Recognised Courses and CAA Position Statement
The Council of Ambulance Authorities (CAA) has established an accreditation program for tertiary entry level paramedic programs to ensure that graduates from these programs have achieved the requisite competencies required for employment with an Australasian ambulance service as an entry-level Ambulance Paramedic.
The following higher education paramedic program providers have received Full Accreditation for their Undergraduate Paramedic program/s:
- Flinders University SA
- Monash University VIC
- Victoria University
The following higher education paramedic program providers have received Provisional Accreditation for their Undergraduate Paramedic program/s:
- Auckland University of Technology NZ
- Charles Sturt University NSW
- Edith Cowan University WA
- Queensland University of Technology
The following higher education providers of paramedic programs are currently engaged in the evaluation process for Provisional Accreditation for their Undergraduate Paramedic program/s:
- Australian Catholic University VIC/QLD
- Whitireia PolyTechnic NZ
The following higher education paramedic programs providers have received Preliminary Approval for their newly established Undergraduate Paramedic program/s commencing 2011:
- University of Tasmania
- Central Queensland University
The CAA wishes to acknowledge that there are other tertiary institutions currently undergoing the accreditation process which will be added to the above list once accreditation is approved.
In addition, the following Australian ambulance services deliver post-employment Diploma level paramedical studies programs to meet their current workforce needs. These programs are mutually recognised for employment as entry-level paramedics by CAA member jurisdictions. It should be noted however that there is a progressive move on these programs to recruitment of graduates from accredited higher education paramedic programs.
- Ambulance Service New South Wales
- Queensland Ambulance Service
- St John Ambulance Western Australia
- St John Ambulance Northern Territory
- ACT Ambulance Service
The CAA recognises that a number of other Vocational Education and Training (VET) providers also offer Certificate and Diploma level courses in paramedic studies. While these courses may have been developed to meet select third party employer needs, these courses are not recognised by CAA member jurisdictions for the purposes of employment as an entry-level paramedic.
Prospective students seeking to undertake these programs for the purposes of employment as an ambulance paramedic with an Australian or New Zealand ambulance service are advised to seek specific advice on the extent to which, or if any, recognition may be applicable toward potential employment prior to commencing these programs.
