ASNSW Paramedics (Are you one?)

[Grover-98]

I am currently undertaking studies at university in the area of "Construction Management" and am a current member of "Fire & Rescue NSW"

I have been looking into the prospect of becoming a Paramedic to compliment my service in the Fire Brigade instead of continuing on with my studies for the construction industry. So after much research into the process involved i have also been interested in getting some first hand comments from those of you who either; work in the service, no somebody who does, have retired from the service or had anything to do with the service (other then being a patient)


Kind Regards, James.

[rockyroad]

Whilst not 100% on NSW I have just resigned from Qld Ambulance and I am pretty sure you will have to make a decision for one or the other.

Whilst wearing your fire hat you will not be allowed to do any treatment of patients and whilst wearing you ambo hat you will not be allowed to grab the cutting equipment at an accident etc.

There are many ambos who are auxillary firefighters in smaller towns but at an incident they can only perform one role.

[Treads]

I've been told they'll be advertising in late March

You'll need to have the following for inclusion in your application:

1) Passport piccie
2) Vaccination records (MMR, Hep B, DTP, chicken pox, Tuberculosis)
3) RTA driving record print out

plus a few other things

[Grover-98]

I managed to get a hold of the Recruitment center on the phone and i was informed that they are expecting to take applications Late this month or early March...

Needing a Pass port is certainly news to me... there is no mention of this on their application information pack? Perhaps this ruling has changed?

As for the comments regarding only undertaking the level of commitment at an incident as required to the service i am committed to at the time i understand this fully. My current deputy captain is a Paramedic as well as Retained Firefighter.

Thanks guys!

[Shonky]

Not quite, but imminently about to be. Currently a calltaker in Sydney Control Centre working 000.

You don't need a passport - you need passport pictures (as Treads said)

You also need a full licence and not accumulated 7 or more demerit points in the last 3 years. No exceptions.

Vaccinations against DTPa, MMR and Hep B. Keep in mind that the Hep B course is over a 6 month period so get onto this now. (They will bend this one a bit, and let you apply without having completed it but you won't be offered employment until you have completed the course and had a blood test to prove immunity.)

What sort of comments are you after? Comments on the application process? Comments on the job?

One comment on the job that I will make is that most people who apply don't realise just how much of the work is unexciting. Expect to do a lot of picking up nannas who have fallen down and cant get up (genuine need but still not exciting), a lot of 15yo girls hyperventilating, a lot of blatant time wasters (I stubbed my toe a week ago, my bum is itchy, etc etc) and a lot of jobs generated by "do gooders" who want to "do the right thing" and call an ambulance every time 2 cars make minor contact in traffic or a homeless person is trying to sleep in their usual spot or someone is vomiting out of a pulled over taxi on a Friday night.

Every now and then a "good" job crops up.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Anyone considering being a paramedic may want to consider the courses at Charles Sturt University Clinical Practice (Paramedic) - Charles Sturt University there are similar courses at other universities (like Flinders) and when I took MIMMS course there was a Yank who was enrolled in Paramediacal Studies at CSU because it was cheaper than doing similar studies at a US University.

[Shonky]

UTAS also now offer a Paramedic Degree from their Rozelle (NSW) campus.

It's an accelerated program. You do the degree over 2 years (no holidays) and you get triple the amount ofon road practicum.

[MickS]

UTAS also now offer a Paramedic Degree from their Rozelle (NSW) campus.

Ahh Rozelle..I remember when it was all psyche hospital...ward 13

[Lotz-A-Landies]

UTAS also now offer a Paramedic Degree from their Rozelle (NSW) campus.

Ahh Rozelle..I remember when it was all psyche hospital...ward 13

Ahh Rozelle..I remember when it was two psych hospitals...Broughton Hall and Callan Park

[MickS]

Ahh Rozelle..I remember when it was two psych hospitals...Broughton Hall and Callan Park

Yes indeed....fun days those...some nights it was a queue to get in...and where are they now...oh that's right, out among the public - self medicating - when they remember......