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Paramedic 3

Queensland Paramedics perform pre-hospital emergency patient care, principally in accordance with the provisions of the Ambulance Service Act 1991 as amended and under the delegated medical authority of the QAS Medical Director. Officers are only authorised to undertake clinical procedures and administer drugs in accordance with their individual clinical skill level and the protocols and principles of the QAS Clinical Practice Manual.

A Paramedic 3 within the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) provides Advanced Care skills as per the QAS Clinical Practice Manual. Advanced Care Paramedics are clinical mentors for Student Paramedics and Paramedic 1 Officers.

The Health (Drugs and Poisons) Regulations 1996 – as amended, details the particular pharmacological agents that QAS Officers may obtain, possess and administer. Use of these agents by individual officers is based on the successful completion of the relevant training modules and compliance with the procedural aspects of the QAS Clinical Practice Manual.

What are the primary objectives of a Paramedic 3?

The goal of the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) is to minimise loss of life, reduce pain and suffering and promote optimal recovery of patients who require pre-hospital emergency patient care, emergency medical response, or specialised transportation.

What are the key accountabilities of a Paramedic 3?

Provide a high standard of pre-hospital emergency patient care and the provision of ambulance transport services for members of the community.

Comply with the Queensland Ambulance Service Act 1991, all Queensland Ambulance Service policies and procedures and the relevant Industrial Award and agreements.

Undertake and accept responsibility for the self-maintenance of patient care skills (theoretical and practical) for the provision of a high standard of pre-hospital patient care in accordance with QAS policies and procedures.

Have an appreciation of the needs of various client groups including but not limited to the aged, people from diverse cultural background, or with disabilities.

Maintain all Ambulance vehicles and equipment in a state of operational readiness and ensure that QAS premises are kept clean at all times.

Provide information and education on Ambulance related matters to members of the public and other training services as deemed necessary by the Commissioner, QAS.

Contribute to a safe and healthy working environment through an understanding of contemporary human resource management policies and practices and available staff support services such as “Priority One” Telephone Counselling Service and other departmental resources.

What are the mandatory requirements for a Paramedic 3?

If you are applying for assessment against the field of Paramedic 3 you must meet the following mandatory requirements:

Hold a current manual drivers licence and obtain a Queensland drivers licence upon appointment and maintain this licence throughout your employment;

Hold a Diploma of Paramedical Science (Ambulance) or equivalent;
Be an Australian Citizen or have permanent residency status or be a New Zealand Citizen after 26.02.2001 or hold a current and valid working visa; and

A minimum of three years experience in a State jurisdiction Ambulance Service; and
Provide evidence of currency of practice within this field in the last 12 months.

What are the academic qualifications of a Paramedic 3?

The EOQ moderation panel will be assessing your qualifications against the Diploma of Paramedical Science (Ambulance).

You must be able to provide documentation and evidence that supports completion the following Units of Competency or equivalent.

CORE Units
BSB CMN 204A	Work effectively with others
BSB FLM 3031	Contribute to the effective workplace relationship
HLT AMB FC1A	Communicate within an ambulance environment
HLT AMB FC2A	Communicate in complex or difficult situations
HLT AMB PD1A	Manage personal stressors in the work environment * (Pre-requisite subject is Work effectively in the health industry – HLTHIR1A)
PUA COM 005A	Foster a positive image in the community
HLT AMB AE1A	Enable safe access and egress in an emergency
HLT AMB AE2A	Implement specialist access and egress procedures
HLT AMB SC1A	Manage routine scene
HLT AMB AE3A	Follow procedures for routine safe extrication of patient
HLT AMB AE4A	Follow procedures for safe extrication of patient in a life threatening situation
HLT AMB SC3A	Manage the scene of an emergency
HLT AMB SC2A	Manage the scene of a special event
HLT AMB T1A	Transport non-emergency patients
HLT AMB T2A	Transport emergency patients
PUA VEH 001A	Drive Vehicles Under Operational Conditions
HLT AMB CR1A	Deliver basic patient care
HLT AMB CR2A	Deliver standard pre-hospital patient care * (Pre-requisite subject is Basic Ambulance Care – HLTAMBCR1A)
HLT HIR 1A	Work effectively in the health industry
HLT HIR 2A	Contribute to organisational effectiveness in the health industry
HLT IN 1A	Comply with infection control policies and procedures
PUA OHS 003A	Implement & monitor organisations OH & S Policies, procedures and programs
ELECTIVE Subjects
HLT HIR 3A	Work effectively with culturally diverse patients, clients, customers and co-workers
HLT HIR 4A	Work effectively in a cross cultural context with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, colleagues, clients and organisations

* This subject has pre-requisite subjects.

