.
Our Master of Paramedicine (with specialisations) offers a flexible postgraduate qualification that will give you the edge in the industry.
Ready to get your paramedicine qualification?
Start or advance your career in paramedicine.
It’s your choice.
- take the first step to becoming a paramedic with our Bachelor of Paramedicine
- study our Bachelor of Nursing – Graduate Diploma of Clinical Practice (Paramedic) if you’re interested in becoming a nurse who is equipped with clinical practice paramedic capabilities
- advance your career with our new Master of Paramedicine (with specialisations).