This offers you a rewarding, fast-paced career that makes a difference to people’s lives. You will acquire the knowledge and skills to work as a qualified ambulance officer in paramedic and emergency care settings in any state of Australia and overseas.
This course is available on a full-time basis on the Bathurst Campus or by distance education.
Students may elect to exit the course following successful completion of the first two years of full-time study or three years of distance education study with the award Associate Degree in Clinical Practice (Paramedic).
Full-time students may be eligible for employment with an ambulance service after two years' full-time study and may then continue to study externally to receive their Bachelor degree.
The course is also available by distance education to students already employed as qualified ambulance officer/paramedics or medics in the Army, Navy or Air Force.
Selection of applicants is on the basis of probability of success, not on UAI score alone.
CSU and the Ambulance Service of NSW have established a new program designed to fast track entry into the paramedic profession. The Accelerated Paramedic Pathway Program guarantees students employment with the Ambulance Service of NSW while studying the third year of CSU’s Bachelor of Clinical Practice (Paramedic).
The accelerated program provides students with the opportunity to:
Click on the link to download the Accelerated Paramedic Pathway Program flyer. 245KB [PDF]
Further information about the program is available in the Ambulance Service of NSW Frequently Asked Questions. 256KB [PDF]
For more information on the Ambulance Service of NSW, please visit the website.
Graduates work professionally in paramedic occupations as ambulance officers, paramedics and emergency response personnel. Most ambulance authorities now offer graduate programs and specifically target CSU students.
This course is taught in conjunction with the Ambulance Service of NSW.
To make sure you are experienced in using the equipment and techniques found in the workplace, our facilities include practice teaching laboratories containing the latest equipment needed for treating patients in the pre-hospital care environment.
Full-time students spend up to four hours each week practising their clinical skills in a simulated paramedic environment.
Clinical placement is undertaken in authorised healthcare settings as the student progresses through the course. The clinical placement experience is invaluable for the student paramedic as it links theory with practice.
These subjects develop skills in clinical procedures such as advanced cardiac life support, ECG analysis and management, airway management including endotracheal intubation, laryngeal mask airways, cricothyrotomy, and percutaneous transtracheal ventilation. Advanced life support for paediatric patients is also covered during these sessions. The subject Major Incident Management CLS310 develops an understanding of principles and techniques of major incident prevention, preparedness, response and recovery. Students will gain experience in major incident medical response principles through participation in a field exercise during the residential period.
The clinical internship subject CLS302 involves a clinical placement in a large urban or regional hospital for DE students only. DE students work in theatres, emergency department and intensive care to consolidate the skills and knowledge developed during this course. The hospital placement consists of 160 hours however this may be undertaken during days off, rather than a single block of time. Internal students work on the road with advanced care practitioners. Some rural and regional hospital placements may also be available.
Students may choose to exit from the course with the award of Associate Degree in Clinical Practice (Paramedic) upon satisfactory completion of the first 15 subjects (or 128 subject points).
Exemptions will be considered where it can be demonstrated that previous study matches specified subjects in the program. A substitute subject or subjects will be determined following consultation with the Course Coordinator.
Credit for prior learning and credit for current competencies will be granted to eligible applicants.
Qualified ambulance officers in NSW may be eligible for up to 66% credit in the Diploma course. Advanced Life Support (Level 4) officers in NSW may be eligible for up to 50% credit in the Bachelor degree. Paramedic (Level 5) officers may be eligible for up to 66% credit in the Bachelor degree.
Qualified ambulance officers, paramedics or medics serving in a full-time capacity in the Australian defence forces and related health professionals with appropriate experience and qualifications are invited to apply for credit for prior learning. Credit will be assessed on an individual basis.
Distance education students may need to attend some residential sessions in order to develop the required clinical skills.
Residential sessions are associated with the following subjects:
Refer to the Clinical Requirements section following for information on:
To graduate, students must satisfactorily complete 192 points for the degree. All full-time students must complete a clinical placement with an approved ambulance service.
Students will graduate from the Bachelor of Clinical Practice (Paramedic) with the award BClinicalPrac(Paramedic).
Upon completion of course requirements for the Bachelor of Clinical Practice (Paramedic), students can apply for entry into:
Master of Health Science (Honours)
Master of Health Services Management
Postgraduate Certificate in Intensive Care Paramedic Studies
| Study through | Bathurst |
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| Fee information | Australian & New Zealand students International students |
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| Admission rank cut-offs | ATAR + criteria |
| CRICOS registered | 036176A |
Choose your preferred method. Make note of the admission code as you will need this to complete your application. More information on application closing dates.
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| Apply online | Australian and New Zealand students Admission code:
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International students Admission code:
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| Mail your application | Australian and New Zealand students International students |
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| Recruitment agent | International students |
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You will study subjects in areas including: paramedical science, health services management, emergency management, clinical studies, social science, law and ethics.
Students may choose to exit the course with the award Associate Degree in Clinical Practice (Paramedic) after completing the first 15 subjects.
