The Master of Paramedic Science is a 72-unit program offered by the College of Medicine and Public Health, on a full fee-paying basis. It is normally completed in four semesters full-time or eight semesters part-time. It articulates with the 36-unit award of Graduate Diploma in Intensive Care Paramedic Studies, and the sequentially developed topics allow progression through the two awards. Students who have completed 36 units according to the first year of the program may choose to exit with the Graduate Diploma in Intensive Care Paramedic Studies.
Students can select from a number of streams, including Industrial Paramedic, Extended Care Paramedic or Research Intensive.
The degree is offered in internal mode with face-to-face intensive workshops.
Admission requirements
Applicants must hold either a Bachelor of Paramedic Science or an equivalent degree. The Dean (Education) may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, admit others who can show evidence of fitness for candidature.
Course aims
The Master of Paramedic Science aims to equip graduates with the knowledge, skills and judgment to successfully perform the role of extended care paramedic, community paramedic or industrial paramedic. Specifically the course aims to:
- enable paramedics to acquire knowledge, skills, attitudes and values relevant to the provision of emergency care and extended scope of practice in an out of hospital setting or an industrial workplace setting
- produce graduates who are able to make complex decisions regarding the patient’s ongoing care or their capacity to continue working in the industrial setting
- produce graduates who are able to provide leadership relevant to their field of practice
- equip graduates with skills in accessing and appraising scientific and clinical information and foster an attitude towards the maintenance of professional currency which will assist their further professional development.
Learning outcomes
At the completion of the course, students are expected to be able to:
- demonstrate extended knowledge and clinical practice skills necessary for the management and provision of holistic health care for remote and metropolitan communities, or communities within the industrial settings
- integrate and apply the interdisciplinary skills and knowledge that are required to participate effectively in the planning, implementation and management of health care programs and services
- implement assessment and care of individuals from a variety of cultural groups
- articulate an advanced level of understanding in the legal, ethical and political dimensions of practice within the discipline and specialty area of practice
- apply research skills to the resolution and improvement of health outcomes for consumers in the rural, industrial or community settings
Credit
Students who are admitted into the course and have successfully completed the Graduate Diploma in Intensive Care Paramedic Studies can be awarded credit for 36 units of the course.
Program of study
To qualify for the Master of Paramedic Science, a student must complete 72 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study below.
Except with permission of the Dean (Education), the program must be completed full-time within four consecutive semesters or part-time within 12 consecutive semesters or, where credit has been granted for previous work, a period determined by the Dean (Education).
The award of a grade of Fail (F) in the same topic on more than one occasion may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University's policy on Student Progress.
Normally a student may not proceed to the second year of study unless they have satisfactorily completed the previous year’s topics.
Core - Year 1 topics
36 units comprising:
PARA8001 Advanced Bioscience for Intensive Care Paramedic Practice (4.5 units)
PARA8002 Acute Assessment and Management of Altered Perfusion (4.5 units)
PARA8003 Acute Assessment and Management of Ventilatory Abnormalities (4.5 units)
PARA8004 Principles of Intensive Care Paramedic Practice (4.5 units)
PARA8005 Acute Assessment and Management of Cardiac Dysrhythmias (4.5 units)
PARA8006 Acute Assessment and Management of Pain (4.5 units)
PARA8007 Acute Assessment and Management of Altered Conscious States (4.5 units)
PARA8008 Acute Assessment and Management of Behavioural Disturbances (4.5 units)
Core - Year 2 topics
4.5 units comprising:
MMED8903 Clinical Research Methods (4.5 units)
Plus one of the following streams, comprising 31.5 units:
Stream - Industrial Paramedic - Year 2 topics
31.5 units comprising:
PARA9000 Principles of Industrial Health Practice (4.5 units)
PARA9002 Advanced Health Care Assessment and Diagnosis (4.5 units)
PARA9003 Advanced Primary Health Care for Paramedics 1 (4.5 units)
PARA9004 Advanced Primary Health Care for Paramedics 2 (4.5 units)
MMED9111 Pharmacology for Advanced Professional Practice (4.5 units)
PARA9006 Research Project in Paramedic Practice (9 units)
Stream - Extended Care Paramedic - Year 2 topics
31.5 units comprising:
PARA9001 Principles of Extended Care Paramedic Practice (4.5 units)
PARA9002 Advanced Health Care Assessment and Diagnosis (4.5 units)
PARA9003 Advanced Primary Health Care for Paramedics 1 (4.5 units)
PARA9004 Advanced Primary Health Care for Paramedics 2 (4.5 units)
MMED9111 Pharmacology for Advanced Professional Practice (4.5 units)
PARA9006 Research Project in Paramedic Practice (9 units)
Stream - Research Intensive - Year 2 topics
31.5 units comprising:
PARA9007A Research Thesis in Paramedic Practice A (13.5 units)
PARA9007B Research Thesis in Paramedic Practice B (13.5 units)
Plus a 4.5-unit elective*.
*Students must, in consultation with the Course Coordinator, select any postgraduate elective topic offered by the University, provided any prerequisites are met.