For details on unit description and performance criteria for the list of Units of Competence above, please refer to the EOQ Evidence Package for Paramedic 3 (PDF / 429 KB).

What is the minimum experience required to be a Paramedic 3?

It is expected that applicants hold a minimum of 3 years experience as a qualified Paramedic in an appropriate pre-hospital environment.

If you are a part-time, casual or volunteer officer you will be required to demonstrate a minimum of 5500 hours experience in a suitable pre-hospital care, emergency environment.

Please note that ‘Station Standby’ is not considered as appropriate pre-hospital care experience, actual patient care must be demonstrated.

In your application you will be required to submit a "Statement of Employment" that outlines your employment history. Details should include:

Commencement and Termination dates
Positions held and duration
Type of employment, such as full-time, part-time, casual or volunteer duties
A description of work history e.g.

High diversity – urban/large city
low diversity – small town/rural

Referees and contact numbers

Do I have to demonstrate Clinical Currency?

You must be able to demonstrate clinical currency to the prescribed criteria of a Paramedic 3 (Advance Care) within the last 12 months prior to date of application. If you are unable to provide evidence to support your currency, you will be required to coordinate a “Skills Assessment Report” by an authorised assessor / educator. This may be completed through your current/past employer. Please use the QAS skills assessment report as a guide to the requirements.

In some cases an assessment may be coordinated through an appropriate Regional Staff Development Unit (QAS), where this is requested details will be provided on location and process.

What are the clinical practice requirements of a Paramedic 3?

You are required to demonstrate competency and currency in the following pharmacological agents and clinical procedures:

Acetylsalicylic Acid	Glyceryl Trinitrate (Anginine)
Adrenaline	Hartmann’s
Box Jelly-fish Anti-venene	Methoxyflurane
Entonox	Midazolam
Glucagon	Naloxone
Paracetamol	Salbutamol

Laryngoscopy & McGills forceps	Laryngeal Mask Airway
Nasopharyngeal Airways	Oropharyngeal Airways
Semi Automatic (advisory) Defibrillation/Monitoring	Manual (non advisory) Defibrillation/Monitoring
I.M. Injection	I.V. Cannulation
Nebulisation	Glucometry

Apart from these procedures you will be required to demonstrate your clinical currency in all Advanced Care procedures, as per the QAS Clinical Practice Manual.

What if I haven’t worked in the pre-hospital care environment for more than three years?

You must be able to demonstrate clinical currency to the prescribed criteria of a Paramedic 3 (Advanced Care) as set out above. If you are unable to provide evidence of working in a pre-hospital care/emergency services environment within the past three years it is recommended that you apply for the next Student Paramedic Recruitment Campaign. Please refer to the recruitment general information page for details.

Due to technical and clinical changes experienced in the pre-hospital care/emergency services environment, it is considered that periods of three years or greater without clinical exposure limits the abilities of a Paramedic.

How do I apply for EOQ against the Paramedic 3 requirements?

If you are interested in applying for Equivalence of Qualifications against the QAS requirements for a Paramedic 3 you will be required to firstly review the EOQ Qualification Matrix then download the EOQ Evidence Package for Paramedic 3 (PDF / 435 KB). Complete all relevant forms and documents as outlined in the EOQ Application Package. You will also be required to attach all relevant supporting documentation and submit them to:

Equivalence of Qualification Process
QAS Basegrade Recruitment
Shared Service Agency
GPO Box 2946
Brisbane Qld 4001

Last updated 20 February 2006