Uniform requirements

You are required to wear and/or carry the prescribed uniform at all times when on clinical placement at ambulance services and non-emergency patient transport services. You can order your uniform from the St Albans Campus Bookshop before, or during week 1 or your course.

Additional course and industry requirements

You need to complete a number of mandatory industry requirements before starting placement. Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedic), Diploma of Paramedical Science (Ambulance) and Certificate III in Non-Emergency Client Transport must undergo an annual Victoria Police Check.

In addition, students enrolled in the Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedic) and Diploma of Paramedical Science (Ambulance) must also successfully complete a medical check and physical capacity test before starting clinical placement.

Associated costs of the police check, medical check and physical capacity test are covered by the student.

Police check

An annual Victoria Police Check is required by all Paramedic students attending clinical placements.

Students who do not provide a satisfactory police check prior to beginning the course will be denied access to all clinical placement units necessary for graduation. Failure to gain a police clearance could also affect your chances of working in the ambulance industry.

The Victoria Police Check must be completed using the Online Application Form for National Police Record Check.

Once you have received your National Police Certificate, take it along with a photocopy to an authorised person and have the photocopy certified. Note: when photocopied the word VOID will be visible, this is an inbuilt security feature and is accepted by VU.

Mail the certified copy to Clinical Coordinators - Paramedics Victoria University, PO Box 14428, Melbourne Vic 8001

Fees

Please note that application fees for a National Police Certificate change every year on 1 July. Check the Victoria Police website for the most up to date information.

Current fees for student paramedics are:

• $15.50 (reduced rate) - the application must be signed by a Paramedic Staff member at Victoria University who is registered with Victoria Police. A valid Community Volunteer Fee (CVF) number must be provided in section E of the application.
• $34 (full fee) - applies if the application is not signed by Victoria University

All fees are payable directly to Victoria Police via cheque or a money order. You should check the police web page for any fee increase before sending in your application.

Once you have received your result, please forward a certified* copy to either Sue Ringham, Clinical Coordinator- Paramedics or Rose Corrente, Clinical Coordinator- Paramedics, PO Box 14428, Melbourne 8001.

*a photocopy of the required document that is seen and signed as a true copy by a qualified person i.e. Justice of the Peace, Solicitor/Barrister, Pharmacist. Certification must include the name, address, occupation, telephone number and registration number (if applicable) of the certifying authority.

Where a court outcome is recorded and disclosed, Victoria University will seek advice from Ambulance Victoria who in turn will make consideration to the relevance of any offence in relation to the clinical placement and responsibilities and public expectations.

Medical check

Medical checks are an industry requirement for students to attend clinical placements with Ambulance Victoria. Students must meet medical standards including the medical guidelines for the 'Assessing Fitness to Drive for Commercial and Private Vehicle Drivers 2012'. Visit the Austroad website for more details.

Physical capacity test

Physical capacity test is an industry requirement for students to attend clinical placements with Ambulance Victoria. This test was developed to obtain an indication of overall fitness.

Students will be required to undertake a number of physical tests to determine their ability to perform the physical demands inherent by the emergency ambulance services. The physical capacity test is designed to measure 5 key health areas:

• Flexibility (sit & reach test)
• Body composition (body fat)
• Cardiovascular performance (bike test)
• Upper body strength (push ups)
• Abdominal strength (sit ups)

Flexibility

A sit and reach test is used to measure flexibility of the lower back and the hamstrings.
Students are required to sit on the floor with legs fully extended and both feet against a 'flexibility frame' while placing the middle finger of one hand on top of the middle finger of the other. Students must reach forward keeping legs in contact with the ground at all times and hold it for 2 seconds. A score out of 5 is allocated depending on the student's flexibility.

Body Composition

A skin fold test is used to determine the percentage of your body that is fat mass.
Skin fold measurements are taken at four different sites around the body: bicep, tricep, subscapular, suprailiac, abdominal and calf. A score out of 5 is allocated depending on the student's body fat percentage.

Cardiovascular performance

This test is based on the principle of the linear relationship between heart rate and workload. Students must ride the bike at a set pace (50 RPM) for 12 minutes. Heart rate is recorded throughout the test and students are given a score in ml/kg/min. A score out of 5 is allocated depending on the student's cardiovascular fitness.

Upper body strength

This is a progressive test of upper body strength using a five stage graduated push-up test.

• Level 1: Standing arms length from a wall, hands on wall at shoulder height, vertical push-ups
• Level 2: Kneeling on floor, keeping a straight line from knees, hips and shoulders
• Level 3: In a full push up position, with hands shoulder width apart, body kept straight and head held level
• Level 4: With hands together, index fingers and thumbs touching to form a diamond shape
• Level 5: With the feet on the second step and hands together, index fingers and thumbs touching to form a diamond shape

Students can only advance to the next level after successfully completing five repetitions at each level, starting at Level 1. The score will be allocated based on the last level achieved where at least three repetitions are achieved.

Abdominal strength

The sit ups test is used to test abdominal strength. There are 5 graduated levels that make up this test and students start at Level 1 and progresses to the next level and so on until they come to a level they cannot perform correctly.

