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Bachelor of Paramedic Science/Graduate Certificate in Emergency and Disaster Management - CM40

If you have an interest in anatomy and seek a fast-paced career, devoted to helping those in need and where no two days are the same, this is an ideal course for you. Our Bachelor of Paramedic Science/Graduate Certificate in Emergency and Disaster Management is a versatile dual degree that will future-proof your career, qualifying you as a registered paramedic with a highly relevant postgraduate qualification in emergency and disaster management. You will be well prepared for the future of paramedic science which is diversifying into multidisciplinary settings, including emergency service and response agencies, public safety, industrial settings and humanitarian aid organisations. Your expanded skillset will allow you to add value in any setting, particularly those that are remote, challenging or under-resourced.

You will learn from experienced lecturers and build your capability in emergency treatment and paramedic care through extensive real-world learning experiences, including simulation training, laboratory learning, and work-integrated learning opportunities. The design of this course utilises CQUniversity's three-term structure, allowing you to complete your postgraduate units in your second and third year, and complete this degree in three and a half years.

DOMESTIC
STUDY MODES

On Campus, Online

RANK THRESHOLD

SR:75 ATAR:75

UNITS/CREDITS

28/168

DURATION

3.5 years full-time, 7 years part-time

AVAILABILITY

Cairns, Rockhampton, Townsville, Online

PREREQUISITES

English (Units 3 & 4, C)

RECOMMENDED STUDY

Senior English, Mathematical Methods, Biology, Chemistry, Science

In this double degree, you will gain the skills and knowledge needed to become a registered paramedic as well as gain postgraduate level knowledge and skills to work in dynamic emergency and high threat environments in emergency and disaster management roles.

Benefit from a course that has been designed to future-proof your career, and respond to the shift in Paramedicine in Australia toward diversified roles in non-traditional environments ranging from emergency service and response agencies, public safety and industrial settings to humanitarian aid organisations, and governmental and non-governmental organisation nationally and internationally. As a graduate you will be equipped to add value in any setting, particularly those that are remote, challenging or under-resourced. 

You will study 24 units to satisfy registration as a paramedic. Your units will develop foundation knowledge in sciences, human body systems, study and research skills and paramedic practice.

In addition, your training will focus on disease processes and emergency treatment, and include practical placements in paramedic care, enabling you to graduate work-ready and highly sought after by employers.

Work placement within the industry allows you to put your learning into practice and work closely with paramedics to respond to real-life emergency situations.

If you choose to study full-time, you will study four postgraduate units to satisfy the Graduate Certificate in Emergency and Disaster Management. Your first two units cover foundations of emergency and disaster management and current and contemporary research in the field. You will study these units over Term 3 in your second year. You will go on to complete the final two units in Term 3 in your third year which will develop your knowledge of crisis communication and disaster risk reduction.   

This course adopts key concepts of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's) and the approach of the prevention, preparedness, response and recovery (PRRR) model. Knowledge of these principles are becoming increasingly important for paramedics across Australia and globally as regions experience natural disasters such as floods, cyclones, fires, and the current pandemic and are being required to offer more than standard paramedic roles. 

Core Units 28 Major Units None
Electives None Minor Units None

Course structure

Students are required to complete a total of 28 core units. If you have not studied Chemistry you are advised to enrol in an introductory Chemistry unit at CQUniversity. The recommended course of study is CHEM40079.

Unit information

For information on the units, you could study as part of this course, visit the Handbook and select the "Course Structure" tab.

Credit transfer information

If you have already completed study relevant to the course you have enrolled in, you may be eligible for credit transfer.

Diversified career opportunities

Our unique combined undergraduate/postgraduate course prepares graduates for diversified roles in Paramedicine across Australia and internationally. Designed to future-proof your career, and respond to the diversifying nature of paramedicine roles in Australia, this course will prepare you for emerging and non-traditional roles in emergency service and response agencies, public safety, industrial settings, humanitarian aid organisations, governmental and non-governmental organisations. As a graduate you will be equipped to add value in any setting, particularly those that are remote, challenging or under-resourced.

Industry-relevant course options

Benefit from your choice of paramedic courses to suit your career goals. Our Bachelor of Paramedic Science will qualify you as a paramedic, while our dual degree, the Bachelor of Paramedic Science/Graduate Certificate in Emergency and Disaster Management, combines a paramedic qualification with postgraduate credentials in emergency and disaster management.

