PAR1001 · Essential paramedic practice 1

Overview

In this unit, you will begin developing your professional practice as a paramedic by engaging with the standards, values, and responsibilities that underpin contemporary paramedicine. The unit supports the development of your paramedic identity through an exploration of the evolution of the profession in Australia, alongside the legal, ethical, and professional frameworks that guide practice. You will build foundational clinical knowledge by examining common health conditions and applying a novice-level, person-centred and evidence-based approach to patient assessment and care. Emphasis is placed on safe, inclusive, and professional communication, informed by population diversity and principles of cultural safety. The unit also introduces strategies to support paramedic health and wellbeing in dynamic clinical environments, recognising their importance in sustaining safe and competent practice over time.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Assessment in this unit includes hurdle assessment tasks. Failure of any hurdle assessment task may result in failure of the unit.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

Learning outcomes

1. Apply the Paramedicine Board of Australia Professional Standards and the shared Code of Conduct to guide professional practice.
2. Discuss legal and ethical principles that inform paramedic practice.
3. Examine the evolution of paramedicine through reflexive consideration of paramedic identity.
4. Examine how population diversity and culturally safe concepts inform professional practice.
5. Discuss foundational pathophysiology and epidemiology of common health conditions and disease presentations.
6. Explore strategies to address health and wellbeing challenges of paramedics.
7. Apply professional and inclusive communication strategies in clinical settings.
8. Demonstrate at a novice level a person-centred, evidence-based approach to the clinical assessment and care of patients.
9. Demonstrate at a novice level the knowledge, skills, and attributes required for safe and competent paramedic practice.

Workload

Lectures and online activities: 5 hours per week Tutorials: 2 hours per week Practicals: 3 hours per week Self directed learning: 12.3 Work Integrated Learning: 2 days/20 hours (AHPRA accredited and assessed by shifts rather than hours due to varying shift times) Workload: A combination of lectures, tutorials, practicals, online activities and self-directed study. Total 24hrs per week. 2 days of work integrated learning (shifts vary from 8-12 hours)

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.