CQUni Adjunct Professor receives OAM for services to paramedicine and education

CQUniversity Adjunct Associate Professor Raymond Bange has been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to paramedicine and education at the 2021 Australia Day Awards.

Mr Bange has been an Adjunct Professor in CQUniversity's School of Medical and Applied Sciences since 2015 and is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of the Sunshine Coast.

CQUni Senior Paramedic Science Lecturer Shannon Delport said Ray Bange was appointed in recognition of his expertise and contributions to the field of paramedicine in areas of health policy' risk management' regulation and governance.

'Since his appointment' Ray has worked directly with faculty members of CQUni on matters related to paramedic education' research and accreditation. He has been a highly influential member of the Paramedic Science team' continually providing its members with high-level advice on strategic policy' education and operational issues allowing CQU to remain connected to industry and its external networks'' she said.

She said his involvement' however' has extended further both nationally and internationally to the active promotion of relevant CQUni activities at both general organisational and individual faculty member levels mainly through the use of his large social media platform.

'Ray contributes actively to the national debate on health care policy and its interaction with paramedicine. He responds to requests from official bodies for advice on future directions of the profession and was an ad personam member of the Paramedics National Consultation Reference Group of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) for the implementation of paramedic registration'' she said.

'This has been of significant benefit to the university at large' given that he is the curator of two professional Facebook pages that deal with paramedicine and general health reform. These external involvements have notable benefits' including industry and health policy intelligence with external parties seeking his advice and collaboration. Ray has been a very active driver for developing the paramedic profession' and his commitment knows no bounds.'

Ray has written widely on paramedicine and regulatory reform' and the education and mobilisation of paramedics.

He worked closely with the paramedic profession as a Principal Policy Advisor for Paramedics Australasia (now Australasian College of Paramedicine) and among other activities' he was responsible for spearheading a project to gain national registration for paramedics.

The Paramedic Registration Project involved the preparation of extensive policy papers and submissions and a busy advocacy program including engagement with policymakers' services' universities and individuals across the width and breadth of Australia and New Zealand.

These advocacy activities in collaboration with the profession have borne fruit' and paramedics gained national registration under the National Scheme for Health Practitioners in December 2018.

Ray has strongly supported the recognition of paramedicine as a national health workforce including its role as a source of research and innovation in improving community health and care.

Ray's extensive advocacy on behalf of paramedicine and his long-term contributions to paramedic education and regulation have been recognised by his appointment as an Honorary Fellow by the Australasian College of Paramedicine and the Australasian College of Paramedic Practitioners.

Ray has a diverse history of work and volunteer activities ranging from engineering' education' law enforcement and regulation' including:

· Foundation Head' Civil Engineering School' Queensland University of Technology' 1970-1985.

· Former Member' Governing Council' Queensland University of Technology' 12 years.

· Principal Policy Advisor' Paramedics Australasia' 2007-2015.

· Principal Corruption Prevention Consultant' Corruption Prevention Crime and Misconduct Commission Queensland' 2001-2006

· Principal Consultant' Probity Consultants International' since 2000.Committee and Board Appointments

· Member' Health Advisory Committee' Talisium' since 2015

· Member' National Executive Committee' Australian Health Care Reform Alliance' since 2014.

· Former Queensland Chairman and Member' National Research Committee' Water Research Foundation.

· Former Executive Board Member' National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA).

· Founder and Former Chairman' College Credit Union.

· Former Queensland President and National Councillor' Institution of Engineers' Australia.Awards and recognition include:

· Honorary Fellow' Australasian College of Paramedic Practitioners' since 2020.

· Honorary Fellow' Australian and New Zealand College of Paramedicine' since 2018.

· Honorary Fellow' Paramedics Australasia' since 2010.

· Fellow' Australian Institute of Management.

· Fellow' Institution of Engineers Australia