Career Spotlight: Paramedicine
The Department of Jobs and Small Businesses predicts that Healthcare and Social Assistance will be the industry that experiences the greatest employment growth by May 2023. Our own Good Universities Guide data seems to reflect this increasing interest in healthcare careers – paramedics were one of our top career searches for December 2018!
This growing demand is reflected in Job Outlook data that indicates the great earning potential for paramedics – they take home approximately $1,700 per week, well above the all jobs average of $1,230. Paramedic earnings tend to increase with time, meaning that income grows as experience levels progress.
Strong employment projections
Results from the Government’s 2018 Industry Employment Projections report highlights that the demand for paramedics is only going to increase in the next few years, creating new jobs for prospective employees. Statistics from the Job Outlook website show that the paramedic profession will experience very strong future growth, with unemployment rates staying below the all jobs average.
Wide range of career options
You can work on the plains of the Australian Outback, a regional town or the urban sprawl of suburbia – your career opportunities are broad and varied when it comes to paramedicine. Paramedics are required in most regions of Australia, giving you great scope to travel or live interstate while you work.
If the world of paramedicine interests you but you’re not sure if you want to work on the frontline, there are plenty of behind-the-scenes roles available. You can work as a Patient Transport Officer, transporting non-critical hospital patients to appointments and treatments, or a Control Centre Officer who takes incoming emergency calls.
Challenging but rewarding work
It is a widely known fact that paramedics are exposed to some pretty confronting scenes while on the job. They are often some of the first people on the scene in traumatic situations, and are expected to perform under extreme pressure in life or death scenarios.
For all the challenges that come with being a paramedic, there’s also some pretty rewarding highs that make this job a satisfying one. Saving a life or changing one forever by preventing further injury or illness is no small feat, and you get to make these meaningful differences in your everyday work.
Family-like work environment
Due to the high stakes nature of the job, it is very common to see strong bonds among paramedic staff. Colleagues often experience confronting situations together, which creates a mutual understanding of the ups and downs encountered in this job. A working environment based on reciprocal respect and support means that paramedics are often part of a strong work ‘family’ that thrives on understanding, encouragement and team work.
