The glut of graduate paramedics - What do we do with them?

Abstract

A recent letter from the Council of Ambulance Authorities (CAA) to Australian and New Zealand universities about the large number of student paramedics in Australian and New Zealand universities under training makes for an interesting read (1). Moreover, what power or influence does the CAA have to encourage a change in university paramedic student intakes? Universities are unlikely to decrease their intake numbers as it directly correlates with a decrease in funds, which in some cases is used to offset decreased funds in other areas. Universities do not really have a social conscience when it comes to producing graduates, they may say they do, but do they really - just look at the numbers. And can you believe the employment numbers spruiked at university open day - more like lies, damned lies and statistics! A paramedic student recently called the Neil Mitchell talk-back program on 3AW, a Melbourne radio station, complaining about being ‘exploited’ due to a lack of graduate paramedic positions within Victoria, Australia. The student criticised the number of students that universities were putting through paramedic courses when there is an obvious lack of graduate positions at the end of the course (2). Maybe students need to think about moving interstate or overseas to gain employment, many graduates from other professions have to do this. Students need to realise that getting into an ambulance service is now more difficult and challenging than it once was. Once a student successfully completes a graduate program and is qualified, a period of time working interstate makes one more employable. At this point, gaining employment back in the paramedic’s home state should be easier. So is relocating to another state for one to two years such a drastic inconvenience in your overall working life?