AMBULANCE

> Qualifications & Pathways • Traineeships • VET In Schools • Peak Bodies & Key Stakeholders • Resources

NSW Context

The Ambulance industry is concerned with the provision of services that focus on the delivery of out-of-hospital care to the people of NSW. Qualifications in this field cover both patient care and communications roles. Qualifications focussing on patient care equip individuals to deliver out-of-hospital health care and transport to people in a variety of roles. This includes Community First Responders (Cert II), Volunteers (Cert III), Patient Transport Officers (Cert III), Paramedics (Diploma) and Intensive Care Paramedics (Advanced Diploma).

The communications qualifications train individuals to perform roles in taking calls for assistance from the community (Cert III) and despatching of ambulance resources (Cert IV).

These qualifications are primarily delivered in house by employing organisations to individuals recruited for various roles. The Ambulance Service of NSW (Ambulance) is the provider of ambulance services in NSW and is an integral part of the NSW Health system. Ambulance provides accredited training for staff recruited to roles such as Patient Transport Officer and Paramedic with no prerequisite qualifications required. Of course applicants must first satisfy recruitment requirements. Opportunities exist for Ambulance staff to apply for jobs leading to more advanced roles such as Intensive Care Paramedic.

Immunisation: Health workers and learners undertaking work placement in NSW Health facilities must comply with the assessment, screening and vaccination requirements of Policy Directive PD 2011-005

Employment Screening Policy : Health workers and learners undertaking work placement in NSW Health facilities must comply with the Employment Screening Policy. This Policy Directive sets out the mandatory requirements and procedures for the undertaking of Employment Screening of preferred applicants seeking employment for paid and unpaid positions, which includes the Working With Children Check, the Aged Care Check and the National Criminal Record Check. Further detail at Policy Directive PD2008_029

Student Clearances for Clinical Placements in NSW Public Health Facilities

NSW Department of Health Employment Screening Policy PD2008_029 requires all students enrolling in courses that involve clinical placements in NSW Public Health Facilities must undertake a National Criminal Record Check and comply with other policy requirements. For details click here

Changes to OH&S

The Commonwealth and each state and territory government have agreed to harmonise their work health and safety laws, including Regulations and Codes of Practice, so that they are similar in each jurisdiction.

The Commonwealth, states and territories are responsible for making and enforcing their own work health and safety laws. Although there are many similarities between the laws there are also some differences that can cause confusion. Australian workers should be entitled to the same work health and safety standards, regardless of the jurisdiction in which they operate.

This regulatory inconsistency is being addressed through an intergovernmental agreement(IGA) where, for the first time, governments from each state and territory and the Commonwealth have formally committed to harmonise work health and safety laws by developing and adopting a model Work Health and Safety Act supported by model Regulations and model Codes of Practice. The intention is to deliver the same work health and safety protections to all Australians. For more information click here

Qualifications and Pathways

HLT21107        Certificate II in Emergency Medical Service First Response

HLT33107        Certificate III in Basic Health Care

HLT30207        Certificate III in Non-Emergency Client Transport

HLT31907        Certificate III in Ambulance Communications (Call-taking)

HLT41107        Certificate IV in Ambulance Communications

HLT41007        Certificate IV in Health Care (Ambulance)

HLT50407        Diploma of Paramedical Science (Ambulance)

HLT60307        Advanced Diploma of Paramedical Science (Ambulance)

Recognition

Recognition of prior learning (RPL) is a significant pathway for candidates to attain a national training package qualification. There has been strong support from Commonwealth and NSW governments for RTOs to find innovative and accessible RPL strategies and approaches.

NSW Department of Education and Training is actively assisting this quest for improved RPL pathways and has worked in partnership across many industry sectors to pilot best practice models of recognition and develop supporting resources. Some of the innovation recognition pathways trialled included group, project and workplace based models.

Resources and further details are available at State Training Services

Traineeships

The Vocational Training Board establishes traineeships in NSW. Through a consultative process between peak industry groups, employers and unions, facilitated by the ITAB, qualifications are identified that meet industry requirements and have appropriate award arrangements. This information is submitted to the Board for the declaration of a vocational training order in accordance with NSW legislation.

As qualifications have a vocational training order established, they are posted on the NSW DET Commissioner’s Bulletin. Further advice is available from NSW DET www.training.nsw.gov.au

Current Ambulance traineeship in NSW is:

HLT30207 Certificate III in Non-Emergency Client Transport

VET in Schools

The Ambulance qualifications in the HLT07 Health Training Package have not been identified as suitable for VET in Schools pathways.

For more information about VET in Schools in NSW visit: https://www.det.nsw.edu.au/vetinschools/

The NSW Board of Studies is responsible for the inclusion of training package qualifications in the HSC studies. Further information is available at www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au .

Peak Bodies and Key Stakeholders

Ambulance Service of New South Wales

Part of the New South Wales government health system and one of the largest ambulance services in the world

Australian College of Ambulance Professionals

Professional association of paramedics and other associated professionals in the ambulance industry.

Convention of Ambulance Authorities

Forum representing the employing bodies throughout Australia and NZ. The Council of Ambulance Authorities meets annually to discuss and share information on the future directions of ambulance activity in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.

NSW Health

The state government department that covers all aspects of public health in NSW.

Resources

Please contact NSW Community Services and Health ITAB regarding training and assessment resource needs for the qualifications or skills sets in this industry sector.

Other resources may be available from industry peaks, Registered Training Organisations and Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council.