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 |
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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2024 | 169 |
2023 | 103 |
2022 | 53 |
Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) placements apply to this course and are subject to compulsory pre-placement conditions referred to as mandatory checks. They are outlined in the health, security, and other compulsory requirements sections. Industry, organisations, legislation, regulations, policies, and procedures determine mandatory checks. To be eligible for a WIL placement, students must first achieve compliance with mandatory checks by each closing date before 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) for the following diseases: Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps and Rubella, Varicella, Pertussis, Influenza, and Tuberculosis screening. Quantitative 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 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 | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Health | |
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 of full-time work placement. Clinical placements are invaluable in developing professional and clinical skills and workplace literacy within the authentic clinical and operational environment and ensure high standards of graduate work readiness and employability.
Due to the very high demand for placement positions, students must be prepared to travel to any location within Queensland with the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) to attend your clinical placements as a placement experience near your residence is highly unlikely.
The three clinical placement units embedded in the Course include the following units:
PMSC12002 – Clinical Paramedic Practice 1 (2nd year, Term One) for 5 weeks in duration;
PMSC13002 – Clinical Paramedic Practice 2 (2nd year, Term Three) for 5 weeks in duration; and
PMSC13004 – Clinical Paramedic Practice 3 (3rd year, Term Two) for 5 weeks in duration
There is no capacity for students to request split blocks, custom dates, attend placement in a part-time capacity or only on specific days of the week. The dates for all clinical placements will be available once students are enrolled into the Course.
Placement experiences are designed to provide an average of 40 hours per week at a 24-hour station. Under direct supervision, students will engage in clinical and operational activities, with participation aligning with the academic unit of enrolment.
Interstate Clinical Placements
The following outlines what availability, if any, is afforded to students who reside in other states or territories other than Queensland.
STATE / TERRITORY | POSSIBILITY OF PLACEMENTS WITH THE AMBULANCE JURISDICTION OF THAT STATE OR TERRITORY | CLINICAL PLACEMENT LOCATION |
Australian Capital Territory New South Wales Tasmania Western Australia Northern Territory |
No | All students who reside in these states/territories must undertake all clinical placements with the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) |
South Australia | To be eligible to participate in placements with the South Australian Ambulance Service (SAAS), students must be enrolled in the Graduate Paramedic Pathway (GPP) offered by the SAAS. |
All other students must complete all placements with the QAS who: · are staff of the SAAS (paid or unpaid) but are not on the GPP; or · reside in SA but are not staff (paid or unpaid) of the SAAS. |
Victoria | Students employed by Ambulance Victoria (AV), whether in a paid or unpaid capacity, are eligible to submit an Expression of Interest to the Unit Coordinator for participation in clinical placements with Ambulance Victoria. [1] | All students who are not approved by AV must undertake all clinical placements with the QAS. |
Outbound Mobility (International)
CQUniversity offers opportunities for students to engage in International Outbound Mobility tours. Participation in CQUniversity-approved and supervised international engagements will support a maximum of two (2) weeks of credit toward the student's next scheduled clinical placement unit.
Placements with non-state or territory ambulance jurisdictions
With the exception of overseas clinical placement activity, placements with any private companies are not approved.
Contacting placement providers
All CQUniversity students are not permitted to make contact with any ambulance jurisdiction to discuss clinical placement opportunities. All placements with ambulance jurisdictions must be coordinated centrally through either the WIL team or academic unit coordinators.
Mandatory requirements for clinical placement
Students will be required to purchase, from the CQUniversity Bookshop, the approved Paramedic Clinical Placement uniform for wearing during lab sessions, residential schools, and all clinical placements. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will also need to be purchased from the CQUniversity Bookshop as a Workplace Health and Safety requirement by all 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 CQUniversity also identifying certain requirements to ensure student safety and readiness for practice. Information on these requirements and associated due dates is communicated, and available, via the WIL team.
All requirements are non-negotiable and are required to be successfully achieved by specific timeframes. Please contact the WIL team via wil-hmas@cqu.edu.au to discuss further.
The broad categories of mandatory requirements include, but not limited to:
Immunisations and vaccinations
Medical Assessment
Working with Children Check (also known as a Blue Card)
National Criminal History Check (NCHC)
First Aid & CPR
Ambulance service hosted clinical placement Orientation and Declarations.
The above can change without notice by ambulance jurisdictions and/or Health Departments. For further information pertaining to the above requirements, please discuss with the WIL team as well as refer to https://www.ambulance.qld.gov.au/clinicalplacements.html
Prospective students who have further enquiries should contact 13 27 86.
[1] The current Deed of Agreement between CQUni and AV restricts the number of placements available to CQUni students therefore, being an employee of AV does not automatically qualify you to be eligible to undertake placements with AV. Your Expression of Interest will be considered on a case-by-case basis with AV. In the event that AV does not approve your request, all placements must be undertaken with the QAS.