An indicative course structure and enrolment pattern are available in the CSU Handbook.
To be admitted into the course, prospective students need to indicate their likelihood of success through:
Previous studies include:
NSW and interstate school leavers are normally selected on the basis of their Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) or interstate equivalent. You may also be admitted on the basis of a strong performance in subjects relevant to your course preferences.
Currently no secondary school subjects are prerequisites for admission to particular CSU courses however some courses assume a certain level of knowledge. This will be specified in the course information if applicable.
Applicants will be deemed to have sufficient English proficiency if they:
All other applicants must explicitly demonstrate proficiency.
Acceptable tests for English proficiency
Any of the following results, attained within the last two years, can be used to demonstrate English proficiency:
An applicant who does not otherwise meet the University’s requirements may be admitted on the recommendation of the Dean of the appropriate faculty.
You may also be admitted to a course based on other attainments and experience. These may include:
CSU places great emphasis on services to its students. It is a leader in the provision of online services and, in particular, the use of the internet in the support of teaching, administration and communications with students.
The online environment is so integrated into all aspects of student life and the learning experience at CSU that the University now assumes that all on campus and distance education students at CSU will have ongoing access to an internet connected computer capable of communicating with CSU online systems.
Students enrolled in Information Technology subjects (i.e. with an ITC subject code) may be required to have additional hardware and/or software that is deemed essential for the completion of the learning activities in that subject.
Assumed knowledge for the Bachelor of Clinical Practice (Paramedic) includes any two units of English. Chemistry and biology are recommended studies.
Applicants will need to download and complete the additional information form, which is available on the CSU form site. Failure to do so could prejudice your entry to the course. Completed forms should be sent to the University by early December of the year prior to commencement of study, to the address on the additional information form.
Please note that entry into the double degree program Bachelor of Nursing/Bachelor of Clinical Practice (Paramedic) is highly competitive. Therefore students can also elect to enrol into the Bachelor of Clinical Practice (Paramedic) and then on completion enrol in the Bachelor of Nursing to complete the double degree.
Special admission to the full-time course is available for mature age students, educationally disadvantaged and others who are ineligible for ordinary admission as school leavers.
The following indicators may be used to demonstrate potential:
Eligibility for the distance education version of Bachelor of Clinical Practice (Paramedic) is restricted to qualified ambulance officers/paramedics who are working towards, or have completed, accredited vocational training within a recognised ambulance service to diploma level or equivalent. Full-time medics (medical assistants) working with the Australian Defence Forces are also eligible for admission to the Bachelor degree, depending on the level of training completed.
Senior First Aid Certificate
All students are required to have a current Senior First Aid Certificate, obtained at their own cost, from an accredited body (Workcover approved) before undertaking clinical placements.
NOTE: As many courses include a clinical practicum in the first session, students are advised to complete their Senior First Aid Certificate prior to commencement of their first year of study.
Criminal Record Clearance
The Department of Health in NSW, and most other states, currently require all health facility staff, including students on clinical placement, to undergo criminal record checks. The checks are intended to identify people who have convictions for such things as violence or sexual offences, who may put patients’/clients’ personal safety or health at risk. Traffic violations and other minor offences are not of interest.
All students must therefore have a Criminal Record Clearance prior to placement in any capacity in the NSW Health system and most other State organisations. Prospective students should be aware that an inability to obtain a Criminal Record Clearance will make it impossible to complete this course satisfactorily as it will not be possible to arrange suitable clinical placements.
In addition, all students are required to complete a Prohibited Employment Declaration indicating whether or not they are a prohibited person under the Child Protection Act 1998.
If you have any queries regarding these requirements, including the opportunities available for review of a particular case, contact the Course Coordinator.
Immunisation - Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination Against Infectious Diseases
NSW Health is committed to ensuring the health and safety of all clients in health care settings and providing a safe and healthy working environment for all staff and other clinical personnel, including students. This commitment includes adopting an assessment, screening and vaccination policy Occupational Assessment Screening and Vaccination Against Specific Infectious Diseases (PD2007_006) that minimises the risk of acquiring infectious diseases. Compliance with this policy is mandatory for all health facility staff, including students on clinical placement.
All students must undergo vaccination against infectious diseases prior to placement within the NSW Health System, and most other Australian State Health Systems. Results of these vaccinations are kept on a personal record card (available from the School through which the student is studying). This card must be presented, upon request, by NSW Health, or other State Health staff, whilst the student is on placement.
The Policy requires that you consult your local doctor to obtain written proof of protection against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox and hepatitis B.
NOTE: It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that the requirements of this policy have been met, and failure to comply with the requirements may jeopardise completion of your studies.
As a full course of vaccinations may take several months to complete, you are advised to consult your local medical practitioner well in advance of the commencement of your clinical experience placement. Please contact your medical practitioner to identify your local TB screening provider and ensure the screening is completed prior to your first clinical placement.
Further information is available from NSW Health.
For all inquiries about Charles Sturt University courses, please contact info.csu on:
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Telephone: 1800 334 733 (free call within Australia) |