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HLT51015 - Diploma of Paramedical Science

Course Details

Course Summary

This qualification reflects the role of pre-hospital and out-of-hospital workers similar to that employed by State/Territory ambulance authorities, the Australian Defence Force and the private sector to provide patient assessment, healthcare and transport services. These workers possess clinical skills and theoretical knowledge and provide clinical assessment and pre-hospital and out-of-hospital interventions to patients in an emergency, including providing advanced skills in life support. To achieve this qualification, the candidate must have completed at least 160 hours of Vocational Placement relevant to the qualification outcomes as detailed in the Assessment Requirements.

Entry Requirements

Entry is via QTAC - www.qtac.edu.au.

All applicants for the Diploma of Paramedical Science are required to provide evidence of meeting at least one of the below:

1. You have attended and satisfactorily completed at least six years of primary and secondary education in either Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland, United States of America, Canada or South Africa, which was taught and assessed in English. This study must include at least two years between Year 7 and Year 12.

2. You have successfully completed at least five years (full-time equivalent) of education in either Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland, United States of America, Canada or South Africa which was taught and assessed in English. Only the following combination of education will be accepted:

Vocational and secondary education; or Tertiary and vocational education; or Tertiary, vocational and secondary education; or Tertiary education.

If you do not satisfy any of the above you will need to undertake an English language proficiency test and achieve the following scores as below. English test results remain valid for no more than two years between final examination date and the date of commencement of study.

1. IELTS (academic module).

We only accept test results: from one test sitting, or a maximum of two test sittings in a six month period only if: you achieve a minimum overall score of 7 in each sitting, and you achieve a minimum score of 7 in each component across the two sittings, and no score in any component of the test is below 6.5 Course.

Mandatory Clinical Placement Requirements:

As per the CQU Immunisation Policy and for patient and student safety, the previously recommended checks are now mandatory for any placement commencing 1 January 2018 and onwards. Refer to the Clinical Placement Guidelines and Mandatory Checks Requirements for Clinical Placement for more details.

Vocational Placement and Work Integrated Learning

Students must complete a Vocational Placement and/or Work Integrated Learning as part of this qualification.

Additional information

There are Vocational Placement activities of at least 160 hours, in a pre-hospital / out of hospital context. These are usually identified by the student at a convenient location. The Vocational Placement activities will be negotiated between the Diploma of Paramedical Science Qualification Coordinator and the individual student to ensure suitability of placements. Vocational Placement opportunities may also be identified by the University. All costs in attending Vocational Placements are borne by the student. Before commencing Vocational Placement, students must submit all CQU requirements to the Schools Work Integrated Learning Officers nine weeks prior to commencement. Immunisation and infection control: Hepatitis B Influenza vaccine Tuberculosis (TB) – Mantoux test or QuantiFERON Gold test Varicella (chickenpox) Adult Diptheria/Tetanus/Pertussis Measles, Mumps Rubella Blue Card: Queensland Blue Card Application Form available here. Identification Verification by a prescribed person form (for those students posting in their applications to be submitted with the Blue Card form – can be found under Supporting Forms) Authorisation to confirm a valid card/application (For those students that already have a valid Blue Card with another organisation/club) Student Orientation Checklist: Students will be required to undertake an organisational and site specific orientation induction for their vocational placement activities. Current approved First Aid Certificate and updated CPR: HLTAID003 First Aid valid for 3 years, but CPR requires updating every 12 months. CQUniversity requires students to attain a first-aid certificate from a registered training provider within the first year of enrolment and maintain competency in HLTAID001 - CPR.

VET Student Loan Information

VET Student Loans may be available for eligible students in approved Diploma level qualifications. The loan can be used towards Tuition Fees only and does not cover additional expenses such as textbooks, uniforms, equipment, travel, tools, and accommodation or general living expenses. Loan limits or caps may apply for some eligible courses and where a loan limit is reached for a course, students may be required to pay upfront for any remaining units.

For more information or to check your eligibility for a VET Student Loan, please visit our VET Student Loans webpage or contact us .

Course Details

Course Type Qualification
Student Availability
  • Domestic
Fees For detailed information on Course Fees, visit www.cqu.edu.au/fees
Application Mode
  • Tertiary Admission Centre (TAC)
How to Apply Please Enquire
Study Area
  • Health
Skill Area
  • Health
AQF Level Level 5: Diploma

Admission Codes

Domestic Students
Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes
  • ROK - 895310
International Students
CRICOS Codes 		Not Applicable

Student Outcomes, Career Opportunities and Occupations

Patient Transport Officer, First Responder.