A student lay on their back with knees bent to 90 degrees and the feet must not be held or stabilised through out the test:

• Level 1: Touching their knees with wrists, keeping arms straight for 5 repetitions
• Level 2: Arms are folded at right angles across chest, student sits up to touch their elbows to their thighs for 5 repetitions
• Level 3: Hands on forehead, elbows pointing forward, student sits up to touch elbows to their knees for 5 repetitions
• Level 4: Hands behind ears with elbows out to side, student sits up to vertical for 5 repetitions
• Level 5: Hands crossed behind the back of the neck, student sits up to vertical for 5 repetitions

After successfully completing five repetitions at Level 1, students can advance to the next level. The score will be allocated based on the last level achieved where at least three repetitions are achieved.

Results

In order to meet the minimum requirement students must achieve an accumulative score of 13 out of a possible 25, including at least a 3 (out of 5) in either of the strength tests; being upper body and/or abdominal. Questions relating to physical testing should be referred to one of the authorised testing centres.

Testing centres and fees

There are designated testing centres that carry out the medical check and/or physical capacity test. Please note that tests conducted at other centres will not be accepted by Ambulance Victoria.

St Albans Sports and Fitness Centre

• Physical test is FREE at the St Albans Campus when you sign up with a Direct Debit ($26.90* monthly) or 12 month ($350*) gym membership. For Early bird specials contact the gym on 9919 2639. Membership includes a bench mark physical test to check your current fitness level, a tailored 12 week Paramedic physical program to assist with achieving your goals of passing the physical test and the FREE physical test.
• 3 Month Membership: $115 physical test ONLY ($79.00) and Non members: Physical Fitness Test only - $79.00*

NOTE: The physical test fee must be paid when booking to secure the appointment. If a cancellation is made 24 hours in advance a full refund will be made. If a cancellation is made within 24 hours of the appointment students will be able to re-book but the money will not be refunded.

* Prices subject to change without notice

St Albans Sports and Fitness Centre
Building 4 Room 4N.103, McKechnie Street, St Albans
Phone: +61 3 9919 2639 (Physicals ONLY)
Email: stalbansfitness@vu.edu.au

Unified Healthcare Group

• Physical Fitness Test & Medical Assessment Package - $297.90
• Medical Assessment Only - $203.40
• Physical Capacity Test only - $94.50

NOTE: Late cancellation (notification less than 1 working day) or non attendance will incur a cancellation fee of $70.

Unified Healthcare Group
Level 2, 139 High St, Prahran (Cnr St. Edmonds Rd and High St)
Phone: +61 3 9692 7777

Public Health Management P/L

• Physical Fitness Test & Medical Assessment Package - $210.00
• Medical Assessment Only - $132.00
• Physical Capacity Test only - $80.00

Public Health Management reserves the right to charge a cancellation fee for those students who do not provide 24 hours notice to cancel an appointment or fail to attend.

* Prices subject to change without notice

** Please allow a minimum of 1 ½ hours for the medical assessment and ½ to 1 hour for the physical capacity test. Bookings are essential and students should advise the testing centre that you are a first year Victoria University Paramedic student.

Public Health Management P/L
Level 1, 391 St. Kilda Rd, Melbourne (between Toorak and Domain Roads)
Phone: +61 3 9869 2000

Medical and physical test outcomes

For Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedic) students the medical check and physical capacity test must be successfully completed by the last teaching day in Semester one, Year one, of the course.

Students should be aware that their checks and tests are to remain current until all their clinical placement units have been satisfactorily completed.

Prospective students who believe that they may have difficulties meeting or maintaining the requirements are advised to contact the Course Coordinator prior to admission. Semester dates can be viewed within the academic calendar.

Pre existing medical and new medical conditions

Prospective, commencing and continuing students who are concerned about whether a medical condition such as diabetes, epilepsy, hearing and visual difficulties, meets the medical standard for clinical placement, should refer to the ambulance service website or alternatively contact the Course Coordinator for clarification.

Unsatisfactory medical and physical outcomes

Continuing Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedic) students who do not pass the medical and physical capacity tests or lose status will be denied access to emergency clinical placement units necessary for graduation. Diploma of Paramedical Science (Ambulance) students who do not successfully completed the medical check and physical capacity test will not be permitted to attend emergency clinical placements with Ambulance Victoria. These students must see their Course Coordinators.

Student support program

Students are required to pay for the costs associated with clinical placements such as accommodation and transport.
Support programs are available to students, which provide financial assistance to paramedic students attending clinical placements in rural areas.

For further information visit www.greaterhealth.org and follow the links to student financial support.

Course timetables

The Paramedic course timetables have been uploaded.

Contact us

Peter Hartley
Course Coordinator
Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedic) (HBPX )
Phone: +61 3 99192944
Email: peter.hartley@vu.edu.au

Jodie Limon
Course Coordinator
Diploma of Paramedical Science (Ambulance) (HLT50407)
Phone: +61 3 99192667
Email: jodie.limon@vu.edu.au

Sue Ringham
Clinical Coordinator
Phone: +61 3 99192525
Email: sue.ringham@vu.edu.au

Rose Corrente
Clinical Coordinator
Phone: +61 3 99192418
Email: rose.corrente@vu.edu.au