Multicultural cadet paramedic program

Working as a cadet in the program

Cadets in the program come from various work and volunteer backgrounds. Each person bringing their own unique experience and connection within their community.

As a cadet in this program, you will gain the knowledge and skills you need to take care of people in the pre-hospital environment. This may be in their homes, at the scene of an emergency or in a disaster. You and your clinical supervisor will assess the scene, check the patient's condition and give them care before they go to hospital or a medical facility.

Program structure

Our program includes:

• a fully funded tertiary education through our partner provider Central Queensland University
• full time work as an ambulance officer in the pre-hospital environment
• on the job clinical supervision and learning support
• paid study time and access to tutoring, if you need it.

When you join the program, you will work through the following educational milestones:

• Certificate IV in Health Care
• Tertiary enabling course - CQU STEPs
• Bachelor of Paramedic Science

At completion of the Bachelor and receiving Ahpra registration, you will enter the Graduate Paramedic Program.

Please read the Indigenous Paramedic and CALD Course brochure [PDF 433.25 KB] for information about the training you will receive as Indigenous cadet.

How to apply

There is no active recruitment campaign currently.

To be notified for future intakes fill in our expression of interest form

Read our applicant information kit [PDF 354.57 KB] to learn more about working with the QAS.

Who can do the program

Positions in this program are culturally specific and vacancies are determined by the QAS regional and community profiles. Not all regions have positions within this program however we are continually reviewing this year to year.

You’ll need to show evidence that you meet the following criteria in your application or expression of interest.

You can confirm your cultural heritage

To confirm this attribute, you be required to provide us a certified copy of your birth certificate showing your birth in the specified country or supporting documentation showing belonging to a specific cultural groupgroup e.g. Māori. You can also show this evidence through the birth certificate of a parent or grandparent born in this specified country.

We ask you to confirm your heritage because there’s a genuine need to employ a person from a specified community in this role. We’re able to do this under Section 25 of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991 (Qld).

It can take time to get these documents, so it’s a good idea to apply for them early if you want to join the program.

You have strong engagement, relationships and actively participate in the community where you’ll work

To show this, we will need a written reference from a suitable local community member who can support your application. We will provide you with a template.

Being part of your community and understanding their ways will help you deliver culturally safe and equitable health care.

You have a senior secondary school certificate, or higher qualification

You need to have one of the following to apply.

• Year 12 Certificate
• Certificate III qualification in any area
• An equivalent or higher qualification

If you don’t have a copy, you can contact the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority for a replacement. We’ll also accept your USI VET transcript.

If you don’t have a copy, and you went to school overseas you will need to contact the relevant education authority to request this.

You can drive a manual motor vehicle in Queensland

To take part in the program, you need a Queensland C Car open or provisional licence for a manual motor vehicle.

If you only have an automatic licence you can still apply, but you need to get your manual licence before you are considered for the next stage of the recruitment phase.

If you do not have a manual license, you can provide booking evidence for your manual driving test upon application.

Please note that is some areas there may be a period of 1 to 2 months for an available testing date.

You can do shift work

We operate 24 hours a day. You must be able to work during the day, afternoon or night on weekdays, weekends and public holidays.

Rostered shifts can be 10 to 12 hours long depending on the station roster and sometimes you may be on call.

You’re fit and healthy, and have all your vaccinations

Check that you meet our medical standards for paramedics [PDF 218.87 KB] before you apply.

You need to show evidence that you’ve had all the vaccinations listed. You can ask your GP for this, or show an immunisation statement from the Australian Immunisation Register.

Some vaccinations are given in a series of doses over several months. It’s a good idea to start getting them early so you can apply for the program.

You have the right to work in Australia

All new employees must provide evidence of eligibility to work in Australia.

Evidence must be provided by supplying original or certified copies of your right to work in Australia (e.g. an Australian passport, a valid visa with work rights)

You’re able to register with Ahpra

When you finish your degree, you need to register with Ahpra, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency to work as a qualified paramedic. You can review their registration standards for paramedics and read their fact sheets to learn more.

After you apply

We’ll meet you for an interview if your application is successful. We usually hold this where you’ll be working, or nearby. There’s usually 3 or 4 people who will interview you, including:

• a regional human resource officer
• panel chair – from the Cultural Safety Unit
• a community representative
• an officer in charge or clinical education support officer

You’ll also do a computer test and a group activity. We may ask you to fill in or verify certain documents.

As part of the recruitment process, we also do checks for your:

• references and qualifications
• criminal history
• traffic history
• working with children clearance (blue card), if you need it.

Learn more about our working for us.

Starting the program

When you first start the program, you’ll do 6 weeks of basic training.

This usually includes:

• 4 weeks at Queensland Combined Emergency Services Academy, Whyte Island, Brisbane
• 1 week driver training
• 2 weeks regional induction.

We’ll arrange and pay for your travel and accommodation if you don’t live nearby.

After the induction period you will begin working in the local district over a probation period.

Contacts

For more information contact our Indigenous Recruitment Team at QASIndigenousRecruitment@ambulance.qld.gov.au.