Course Structures

In order to complete this course, you must:

  1. Complete 9 core units
  2. Complete 8 elective units

Study Mode Definitions

  • Online: Online courses provide the flexibility to study without normally requiring a student to visit a campus. Course content is studied through a number of means including the use of online discussion forums, electronic library resources, by contacting lecturers and teachers, and receiving study materials online/electronically. Work integrated learning, including placements, may be included in some courses.
  • On-campus: Students studying in on-campus mode typically are expected to attend and participate in regular, structured on-campus teaching and learning activities throughout the University’s academic term. These activities may include lectures, tutorials, workshops and practice, online or other activities and normally will be timetabled at a CQUniversity campus or approved delivery site.
  • Mixed Mode: Students studying in mixed mode will participate in a combination of online learning activities in addition to site-specific learning activities, which may include residential schools, co-op placements and/or work-integrated learning as a compulsory requirement of a unit. The additional site-specific learning activities are what differentiates a mixed-mode unit from an online unit.

*All study modes may include Vocational placement and/or work integrated learning.

Select a course structure below to view the delivery details, including the different study modes offered for each structure.

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Course Assessment Information

RPL - Students who have previous informal and formal learning need to advise their trainer/assessor prior to enrolment. If the student wishes to apply for an RPL they need to apply to the RPL Centre.
Credit transfer - If credit for relevant formal qualifications is sought, then the process will be actioned after the student has enrolled in at least one unit of competency as directed by the relevant trainer/assessor. The Trainer/Assessor will work with the student on their credit transfer application, and provide advice and support as necessary.
Assessment Types
Written/Electronic Assessment
Practical Task
Third Party Verification
RPL
Course Learning Outcomes
Where and when can I start?
Please view the more details information for any additional information related to this course.

Domestic 2020 Availabilities

Domestic 2021 Availabilities

For individual class days and times for each intake please check the TAFE Timetable located here
The availabilities shown above are for the current and future years. To view any historic availabilities please press "Show Historic Availabilities" below:

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Compulsory Attendance Requirements

Residential School

There are three (3) compulsory Residential Schools for completion of this course. Details of Residential School times and locations will be made available on the unit Moodle page at the start of each teaching term.


Residential Schools allow students to undertake hands on learning in a simulated clinical environment to put theory learned throughout the course into practice. Students are expected to engage with their peers at the Residential Schools and actively participate in activities and assessments. 


NOTE:  The third residential school for all cohorts is held ONLY at Rockhampton Campus. Residential Schools one and two are available on Rockhampton, Brisbane, Melbourne and Adelaide Campuses. 


Vocational Placement

There is a compulsory Vocational Placement component of this course of 160 hours. Students will attend a pre-hospital organisation for at least 160 hours of placement where a portfolio of evidence will be gathered for successful completion. All costs regarding placement and attendance at Residential Schools are borne by the student. 


Pre-placement Mandatory Requirements

Before commencing Vocational Placement, students must submit all CQU requirements to the Schools Work Integrated Learning Officers nine weeks prior to commencement of placement:

  • Immunisations:
    • Hepatitis B
    • Influenza vaccine (Optional)
    • Tuberculosis (TB) – Mantoux test or QuantiFERON Gold test (QLD Ambulance Service Placements Only)
    • Varicella (chickenpox)
    • Diptheria/Tetanus/Pertussis
    • Measles, Mumps Rubella
  • Working with Children Check (WWCC) in the state where the placement is taking place
  • National Police Check
  • Current approved First Aid Certificate and updated CPR:
    • HLTAID003 First Aid is valid for three years, but CPR requires updating every 12 months.  
      CQUniversity requires students to attain a first-aid certificate from a registered training provider within the first year of enrolment and maintain competency in HLTAID001-Perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.  

Uniform Requirements

For placement activities and residential schools the following uniform standards are required:

  • Navy blue or black trousers
  • Paramedic Razor Polo (from CQUni Bookshop)
  • Navy blue or black socks with trousers
  • Closed in shoes according to organisational requirements. 

Additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will also need to be purchased as a Workplace Health and Safety requirement when on practical placement as per the organisations requirements. This may include specific footwear.


Textbook Requirements

It is recommended that students purchase the following textbooks:

  • Textbook of Adult Emergency Medicine, 5th Edition: Cameron, Little, Mitra & Deasy
  • Oxford Australian Mini Dictionary, Fourth Edition: Oxford

Resource and Computing Requirements

It is strongly recommended that students have access to a broadband connection or higher to access online student resources that include but are not limited to, email, Internet, video streaming and electronic assessment submission.  Students must also be familiar with using USB devices, retrieving electronic material, and uploading documents to and downloading documents from the online course. 


Students are also required to create and complete tasks using Microsoft Office software products such as Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. It is expected that students have a basic level of proficiency in these products prior to course commencement


VET Student Loan Information

VET Student Loans may be available for eligible students in approved Diploma level qualifications. The loan can be used towards Tuition Fees only and does not cover additional expenses such as textbooks, uniforms, equipment, travel, tools, and accommodation or general living expenses. Loan limits or caps may apply for some eligible courses and where a loan limit is reached for a course, students may be required to pay upfront for any remaining units. 


For more information or to check your eligibility for a VET Student Loan, please visit our VET Student Loans webpage or contact us.