You will complete three clinical placements, totalling a minimum of 600 hours of clinical experience, generally with the Queensland Ambulance Service. These allow you to train with real patients in authentic scenarios. This exposure to real patients and scenarios allows you to apply your discipline knowledge and gain experience so that you graduate work-ready. Your placements commence towards the end of your second year with a five-week block placement. You will then complete two placements in your third year. The first is a four-week placement – two weeks in an urban setting and two weeks in a rural setting, and the second is a six-week placement.

Real-world opportunities

You will build your paramedic capabilities with a range of hands-on learning experiences. At the start of your studies, you will engage in a range of simulations and practical experiences in our paramedic simulation lab allowing you to learn in a safe environment and gain skills and knowledge that you will later apply to your clinical placements. While we aim to keep you close to home, your placements may require you to travel and any travel is at your own cost. Your placements will be organised for you by CQUniversity and are generally unpaid.

You will be exposed to high-fidelity simulation exercises that will equip you with the critical skills needed to respond to emergencies and care for patients. The simulations you participate in involve case-based learning that develops your critical thinking and clinical judgement skills. Simulations may take place in our paramedic simulation laboratory, while other simulations allow you to work and learn alongside practising paramedics and other emergency responders such as the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and Queensland Police to respond to authentic scenarios such as a mass-casualty emergency.

The skills, knowledge and experience you gain through your clinical placements, scenario-based learning and high-fidelity simulations develop your clinical decision making and problem-solving ability ensuring that you graduate work-ready and well prepared for your career as a paramedic.

On-Campus Availability

Term 1 - 2024Cairns, Rockhampton, Townsville

Online Availability

Term 1 - 2024Available Online

Courses at Cairns and Townsville are delivered through on-campus study, workshops, residential schools and online study.

Application Closing Dates for Term 1, 2024

If you are applying for Term 1, 2024, this course has early closing dates as follows:

  • Direct applications (STEPS) close Friday, 8 December 2023
  • Applications via QTAC close Friday, 8 December 2023.
Majors and minors are not applicable to this course.
Unit NameCodeDescription
Clinical Paramedic Practice 1PMSC12002Throughout the course, students are required to undertake compulsory work-integrated-learning placements with an approved placement provider. Clinical placements will provide students the opportunity to develop and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and professional attributes required to safely and competently practice as a paramedic.
Clinical Paramedic Practice 2PMSC13002Throughout the course, students are required to undertake compulsory work-integrated-learning placements with an approved placement provider. Clinical placements will provide students the opportunity to develop and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and professional attributes required to safely and competently practice as a paramedic.
Clinical Paramedic Practice 3PMSC13004Throughout the course, students are required to undertake compulsory work-integrated-learning placements with an approved placement provider. Clinical placements will provide students the opportunity to develop and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and professional attributes required to safely and competently practice as a paramedic.
All students will be required to attend compulsory residential schools for several units. Residential schools may be held in Cairns, Townsville or Rockhampton. Information relating to residential school locations will be available to the students via the handbook and associated Moodle pages.

Rank Threshold

A rank threshold is the minimum competitive rank that applications will be considered for entry to this course.

The rank threshold for this course is: SR 75 I ATAR 75.0 

Lowest Rank

The lowest selection rank refers to the lowest rank to which an offer was made for an intake or term and includes adjustment factors applied to an applicant's ATAR such as the Regional Adjustment Scheme and Education Access Scheme. An ATAR with adjustment factors applied is referred to as a selection rank (SR).

The lowest ranks (including adjustment factors) for this course for Term 1, 2022 are as follows:
Rockhampton: SR 86.55
Townsville: SR 75.00
Cairns: SR 75.00
Online: SR 75.65

Student profile

If you would like to know more about entry scores for applicants with recent education and the student profile for this course view our Course and Entry Score Profile for Term 1, 2022.

Institute profile

To find out about CQUniversity's Undergraduate Profile for Term 1, 2022 view our Institute Profile.

COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement

The COVID-19 vaccination is mandatory to be eligible to attend a WIL placement for this course. Students will be required to provide evidence of having completed a COVID-19 vaccination schedule by the closing date prior to a WIL placement. The vaccine received must be a vaccine approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) of Australia.

Entry Requirements

English (Units 3 & 4, C) or equivalent

English Language Proficiency Requirements

If you were not born in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa or the United States of America, you are required to meet the English Language Proficiency requirements set by the University.  Applicants are required to provide evidence of completion within the last 5 years of:

  • A secondary qualification (Year 11 and 12, or equivalent), or
  • Bachelor level qualification study for a period of at least 2 years fulltime with a minimum overall GPA 4.0

Completed within Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, South Africa, Ireland, or the United States of America, which will meet the English proficiency.

