Linda chases paramedic dream on and off the field
By Greg Chapman
CQUniversity student Linda Buchanan’s determination as an international touch football referee is helping her chase the goal of a career as a paramedic.
Linda recently was part of the Australian referee team at the Asia Pacific Cup in Utsunomiya, Japan. She officiated several games, including the Women’s Gold Medal Grand Final.
She said she has been involved in touch football for 25 years, starting off as a player before the considering the idea of being a referee.
“Refereeing initially offered a way to earn some extra money while keeping active, but it soon developed into a passion and opened opportunities to officiate at national and international competitions,” she said.
The recent opportunity in Japan was her second international event, the first being the World Cup in Nottingham, England in 2024.
“At that tournament, I was awarded a prestigious Gold Badge and ranked the world’s leading senior female referee, an achievement I am incredibly proud of,” she said.
“I am currently ranked the number 1 Leading Senior Female referee in the world and in Australia. So I am pretty chuffed with that.”
She said she’s put that same dedication towards her Bachelor of Paramedicine studies at CQU.
“I wanted to pursue a career where I could make a meaningful difference to people during some of their most vulnerable moments,” she said.
“Paramedicine appealed to me because it combines practical skills, problem-solving and compassionate care. I chose CQUniversity because of the flexibility of part-time study and off-campus learning.
“I am currently in my second year. I particularly enjoy the practical learning and simulation scenarios, where we apply our knowledge to situations we may encounter as paramedics. Developing my assessment, communication and clinical decision-making skills has been both challenging and rewarding.
In addition to her studies, Linda is also working as a primary school classroom teacher.
“My goal is to work as a paramedic on the Sunshine Coast, close to home. I am drawn to the opportunity to support people from different backgrounds and provide reassurance and care when they need it most,” she said.
“I referee touch football three to four nights a week, alongside training and preparing for major tournaments. I also referee rugby league on weekends. Balancing these commitments with university requires planning, organisation and discipline, particularly around assessments and travel.
“There are plenty of late nights, and I often listen to recorded lectures, sometimes more than once! When travelling to touch, training or work, I am always listening to a lecture. That is something I really appreciate about CQUniversity, the flexibility to fit study around my work and refereeing commitments.
“There are also valuable connections between refereeing and paramedicine. Both require clear communication, teamwork, quick decisions and the ability to remain calm under pressure.”
She said the Asia Pacific Cup tournament was physically demanding, with multiple games each day.
“But sharing the experience with referees and players from different countries made it very special. It was a rewarding opportunity to challenge myself and experience another culture through a sport I love,” she said.
“My study focus is to continue building my clinical knowledge and practical skills, prepare for upcoming placements and work towards completing my degree.
“In refereeing, I want to continue developing my performance, contributing through coaching and working towards future representative opportunities. Supporting the next generation of referees is something I also value.”
