This course provides you with the skills, knowledge and advanced clinical reasoning and leadership strategies to meet the role of a Paramedic Practitioner. The Paramedic Practitioner is an advanced healthcare professional who can provide essential services in the critical care or aeromedical setting and also the non-emergency, out-of-hospital, low acuity or primary health settings. Upon completion of the course, your role will be to deliver both an advanced or intensive level of clinical medicine as well as identifying alternative pathways within the health care system that can effectively and independently manage a broad range of lower acuity medical and traumatic conditions. This care is a patient-centred approach that ensures you are a competent and yet diverse clinical provider that can meet both the acute and chronic healthcare needs of the community. Additionally, the Paramedic Practitioner is a leadership role within both the paramedic profession and healthcare system that can support a range of activity from education to base managerial needs.
This course will allow you to:
The Master of Paramedic Science (Primary Healthcare Practice) supports graduates to operate in the expanding professional areas of paramedic practice. The course provides you with the knowledge and skills to move towards primary healthcare paramedic roles including extended care, community care, low acuity care and paramedic practitioner.
Duration | 1.5 years full-time or 3 years part-time |
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Credit Points that Must be Earned | 72 |
Number of Units Required | CQUniversity uses the concept of credits to express the amount of study required for a particular course and individual units. The number of units varies between courses. Units in postgraduate courses normally consist of 6 points of credit or multiples thereof (e.g. 12, 18, 24). |
Expected Hours of Study | One point of credit is equivalent to an expectation of approximately two hours of student work per week in a term. |
Course Type | Postgraduate Award |
Qualification (post nominal) | MParamedSc(Paramed Practitioner) |
AQF Level | Level 9: Masters Degree (Coursework) |
Course Fees |
Indicative Year - 2025
Indicative Year - 2024
Indicative Year - 2023
Indicative Year - 2022
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Domestic Students Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes |
Not Applicable |
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International Students CRICOS Codes |
Not Applicable |
Paramedic Practitioner is a Masters level qualification that encompasses both didactic and clinical training in multiple areas of a healthcare system. Requirements for enrollment into the Paramedic Practitioner course:
Graduate Diploma of Paramedic Science (Critical Care)
Interim Awards | CC70 - Graduate Diploma of Paramedic Science (Critical Care Practice) |
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Exit Awards | Not applicable |
Accreditation |
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Compulsory Residential School | PMSC30002: Primary Healthcare Assessment, Pharmacology and Skills will require a five-day Residential School |
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Click here to view all Residential Schools |
PMSC20011 - Placement with a General Practitioner (GP) or similar advanced practitioner to gain experience and develop primary healthcare knowledge and skills |
Year | Number of Students |
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2024 | 7 |
2023 | 5 |
2022 | 3 |
2021 | 4 |
2020 | 4 |
Please note that in some instances there may be similarities between course, entry and inherent requirements.
If you experience difficulties meeting these requirements, reasonable adjustments may be made upon contacting accessibility@cqu.edu.au. Adjustment must not compromise the academic integrity of the degree or course chosen at CQUniversity or the legal requirements of field education.
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Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) placements apply to this course and as such are subject to compulsory pre-placement conditions referred to as mandatory checks and are outlined in the health, security and other compulsory requirements sections. Mandatory checks are determined by industry, organisations, legislation, regulations, policies, and procedures. To be eligible for a WIL placement, students must first achieve compliance with mandatory checks by each closing date prior to a WIL placement and maintain current evidence for the duration of the course.
Mandatory health requirements include immunisation and vaccination evidence (and serology where required) to the following diseases: Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps and Rubella, Varicella, Pertussis, Influenza, and Tuberculosis screening. Respirator mask fit testing is also an annual requirement for this course.
Effective 25 September 2023, updates have been made to the COVID-19 vaccination mandate for Queensland Health sites and the Queensland Ambulance Service. While Queensland Health does not currently mandate evidence of COVID-19 vaccination, it's essential to recognise that other organisations may enforce their own vaccination specific criteria. This situation is similar across other states and territories, with the exception of Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, where COVID-19 vaccination is mandatory for all healthcare students.
Mandatory security requirements include an Australian Federal Police clearance.
Other mandatory requirements include student agreement to privacy and confidentiality, adherence to AHPRA policies for a registered professional, fitness to participate in WIL student declaration, jurisdictional and site-specific compulsory requirements, and other training modules.
Course Learning Outcomes | ||||||||
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Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
1. KNOWLEDGE Have a body of knowledge that includes the understanding of recent developments in a discipline and/or area of professional practice | ||||||||
2. KNOWLEDGE Have an understanding of research principles and methods applicable to a field of work and/or learning | ||||||||
3. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge and to reflect critically on theory and professional practice or scholarship | ||||||||
4. SKILLS Have cognitive, technical and creative skills to investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories and to apply established theories to different bodies of knowledge or practice | ||||||||
5. SKILLS Have cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate and evaluate complex ideas and concepts at an abstract level | ||||||||
6. SKILLS Have communication and technical research skills to justify and interpret theoretical propositions, methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions to specialist and non-specialist audiences | ||||||||
7. SKILLS Have technical and communication skills to design, evaluate, implement, analyse and theorise about developments that contribute to professional practice or scholarship | ||||||||
8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to use creativity and initiative to new situations in professional practice and/or for further learning | ||||||||
9. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to use high level personal autonomy and accountability | ||||||||
10 APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to plan and execute a substantial research-based project, capstone experience and/or piece of scholarship. | ||||||||
APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Communicate, interact and collaborate with others effectively in culturally or linguistically diverse contexts in a culturally respectful manner |
Number of units: 12 | Total credit points: 72 |
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Proposed Core Scope of Practice
The scope of practice of the Paramedic Practitioner encompasses a broad range of clinical skills that cover critical care and primary health area. The Paramedic Practitioner upon completion of their training would be able to do, use or complete:
Detailed history taking including mental health, social and family aspects
Comprehensive physical examination of all body systems that includes:
Advanced psychosocial assessments including:
Point-of-care testing devices and screening tools for diagnosis and treatment evaluation including:
Medical and critical care skills including:
Other areas of medical management including:
Simple surgical procedures including:
Expanded pharmacology for administration and management including:
Palliative care and management
Referrals for specialties including:
General practitioner for follow-ups as needed
Additionally, includes the standard scope of practice of a paramedic including:
Graduate Diploma of Paramedic Science (Critical Care) or equivalent degree
Year 1 - Term 2 | ||
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Students must complete 2 from the following units: | ||
PMSC20004 | Advanced Clinical Care of Special Populations | |
PMSC20006 | Advanced Clinical Care of Trauma and Environmental Emergencies | |
PMSC20007 | Aeromedical, Retrieval and Tactical Medicine |
Year 1 - Term 1 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
PMSC20001 | Advanced Clinical Assessment and Decision Making | |
PMSC20002 | Advanced Critical Skills Application | |
PMSC20003 | Pharmacological Application in the Critical Care Setting | |
MEDS21003 | Medical Science Research Project 1 |
Year 1 - Term 2 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
PMSC20005 | Advanced Assessment, Diagnostic Interpretation and Management | |
MEDS21006 | Medical Science Research Project 2 |
Year 2 - Term 1 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
PMSC20008 | Primary Healthcare Management | |
PMSC20009 | Primary Healthcare Assessment, Pharmacology and Skills | |
PMSC20010 | Health Communication and Community Involvement | |
PMSC20011 | Independent Practice and Leadership |
WORK INTEGRATED LEARNING (WIL)
In the unit PMSC28001 Primary Healthcare Placement, students are expected to undertake 120-144 hours of Work Integrated Learning (WIL). Where possible, students will be asked to approach suitable providers convenient to their residential location, however, due to competing demands for clinical placement positions, students must be prepared to travel to alternate locations. This may involve distance travel or staying away from home to facilitate the placement, and taking leave from substantive employment and other regular responsibilities to ensure availability. This is due to some service providers' preference for 'block' placements rather than ad-hoc shifts. Any travel or accommodation expenses will be at the student’s own cost. Students with extenuating circumstances restricting ability to travel and stay away from home are invited to discuss requests for special consideration with the Unit Co-ordinator.
Please note: Any student who has within the last 12 months NOT attended the PMSC20013 Primary Healthcare 2 residential school MUST contact the Unit Coordinator to arrange repeat attendance of the PMSC20013 residential school at their own cost PRIOR to undertaking any clinical placement.
Mandatory requirements for WIL
Students will be provided information on and be required to purchase an approved CQUniversity shirt for wear during WIL. Students will also be required to provide their own Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) as a Work Health and Safety (WHS) requirement when on clinical placement. Non-adherence to uniform and PPE requirements will result in immediate removal from WIL.
Many health service providers mandate that students meet certain vaccination and health standards prior to attendance, whilst the University also has certain requirements to ensure student safety and readiness for practice. Information on all of these requirements and associated due dates is updated yearly. Information regarding COVID-19 vaccination requirements, security requirements and health requirements can be found in the Handbook course page under ‘Getting Started/What do I need to start?’. Enrolled students will receive further information and instruction on how to meet these requirements via the Sonia Home Page which will be provided to students in a timely manner prior to WIL. Students must submit all mandatory requirements to the Schools Work Integrated Learning Officers by the stated due date to be deemed eligible to attend WIL. Students must also be aware of and fulfil the inherent requirements to achieve the core learning outcomes of the units and course, some of which are particularly relevant to WIL. If you experience difficulties meeting these requirements, reasonable adjustments may be made upon contacting accessibility@cqu.edu.au. The inherent requirements are listed in the Handbook course page under ‘Getting Started/Inherent Requirements.
All mandatory requirements are non-negotiable, so it is imperative that students review and begin working to meet these requirements early.
WHS orientations/inductions
Many workplaces stipulate that students must undertake induction procedures prior to commencing WIL. Students must therefore be prepared to undertake this extra workload to facilitate placement.
RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL REQUIREMENTS
Student studying this course will be required to attend compulsory residential schools for some units.