Paramedics in Australia

A paramedic in Australia is a health care professional who responds to and treats all types of medical and trauma emergencies outside of a hospital setting before and during transportation to an appropriate medical facility. Paramedics also work in the inter-facility transport environment where a paramedic will continue or upgrade medical care to a higher level while transporting a patient from one healthcare facility to another. Paramedics are able to treat patients in the pre-hospital setting, and can transport them to a hospital-based emergency department if deemed necessary. In Australia, use of the term "paramedic" is not restricted, registered or licensed.

The term Paramedic is not defined in Australian law, and definitions vary widely. One definition is:

"A Paramedic is a specialist health care professional who responds to requests for assistance and attends people suffering acute health crises of any nature. Paramedics provide health assessment, initial diagnosis, design a treatment plan and manage the patient’s crisis. The Paramedic may provide adequate treatment that may resolve the crisis and may or may not refer the patient onto another health professional. The Paramedic may continue treatment and provide patient transfer to an appropriate health care facility for ongoing referral and patient care."

Some States and Territories do have protection of title legislation to protect the use of the title of paramedic in that State to those who are qualified to use it (e.g. Health Services Amendment (Paramedics) Bill 2015 (NSW)). The qualifications are not specific educational qualifications but are generally those who are employed by their state Ambulance Service or those holding a qualification such as paramedic degree.

The Australian government indirectly regulates Paramedic training by means of a series of Nationally Recognised numbered certificates through the Australian Qualifications Framework, intended to provide a relatively common level of competencies. Regardless, local standards are regulated by State Governments, and standards and definitions of terms vary widely between States. Many individuals possessing Certificates I-III may work in industrial first aid, for commercial first aid companies, or as non-emergency transporters or emergency ambulance services (particularly as volunteers). Some people with these qualifications call themselves "Paramedics", and there is currently no law regulating the use of this term. Certificate IV is the basic life support level which is regarded as the minimum entry level for emergency work in most statutory ambulance services, although some ambulance services require much higher qualifications.

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