Be there in an emergency.
Gain a strong foundation in clinical and paramedic sciences. You’ll explore all areas of paramedic practice including human pathophysiology, behavioural health, pharmacology, clinical leadership, and legal and ethical practice.
Gain a strong foundation in clinical and paramedic sciences. You’ll explore all areas of paramedic practice including human pathophysiology, behavioural health, pharmacology, clinical leadership, and legal and ethical practice.
Our program is delivered by experienced paramedics to provide you with clinical knowledge, skills and practice. Gain hands-on experience through real-life simulations in our specialised paramedic labs. From your first year, you’ll complete 12 weeks of clinical placements with the Queensland Ambulance Service and with an additional 2 weeks of clinical placement in other health care facilities to give you the extra knowledge and experience to confidently start working on road. You may be required to undertake some of your clinical placements outside the region or in a rural area within Queensland.
Graduate ready to work as an Advanced Care Paramedic or go after opportunities to clinically advance to an Intensive Care or Critical Care Paramedic. Choose to work within aero medical, rescue and retrieval, remote and rural health care and clinical education. You’ll also be eligible to apply for membership of Paramedics Australasia and the Australian and New Zealand College of Paramedics.
Inherent academic requirements
The Inherent Academic Requirements (IARs) of a program are the fundamental skills, capabilities and knowledge that students must be able to demonstrate in order to achieve the essential learning outcomes of the program, while maintaining the academic integrity of that program.
You should look carefully at the inherent academic requirements for the Bachelor of Paramedic Science when considering applying, and think about whether you might experience challenges in meeting them. If you think you might experience challenges related to your disability, health condition or for any other reason, you should discuss your concerns with a University Disability Adviser or Faculty staff.
Post-admission requirements
To be eligible to commence clinical placement you must provide evidence of having met all mandatory requirements by the Friday of Week 13 of Semester 1. Failure to do so will prevent you from commencing Clinical Placement and will delay the completion of your studies.
Go to the Paramedic Science - Clinical Practicums page to find out more about Clinical Placements and mandatory requirements.
You will be required to purchase the student paramedic uniform which includes shirt, trousers, boots, belt, personal protective equipment and soft shell jacket before going on placement. The approximate cost of the full uniform set is $550. You will also be required to purchase other items of personal medical equipment such as a stethoscope and sphygmomanometer.
Career opportunities
Ambulance paramedic, pre-hospital emergency care, aeromedical, rescue and retrieval, remote and rural healthcare, clinical education.
Membership
Paramedics Australasia; Student Paramedics Australasia (SPA); Australian and New Zealand College of Paramedics
Program structure
Introductory courses (10) 120 units
COR109 Workplace Learning I
LFS103 Project Management
LFS112 Engineering Project Management
LFS122 Communication and Thought
PAR101 Introductory Bioscience
PAR102 Human Physiology
PAR103 Human Anatomy
PSY103 Paramedic Professional Studies
PUB112 Paramedic Clinical Foundations
SCI110 Paramedic Foundation Practicum 1
Developing and Graduate courses (14) 168 units
BIM263 Applied Psychology in Health Care
HLT221 Public Health Foundations
HLT301 Science Research Methods
PAR201 Introduction to Pharmacology
PAR202 Human Pathophysiology
PAR203 Contexts of Practice: Mental Health Care
PAR211 Paramedic Clinical Systems
PAR212 Medical Emergencies
PAR222 Paramedic Clinical Practicum 2
PAR301 Cardiac and Respiratory Emergencies
PAR302 Injury in the Community
PAR311 Legal and Ethical Practice in EMS (Emergency Medical Services)
PAR312 Maternal and Child Health
PAR321 Substance Misuse and Toxicology
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 288
Recommended study sequences
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 288 units as outlined in the Program Structure
To undertake Clinical practicum in Queensland with QAS and other health care facilities, you must meet the Mandatory Requirements by Week 13 of Semester 1.
In order to commence clinical placement students must comply with the Mandatory Requirements including:
- Hold a valid Suitability Card (Blue Card). You should allow 12 weeks for Blue Card Services to issue the card.
- Obtain a National Criminal History check
- Comply with QLD Health vaccination requirements including Hepatitis B immunisation
- A current First Aid and CPR certificate
- Mental Health First Aid certificate
For more information about Clinical Practicum and the Mandatory Requirements checklist refer to Paramedic Science – Clinical Practicum.
Note: Students are required to commence action of the above requirements immediately after enrolling. Hepatitis B immunity can take up to six months to determine and the processing of your USC Blue Card can take up to 12 weeks.
Program notes
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods, including case studies, essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests, clinical scenarios (OSCA’s) and examinations. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods.
- The Study Overseas Program is not currently available to paramedic students.
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses) and following the recommended study sequence
- The unit value of all courses is 12 units unless otherwise specified
- It is each students responsibility to enrol correctly according to your course requisites, program rules and requirements and be aware of the academic calendar dates
- Students will be required to cover all additional costs associated with this program. Information outlining the current requirements will be made available to all prospective applicants, and students will be provided more detailed information on starting the program.
- Some courses within this program must be completed over the Summer and Winter Semesters and require students to commit to full-time unpaid employment.
- Not available to international students on a Student Visa.
- Refer to the Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses