The Bachelor of Paramedic Science/Graduate Certificate in Emergency and Disaster Management recognises the rapidly changing nature of paramedicine. It is critical that paramedicine expand its scope and role nationally and internationally. As a student in this course, you will draw upon the interdisciplinary nature of paramedicine and emergency and disaster management to explore current and emerging trends and national and international approaches, as well as the key concepts and perspectives that underpin contemporary practice in these fields. You will study with other students from a broad range of disciplines, expand your knowledge and skills and learn to apply this to the various phases of managing prehospital patients and expand your role to encompass emergency and disaster management.
This course is targeted at people wanting to work in emergency service agencies; professionals working in private, government, non-government and community-based organisations who will play a role in emergency and disaster management; and those with a personal and/or professional interest in these fields.
Graduates of the Bachelor of Paramedic Science/Graduate Certificate in Emergency and Disaster Management course from CQUniversity have developed the expertise and skills to work as health professionals in emergency medicine, prehospital retrieval and emergency and disaster management sectors. Work-integrated clinical units are included in the 2nd and 3rd years of the course to facilitate the work readiness of graduates. Graduates of this course may specialise in intensive care paramedic practice, aviation and retrieval medicine, occupational health and safety, tactical medicine, special operations, clinical education, public health, business management, hospital health services and roles encompassing emergency and disaster management. Employment options after the course include government ambulance services, hospitals, private, government, non-government and community organisations supporting mines, local and regional councils.
Duration | 3.5 years full-time or 7 years part-time |
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Credit Points that Must be Earned | 168 |
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 undergraduate 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 | Undergraduate Award |
Qualification (post nominal) | BParamedSc and GradCertEDM |
AQF Level | Level 8: Graduate Certificate |
Course Fees |
Indicative Year - 2024
Indicative Year - 2023
Indicative Year - 2022
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Domestic Students Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes |
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International Students CRICOS Codes |
Not Applicable |
The COVID-19 vaccination is mandatory to be eligible to attend a WIL placement for this course. Students will be required to provide evidence of having completed a COVID-19 vaccination schedule by the closing date prior to a WIL placement. The vaccine received must be a vaccine approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) of Australia.
Rank Threshold | SR 75.00 | ATAR 75.00 |
English (Units 3 & 4, C) or equivalent
English Language Proficiency Requirements
If you were not born in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa or the United States of America, you are required to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements set by the University.
Applicants are required to provide evidence of completion within the last 5 years of:
A secondary qualification (Year 11 and 12, or equivalent), or
Bachelor level qualification study for a period of at least 2 years fulltime with a minimum overall GPA 4.0
completed within Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Africa, Ireland, or the United States of America, which will meet the English proficiency.
If you do not satisfy any of the above you will need to undertake an English language proficiency test and achieve the following scores:
An International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) overall band score of at least 7.0 with a minimum 7.0 in each subset; or
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - Requires 600 or better overall and minimum TWE score of 5.0 (Paper Based Test), or 100 or better overall and a score of 25 or better in the Writing section (Internet Based Test); or
Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) - Requires an overall score of 64 with no communication score less than 64; or
An Occupational English Test with Grades A or B only in each of the four components.
English test results remain valid for no more than two years between the final examination date and the date of commencement of the study and must appear on a single result certificate.
International Students should visit http://www.cqu.edu.au/international for further information.
Each student will be assessed individually.
English (4, SA), Maths B (4, SA), Chemistry, Biology, Science.
Interim Awards | CG95 - Bachelor of Paramedic Science |
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Exit Awards | CL13 - Diploma of Health Science CG95 - Bachelor of Paramedic Science |
Accreditation |
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Compulsory Residential School | All students will be required to attend compulsory residential schools for several units. Residential schools may be held in Cairns, Townsville or Rockhampton. Information relating to residential school locations will be available to the students via the handbook and associated Moodle pages. |
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Click here to view all Residential Schools |
PMSC13004 - Throughout the course, students are required to undertake compulsory work-integrated-learning placements with an approved placement provider. Clinical placements will provide students the opportunity to develop and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and professional attributes required to safely and competently practice as a paramedic. |
PMSC13002 - Throughout the course, students are required to undertake compulsory work-integrated-learning placements with an approved placement provider. Clinical placements will provide students the opportunity to develop and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and professional attributes required to safely and competently practice as a paramedic. |
PMSC12002 - Throughout the course, students are required to undertake compulsory work-integrated-learning placements with an approved placement provider. Clinical placements will provide students the opportunity to develop and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and professional attributes required to safely and competently practice as a paramedic. |
Year | Number of Students |
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2023 | 104 |
2022 | 53 |
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 a medical assessment process, immunisation and vaccination evidence (and serology where required) to the following diseases: COVID-19 (up-to-date status), Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps and Rubella, Varicella, Pertussis, Influenza, and Tuberculosis screening. Respirator mask fit testing is also an annual requirement for this course.
The COVID-19 vaccination is mandatory to be eligible to attend a WIL placement for this course. Students will be required to provide evidence of having an up-to-date COVID-19 vaccination status by the closing date prior to a WIL placement. The vaccine received must be a vaccine approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) of Australia.
Mandatory security requirements include an Australian Federal Police clearance and working with children check.
Other mandatory requirements include a First Aid and CPR certificate, student agreement to privacy and confidentiality, adherence to Ahpra policies for a registered student 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 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
1. KNOWLEDGE Have specialised knowledge within a systematic and coherent body of knowledge that may include the acquisition and application of knowledge and skills in a new or existing discipline or professional area | ||||||||||||||||
2. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to review,analyse, consolidate and synthesise knowledge and identify and provide solutions to complex problems | ||||||||||||||||
3. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to think critically and to generate and evaluate complex ideas | ||||||||||||||||
4. SKILLS Have specialised technical and creative skills in a field of highly skilled and/or professional practice | ||||||||||||||||
5. SKILLS Have communication skills to demonstrate an understanding of theoretical concepts | ||||||||||||||||
6. SKILLS Have communication skills to transfer complex knowledge and ideas to a variety of audiences | ||||||||||||||||
7. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to make high level, independent judgements in a range of technical or management functions in varied specialised contexts | ||||||||||||||||
8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to initiate, plan, implement and evaluate broad functions within varied specialised technical and/or creative contexts | ||||||||||||||||
9. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILL Be responsible and accountable for personal outputs and all aspects of the work or function of others within broad parameters | ||||||||||||||||
10. FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE sufficient to undertake qualifications | ||||||||||||||||
11. ACQUISITION AND APPLICATION of knowledge in new or existing disciplines or professional areas drawn from higher education units | ||||||||||||||||
12. FOUNDATIONAL SKILLS sufficient to undertake qualifications | ||||||||||||||||
13. ACQUISITION AND APPLICATION of skills in new or existing disciplines or professional areas drawn from higher education units | ||||||||||||||||
14. Course content drawn from higher education units |
Number of units: 28 | Total credit points: 168 |
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Students will be required to follow an approved course structure and have completed all pre-requisite units before undertaking Work-Integrated-Learning units.
Year 1 - Term 1 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
CHEM11042 | Fundamentals of Chemistry | |
BMSC11010 | Human Anatomy and Physiology 1 | |
PMSC11002 | Foundations of Paramedic Clinical Practice | |
ALLH11009 | Research Methods for Health Professionals |
Year 1 - Term 2 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
BMSC11011 | Human Anatomy and Physiology 2 | |
NURS11171 | Health, History and Culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples | |
PMSC11004 | Paramedic Medical Emergencies 1 | |
PMSC12001 | Procedures and Skills in Paramedic Care |
Year 2 - Term 1 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
HLTH11027 | Foundations of Health | |
PMSC12005 | Paramedic Medical Emergencies 2 | |
BMSC11005 | Foundations of Biochemistry | |
PMSC12004 | Advanced Electrophysiology and Coronary Care |
Year 2 - Term 2 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
BMSC12014 | Pharmacology for Health Professionals | |
MPAT12001 | Medical Pathophysiology | |
PMSC12002 | Clinical Paramedic Practice 1 | |
PMSC12003 | Special Populations in Paramedic Practice |
Year 2 - Term 3 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
DSMG28001 | Foundations of Emergency and Disaster Management | |
DSMG20003 | Research for Emergency and Disaster Management |
Year 3 - Term 1 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
PMSC13002 | Clinical Paramedic Practice 2 | |
PMSC13001 | Mental Health for Paramedics | |
PMSC13012 | Paramedic Medical Emergencies 3 | |
ALLH12006 | Evidence Based Practice for Health Professionals |
Year 3 - Term 2 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
PMSC13004 | Clinical Paramedic Practice 3 | |
PMSC13010 | Consolidated Paramedic Practice | |
PMSC13014 | Paramedic Trauma and Emergency Management | |
PMSC13013 | Transition to Paramedic Practice and Professionalism |
Year 3 - Term 3 | ||
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Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
COMM20110 | Crisis Communication | |
DSMG29001 | Disaster Risk Reduction |
Clinical placement
Students are required to complete three Clinical Paramedic Practice units during the course, which amount to a minimum of 15 weeks (600 hours) of full-time work placement. Clinical placements are invaluable in developing professional and clinical skills and workplace literacy within the authentic clinical environment, and ensure high standards of graduate work readiness and employability.
All clinical placements are undertaken primarily with the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS). Due to state-wide demand for placement positions, students must be prepared to travel to any location within Queensland for clinical placements as a placement experience near your residence is highly unlikely. This commonly involves staying away from home for the duration of the placement, and taking leave from substantive employment and other regular responsibilities to ensure availability for full-time 24/7 rostered work. Students with extenuating circumstances restricting ability to travel and stay away from home are invited to submit requests for special consideration, but should understand that these may not be fulfilled if there are simply no available placement allocations within their home town.
The QAS has identified over 120 stations from 15 operational districts where students can undertake a clinical placement. Students seeking clinical placement outside of the Queensland Ambulance Service must understand that interstate placements are not readily available, and that certain statutory Services only accept interstate placement requests from students with pre-existing volunteer or employment relationships with those Services. For further information please contact the Unit Coordinator for clinical placements at paramedic.placements@cqu.edu.au
The three clinical placement units involve the following on-road blocks. All placements must be completed as contiguous blocks during the time period allocated to that placement unit.
PMSC12002 – Clinical Paramedic Practice 1 (2nd year, Term Two) 5 weeks;
PMSC13002 – Clinical Paramedic Practice 2 (3rd year, Term One) 5 weeks; and
PMSC130004 – Clinical Paramedic Practice 3 (3rd year, Term Two) 5 weeks
There is no capacity for students to request split blocks, custom dates, or to attend placement on specific days. Calendar dates for these blocks may change from year to year depending upon state-wide allocation availability, and are determined at the end of Term Two for the following year. The dates are announced to all students at that time in an information sheet, and can thereafter be found on the Sonia Home Page (clinical placement management software) and the CG95 Portal (on Moodle).
The structure of all placement experiences is that you average 40 hours per week of placement and you are placed at a 24-hour station where you will be supervised to participate in clinical activity up to the level of training which the academic unit aligns with.
Mandatory requirements for clinical placement
Students will be required to purchase the approved Paramedic Clinical Placement uniform for wear during lab sessions, residential schools, and clinical placement. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will also need to be purchased from the CQUniversity Bookshop as a Workplace Health and Safety requirement by Ambulance Services when on clinical placement. Non-adherence to uniform and PPE requirements will result in immediate removal from clinical placement.
All statutory Ambulance Services mandate that students meet certain vaccination and health standards prior to attendance as well as CQUni also identifying certain requirements to ensure student safety and readiness for practice. Information on all of these requirements and associated due dates is updated yearly and shared on the Sonia Home Page and the CG95 Portal; please also see the link below for QAS Clinical Placements website.
https://www.ambulance.qld.gov.au/clinicalplacements.html
Students must submit all QAS Mandatories and CQU requirements to the Work Integrated Learning (WIL) team by the due dates stipulated through Sonia and thw WIL team. All requirements are non-negotiable, so it is imperative that students review and begin working to meet these requirements early.
1. Immunisation and infection control
Full details are provided within the information sheet on Sonia Home Page. Take these requirements to your GP and ask for your immunisation record for all vaccines if available.
a) Hepatitis B: The full age-appropriate vaccination schedule takes 7 months to complete (as a minimum), and that the QAS and other Services do not accept the accelerated version of vaccine.
b) Varicella (chickenpox)
c) Diptheria/Tetanus/Pertussis (Adult)
d) Measles, Mumps Rubella
e) Influenza (annual commercially available dose)
f) Covid-19 vaccination (minimum 3 doses)
The following additional vaccinations are highly recommended by QAS, but are not mandatory:
g) Tuberculosis (TB) screening: Mantoux test or QuantiFERON Gold test
2. QAS Medical Assessment: This assessment must be undertaken by KINNECT who are the contracted assessors for all medical assessments for the QAS. Students are assessed against the same medical standards as graduates to ensure that you meet the inherent requirements for employment
3. Queensland Government issued Working With Children Check (Blue Card): Students are required to have a valid Blue Card linked to CQUniversity for the entirety their placements with the QAS . Students approved for interstate placement must acquire the analogous screening for that State. http://www.bluecard.qld.gov.au/applications/need-to-apply-for-card.html
4. National Criminal History Check (NCHC). Any student with a disclosable outcome on their NCHC must discuss the matter with the Course Coordinator at hoc-ug-paramedic-science@cqu.edu.au upon course enrolment or upon conviction being recorded (whichever is earlier)
5. QAS Annual Clinical Placement Orientation Checklist: The QAS require this checklist to be completed prior to each and every clinical placement unit.
6. Annual Quantitative mask fit testing
7. Current approved First Aid Certificate and CPR certification: CQUniversity requires Paramedic Students to attain a first-aid certificate from a registered training provider within the first term in the first year of enrolment, and to maintain certification validity at the first day of placement for PMSC12002 in 2nd year. Note that first aid certificates expire every three years, whilst CPR certifications require annual renewal.