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Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedic) (Conversion Degree)

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Increase your employment potential in the Ambulance Service Industry by upgrading your Diploma to a Bachelors Degree with this short one-year conversion degree. This course is for pre-hospital practitioners, qualified ambulance officers or graduates with one of the following qualifications:

  • Associate Diploma of Health Science (Ambulance Officer)
  • Diploma of Health Science (Paramedic)
  • Diploma of Paramedical Science (Ambulance) or equivalent

Course Essentials

How to apply

We are currently accepting applications for this course. Applications close on 25 January 2013

Methods of applying:

  • You can apply direct to VU

Please note that part-time study may not be available at all campuses.

Already a VU student?

You can transfer into this course through our internal transfer process.

For more info contact the
College of Health and Biomedicine

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Careers

  • improved career options in pre-hospital and paramedic care 

Learn more about your career options on the Australian government's Career Information and Resources website.

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Course Objectives

The aims of the course are to:

  • provide a route to a degree qualification in paramedic practice for qualified paramedics who currently hold an Associate Diploma or equivalent;
  • enhance the knowledge and skills of paramedics enabling them to function more effectively in their current practice;
  • provide opportunities for paramedic practitioners to explore practice behaviours and attitudes in light of contemporary multicultural and multidisciplinary environments;
  • stimulate paramedic practitioners to use problem solving skills when planning and implementing pre-hospital emergency care;
  • produce graduate paramedics who can apply a research approach relevant to present practice;
  • produce graduates who can examine current developments in paramedic practice and their implications for paramedics and paramedic science.
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Units and electives

The course is offered over one year on a full-time basis or part-time equivalent, as demand requires. The course from 2009 onwards is offered on a full-time basis or part-time equivalent and is conducted on campus and via distance education depending upon the units chosen. Students are required to successfully complete eight (8) units of study (a total of 96 credit points), which must include seven core units and at least one elective unit, in order to meet graduation requirements. Students are encouraged to contact the Course Coordinator, Sue Eastcott, prior to selection of core and elective units. Some units may be available in either semester.

Pre-2007

Year One

Semester One

Semester Two

Elective x 12 credit points

General Electives

Student may choose an elective from any other higher education course offered by the University, subject to the approval of the Course Coordinator. Elective contact hours may be greater than three contact hours.

Post-2007

Year 1

Semester One

Year 1

Semester Two

Post-2009

Year 1

Semester One

(Core units)

Plus one elective unit of at least 12 credit points

Semester Two

(Core units)

Recommended elective units

Recognition of Prior Learning/Credits/Units of Study Exemptions

No recognition of prior learning is permissible.

Course Regulations

The following should be read in conjunction with the Faculty Regulations detailed earlier in this Handbook, and the University Statutes and Regulations.

Unsatisfactory Progress

Students may be asked to show cause why they should not be excluded from the course if they fail to complete the course within three calendar years full-time or six years part-time.

General Electives

Students may choose an elective from any other higher education course offered by the University, subject to the approval of the Course Co-ordinator. Elective contact hours may be greater than three (3) contact hours and may be available in either semester.

What's a unit?

A unit or 'subject' is the actual class you'll attend in the process of completing a course.

Most courses have a mixture of compulsory 'core' units that you need to take, and optional 'elective' units that you can choose to take based on your area of interest, expertise or experience.

Credits

Each unit is worth a set amount of study credits based on the amount of time you study. Generally, 1 credit is equal to 1 hour of study per week.

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Admission Information

  • Year 12:

    To qualify for admission to the course, applicants must:

    • have an Associate Diploma of Health Science (Ambulance Officer), Diploma of Health Science (Paramedic), or equivalent; or
    • be eligible for registration as a paramedic by the relevant body within the applicant's state or country of residence; and
    • have a minimum of one-year post-qualification experience in the emergency response ambulance industry or equivalent.
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How to apply for this course

We are currently accepting applications for this course.

You can apply direct to VU. Applications close on 25 January 2013.

When you're ready to apply:

  1. Read the Advice to applicants (contains details about how to apply for your course, extra requirements, what happens when you submit your application and other important information).
  2. Complete the Higher education direct entry application form.
  3. As part of the application you may need to complete extra requirements such as:
    • submit supplementary forms
    • attend an interview, audition, information session or workshop
    • submit a folio
    • sit a test

Details about extra requirements are available from the College of Health and Biomedicine.

You need to complete all extra requirements by the given dates, otherwise your application may not be considered.

Transferring between VU courses

Want to transfer into this course from another VU course? Complete the Victoria University internal course application form and check whether you need to complete any extra requirements, listed above.

You can also contact us directly:

  • You must meet the following minimum requirements to be eligible for admission into the conversion program:
    1. You are required to be a practising Paramedic with a current Certificate of Practice or Certificate of Registration within your relevant State, Territory or Country’s emergency ambulance service.
    2. You must hold an Associate Diploma of Health Science (Ambulance Officer), Diploma of Health Science (Paramedic), Diploma of Paramedical Science (Ambulance) or equivalent level qualification
    3. You need to have at least 1 year minimum post-qualification on-road experience in an emergency ambulance service or equivalent setting.
  • You are required to apply directly to the University and certified copies of all qualifications and certificates must be forwarded with your application.
  • Ring us on +61 3 9919 6100
  • Find answers and ask questions at GOTOVU

Get in touch

Contact us to discuss your course options:

Ring us on +61 3 9919 6100

Find answers and ask questions at GOTOVU

At Victoria University, we make every reasonable effort to make sure the information displayed online about our courses is accurate and complete. We continually look to provide innovative courses. Those courses are shaped by a number of things including your feedback and changes in Government funding arrangements. As a result there may be changes to the courses we deliver and fees charged. We will update the website regularly to reflect any changes.

Information about course fees, articulation and credit transfer, recognition of prior learning, admission and enrolment procedures, examinations, and services available to students can be accessed on the University’s website or by contacting the University directly on +61 3 9919 6100.

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