AMR Southwest Washington Hosts Australian Student Paramedics
10.25.2024
First responders from Vancouver and Australia will spend two weeks strengthening services for their communities through collaboration on EMS system similarities and differences.
American Medical Response (AMR) Southwest Washington is hosting student paramedics from Central Queensland University, sharing insight and practices from emergency medical services in the United States while in turn gaining invaluable perspectives and experiences from their Australian counterparts.
“Our student paramedics are fascinated with visiting our American EMS colleagues,” said Jeremy Taylor, lecturer with Central Queensland University’s School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences. “There is great interest in seeing how pre-hospital emergency care works in the American context and experiencing a different perspective on caring for culturally and linguistically diverse patients as well as vulnerable clients in America.”
The student paramedics will each complete seven intense observation ambulance ride-along shifts with AMR EMTs and paramedics, now through November 1. Several key differences have already been identified. Australia’s student paramedic enrollment is over 60% female and over 80% of paramedics are under the age of 29, a stark contrast to the United States’ 60% male paramedic workforce with an average age of 36 years.
“Spending time with the student paramedics from Australia and exploring their cultural experiences and insight into EMS is a tremendous benefit and resource for our team,” said Alice Boggs, chief of clinical education for AMR Southwest Washington. “We love sharing the ins and outs of our system and look forward to incorporating lessons learned into the way we take care of our community members long after the student paramedics return to Australia.”
While the workforces may look a bit different, a key priority in both Southwest Washington and Australia is ensuring access to care and providing support to vulnerable populations.
Taylor adds, “We are all working with the same communities: helping those experiencing struggles with mental health issues, looking for alternate pathways to keep patients unnecessarily out of emergency departments and providing care to our most vulnerable community members.”
The student paramedics kicked off their time in Vancouver with a meet and greet and operational familiarization day, leading into their seven scheduled ride-along shifts on AMR Southwest Washington ambulances. The Australian student paramedics will not provide patient care, but rather observe the EMTs and paramedics on their daily calls.
Opportunities are available to interview the Central Queensland University student paramedics and AMR Southwest Washington team members. If interested, please reach out to media@gmr.net.
“Our student paramedics are fascinated with visiting our American EMS colleagues,” said Jeremy Taylor, lecturer with Central Queensland University’s School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences. “There is great interest in seeing how pre-hospital emergency care works in the American context and experiencing a different perspective on caring for culturally and linguistically diverse patients as well as vulnerable clients in America.”
The student paramedics will each complete seven intense observation ambulance ride-along shifts with AMR EMTs and paramedics, now through November 1. Several key differences have already been identified. Australia’s student paramedic enrollment is over 60% female and over 80% of paramedics are under the age of 29, a stark contrast to the United States’ 60% male paramedic workforce with an average age of 36 years.
“Spending time with the student paramedics from Australia and exploring their cultural experiences and insight into EMS is a tremendous benefit and resource for our team,” said Alice Boggs, chief of clinical education for AMR Southwest Washington. “We love sharing the ins and outs of our system and look forward to incorporating lessons learned into the way we take care of our community members long after the student paramedics return to Australia.”
While the workforces may look a bit different, a key priority in both Southwest Washington and Australia is ensuring access to care and providing support to vulnerable populations.
Taylor adds, “We are all working with the same communities: helping those experiencing struggles with mental health issues, looking for alternate pathways to keep patients unnecessarily out of emergency departments and providing care to our most vulnerable community members.”
The student paramedics kicked off their time in Vancouver with a meet and greet and operational familiarization day, leading into their seven scheduled ride-along shifts on AMR Southwest Washington ambulances. The Australian student paramedics will not provide patient care, but rather observe the EMTs and paramedics on their daily calls.
Opportunities are available to interview the Central Queensland University student paramedics and AMR Southwest Washington team members. If interested, please reach out to media@gmr.net.
