Australian Catholic University

What you'll study

This combined degree integrates core nursing and paramedicine knowledge, clinical skills and professional practice. You will study human anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, health assessment and clinical decision‑making alongside paramedic-specific subjects such as emergency care, pre‑hospital management, trauma and medical emergencies, and ambulance systems. Nursing components cover fundamentals of nursing practice, adult and older person care, perioperative care, mental health, maternal and child health, community and primary health, chronic disease management and evidence‑based practice.

Learning is a mix of lectures, tutorials, simulated clinical scenarios in dedicated skills and simulation labs, and extensive workplace placements in hospitals, ambulance services and community settings. Research methods and professional issues, including ethics, cultural safety and interprofessional practice, are threaded through the program to prepare graduates for contemporary health services and continuing professional development.

Typical modules and topics

• Anatomy and physiology for health practitioners
• Fundamentals of nursing practice and clinical skills
• Pharmacology and medication management
• Emergency and trauma care in the pre‑hospital environment
• Clinical decision making and diagnostic reasoning
• Mental health care and psychosocial assessment
• Community and primary health nursing
• Research methods and evidence‑based practice
• Professional practice, ethics and cultural safety

Entry requirements

Applicants are normally expected to have completed secondary education or demonstrate equivalent prior learning. Satisfactory English proficiency is required; where English is not the applicant’s first language, an approved English test score or equivalent evidence of competence will be required. Background study in science or health subjects is advantageous but not always mandatory.

Successful applicants must meet professional and clinical requirements before commencing placements, which commonly include a current immunisation status consistent with health sector requirements, a national police/criminal history check, and a working with children or equivalent check where relevant. Applicants may also need to provide evidence of current CPR certification and meet health and fitness standards for clinical practice. Mature‑age applicants and those with prior tertiary study or relevant health experience may be considered through alternative entry pathways.

Career prospects

Graduates are equipped for employment in a wide range of clinical roles. On successful registration, career destinations include work as a registered nurse in acute hospitals, emergency departments, intensive care, perioperative services, mental health and community nursing, as well as paramedic roles in state and private ambulance services, aeromedical retrieval, event medicine, and search and rescue. The dual qualification also supports roles in primary care, aged care, health promotion, education, clinical coordination and management.

Holding both nursing and paramedicine qualifications gives graduates flexibility to move between hospital and pre‑hospital settings, pursue postgraduate specialisation (for example in emergency care, critical care, retrieval, or advanced practice), or transition into research, policy and leadership positions within health services.

Why study at Australian Catholic University

ACU emphasises practical, person‑centred healthcare education with a focus on ethical practice and cultural safety. The university provides access to dedicated clinical skills and simulation facilities that mimic real‑world emergency and ward environments, and coordinates clinical placements across metropolitan and regional health services to ensure diverse hands‑on experience.

Students benefit from small cohort teaching, interprofessional learning opportunities with other health disciplines, and support services for placement preparation, academic skills and student wellbeing. The combined program is designed to meet the competencies expected by relevant professional authorities, preparing graduates for registration and employment across a broad range of healthcare settings.