Central Queensland University

What you'll study

The Bachelor of Paramedicine combines biomedical sciences, clinical skills, professional practice and research methods to prepare you for frontline emergency care. The curriculum builds from foundational anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology through to advanced clinical assessment, pharmacology, trauma management and critical care interventions.

• Core biomedical and clinical sciences: human anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, clinical decision-making
• Emergency and primary care skills: airway management, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, advanced life support principles, trauma assessment and management
• Specialist practice areas: paediatrics, obstetrics and neonatal care, mental health and behavioural emergencies, geriatrics
• Advanced and extended practice: advanced assessment techniques, pharmacotherapy in pre-hospital settings, critical care and retrieval medicine concepts
• Professional practice and systems: ambulance operations, clinical governance, legal and ethical aspects, interprofessional practice and communication
• Research and evidence-based practice: critical appraisal, applied research methods and quality improvement relevant to pre-hospital care
• Practical learning: high-fidelity simulation, skills laboratories, scenario-based learning and supervised clinical placements with ambulance and health services

Program delivery typically mixes on-campus intensive blocks, simulation-based sessions and supported online study to accommodate students in metropolitan and regional areas.

Entry requirements

Entry is competitive and applicants are expected to meet the university's general admission requirements and demonstrate suitability for health professional practice. Typical requirements include:

• Successful completion of secondary education or an equivalent tertiary pathway recognised by the university.
• Proficiency in English demonstrated through recognised qualifications or testing if English is not your first language.
• Prior study in relevant sciences (for example biology or chemistry) is recommended but not always mandatory; it strengthens applications.
• Health and safety requirements for clinical placement such as immunisation documentation, current cardiopulmonary resuscitation certification, and possibly a First Aid certificate.
• Successful completion of clinical suitability checks which may include criminal history checks (e.g. police check), working with vulnerable people checks, and occupational health screening.
• Applicants with prior tertiary study or relevant health experience may be considered through alternative admission pathways or credit transfer where appropriate.

Meeting the minimum academic entry criteria does not guarantee offer; selection may consider personal statements, interviews or aptitude testing where used by the university.

Career prospects

Graduates are eligible to work as paramedics in ambulance services, hospitals and community health settings. Common career pathways include:

• Clinical paramedic roles within state and private ambulance services
• Advanced and specialist practice such as intensive care paramedics, aeromedical retrieval and road crash rescue following further training and experience
• Community paramedicine delivering primary health care, chronic disease management and aged care services
• Roles in emergency management, disaster response and public safety agencies
• Clinical education, training and simulation facilitation for paramedic students and staff
• Health service research, policy or quality improvement roles related to pre-hospital care

Many graduates also undertake postgraduate study or professional development to specialise or to progress into leadership, education or advanced clinical practice roles.

Why study at Central Queensland University

Central Queensland University offers a paramedicine degree with a strong emphasis on practical skills, regional and remote health practice, and partnerships with ambulance services and health providers. Key strengths include:

• Access to purpose-built clinical skills labs and high-fidelity simulation facilities that replicate pre-hospital environments
• A focus on rural, regional and remote practice with curriculum and placement opportunities that reflect the needs of non-metropolitan communities
• Strong clinical placement networks across varying service settings, giving students supervised real-world experience
• Teaching staff with clinical backgrounds in paramedicine and emergency care, supported by interprofessional learning with allied health and nursing disciplines
• Flexible study options that can include block delivery and online components to support students living outside major cities
• Student support services for academic skills, career planning and placement preparation

Together, these features prepare graduates to meet the practical and professional demands of contemporary paramedic practice across diverse Australian contexts.