CQUniversity Paramedicine students gain global perspective with study tour
A group of CQUniversity Paramedicine students has returned from Canada after an immersive international study tour, gaining firsthand insight into emergency healthcare delivery in a major global city.
Twelve second-year students travelled to Vancouver from 15-30 May, taking part in the Vancouver Paramedicine Study Tour hosted in partnership with BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS).
Led by CQUniversity Associate Professor and Head of Course Dr Tim Makrides, alongside Paramedicine Lecturer Ian de Jonge, the tour provided students with a structured opportunity to observe and compare Canadian and Australian prehospital care systems.
Dr Makrides said the experience was designed to broaden students’ clinical understanding while exposing them to different models of care.
“The aim is for students to observe practice, compare health systems, and reflect on how different models of prehospital care can inform their own developing practice in Australia.”
While in Vancouver, students were embedded with paramedics across multiple licensing levels, from primary care providers through to advanced care paramedics and specialist roles.
They participated in a range of activities including service and system orientation, simulation, case discussions, and ride‑along shifts. Students also engaged with dispatch operations and hospital teams, gaining insight into the full emergency care pathway.
During operational placements, students observed a high volume of emergency responses, attending an average of eight to twelve cases per day. These included a broad mix of incidents, from trauma to lower acuity presentations such as falls and fractures.
CQUniversity student Seijin Chung described the experience as highly valuable, highlighting the variety of cases and fast-paced environment.
“The variation in calls kept our shifts interesting and I was able to experience every scenario that we covered in our studies and more.
“From stabbings and overdoses to the lower acuity falls and fractures, our experience to time ratio was very rich and productive.”
Dr Makrides said these international experiences played a critical role in shaping future clinicians.
“They let students see how another health system responds to many of the same challenges we face in Australia, including rising demand, complex patients and diverse communities.
“Beyond the clinical learning, the tour offered genuine cultural immersion and international experience. For some of our students it was their very first time overseas, and we're proud to have been able to make that possible.”
Outside of clinical placements, students stayed at the University of British Columbia and explored Vancouver and surrounding areas, strengthening peer connections while experiencing Canadian culture.
Activities included hiking, visiting cultural sites and exploring the natural environment.
The study tour is open to students enrolled in CQUniversity’s Paramedicine courses, with plans to run the program twice a year. A second group has already been selected for a November 2026 tour, with preparations underway for a Summer 2027 intake.
Dr Makrides encouraged prospective students to consider Paramedicine as a career path offering both impact and opportunity.
“Paramedicine is one of the most rewarding paths you can take. It puts you at the centre of people's lives on their hardest days, asks you to think fast and care deeply and opens doors to opportunities like this one, on the other side of the world.
“If you want a career that genuinely matters, that keeps challenging you, and that lets you grow as both a clinician and a person, Paramedicine is worth every bit of the effort.”
For more information on CQUniversity’s Paramedicine courses, visit the Find a Course page.