If you do not satisfy any of the above you will need to undertake an English language proficiency test and achieve the following scores:

  • An International English Language Testing System (IELTS Academic) overall band score of at least 7.0 with a minimum 7.0 in each subset; or
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - Requires 600 or better overall and minimum TWE score of 5.0 (Paper Based Test), or 100 or better overall and a score of 25 or better in the Writing section (Internet Based Test); or
  • Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) - Requires an overall score of 64 with no communication score less than 64; or
  • An Occupational English Test with Grades A or B only in each of the four components.

English test results remain valid for no more than two years between the final examination date and the date of commencement of the study and must appear on a single result certificate.

Each student will be assessed individually.

Security Requirements

Students will be required to procure and maintain a valid Working with Children Check (Blue Card) prior to undertaking Work-integrated Learning units.

Health Requirements

Students will be required to undergo a mandatory Health Screening assessment and provide evidence of current mandatory vaccinations prior to undertaking Work-integrated Learning units.

Assumed Knowledge

English (Units 3 & 4, C), Mathematical Methods (Units 3 & 4, C), Chemistry, Biology, Science.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Paramedic Science/Graduate Certificate in Emergency and Disaster Management course from CQUniversity have developed the expertise and skills to work as health professionals in emergency medicine, prehospital retrieval and emergency and disaster management sectors. Work-integrated clinical units are included in the 2nd and 3rd years of the course to facilitate the work readiness of graduates. Graduates of this course may specialise in intensive care paramedic practice, aviation and retrieval medicine, occupational health and safety, tactical medicine, special operations, clinical education, public health, business management, hospital health services and roles encompassing emergency and disaster management. Employment options after the course include government ambulance services, hospitals, private, government, non-government and community organisations supporting mines, local and regional councils.

Professional recognition is not applicable to this course.
2023 Indicative Fees
Fee TypeFees
Commonwealth Supported Place – Indicative First Year Fee$8,650.00

Indicative first-year fee

The fees listed are indicative only and based on enrolling in a full-time study load for one academic year (generally, this is eight units over two terms). Your fees may vary depending on the units you select and the number you study per term. Fees are reviewed annually and are subject to change. Understanding your fees.

Commonwealth support and government assistance loans

Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) are subsidised by the Australian Government, meaning you are only required to pay the student contribution rather than full tuition fees if you meet eligibility requirements. If offered a CSP, you may be eligible for a HECS-HELP government loan. HECS-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme that assists you in paying your student contributions. Provided you meet the HECS-HELP eligibility criteria, you may use HECS-HELP to defer part or all of your student contribution fees. Learn more about paying for university.

Other study costs

Part of your course costs includes Student Services and Amenities Fees (SSAF). There may also be additional costs as part of your studies, such as textbooks, technology expenses, travel expenses, professional certifications, uniforms, or vaccinations. Explore other study costs.

At CQUniversity, we believe higher education should be for everyone. No matter your situation, we know that everyone needs a helping hand from time to time, and we are proud to offer a wide range of scholarships, bursaries and stipends.
Our scholarships could help you pay for things like relocation, living on campus, laptops and technology, childcare, study and living expenses, travel and more. 

QueenslandTVL: 801720; ROK: 851720; CNS: 821720; ONL: 851725

If you apply via a Tertiary Admissions Centre (TAC) listed under 'How to Apply', please use the relevant TAC code listed above to complete your application.

If you have decided what you would like to study and are ready to apply, we’re here to help you along the way.

Want to know more about application dates and other admission information?
View our important dates information and read about other admission considerations such as information for domestic students with overseas qualifications, indigenous support, and elite athlete, coach and performer support.

What’s the best way to apply?
  • Option 1: Ideal for most situations, whether you have completed high school recently or some time ago.
  • Option 2: Ideal if you have studied our Skills for Tertiary Entrance Preparatory Studies (STEPS) program or Tertiary Entrance Program (TEP). 

OPTION 1: IN MOST SITUATIONS, YOU WILL NEED TO APPLY VIA THE QUEENSLAND TERTIARY ADMISSION CENTRE
To apply for this course you will need to submit your application for this course via the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC).

Apply via QTAC

Please note that you may be required to pay a fee when applying via QTAC.


OPTION 2: ARE YOU A CQUNI STEPS OR TEP GRADUATE? APPLY DIRECTLY TO CQUNIVERSITY
You may be eligible to apply directly to CQUniversity provided you meet one of the following criteria:
  • You have successfully completed or are completing CQUniversity's Skills for Tertiary Entrance Preparatory Studies (STEPS) program.
  • You have successfully completed CQUniversity's Tertiary Entrance Program (TEP).
Apply direct