Clinical placement is an important part of ambulance training.
Under the supervision of a clinical instructor/qualified staff member, you are progressively introduced to the responsibilities and experiences of an ambulance transport attendant and paramedic.
Clinical placements occur in various settings, including the Non-Emergency Patient Transport (NEPT) sector and Ambulance Victoria.
Based on your study level, you will be given the opportunity to engage with patients as a regular paramedic would.
Your shifts could start from 6am and go to as late as 12am, not only on Advanced Life Support (ALS) vehicles but also single responder, Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) vehicles.
You will undertake both metropolitan and rural clinical practice placements during your course.
VU Collaborate has further information about clinical practice and placements including:
To access this information:
You need to meet a number of mandatory industry requirements before the specified due dates before you can attend placement. These requirements are updated via VU Collaborate each year.
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Paramedicine or Diploma of Paramedical Science (Ambulance) must successfully complete:
Note there are fees that for the mandatory tests/checks, including the Fit2Work police check, and InjuryNET medical and physical capacity test, and immunisation requirements.
Police Check is a yearly industry and University pre-placement requirement. The police checks must be issued within the current calendar year. You will upload your police check to VU InPlace each year.
To create a check:
Phone: 1300 525 525
Email: support@fit2work.com.au
Apply for your free volunteer working with children check. Then upload a copy of your card to VU InPlace.
Medical checks and physical capacity checks are an industry requirement for students undertaking a clinical placement with Ambulance Victoria to ensure that students meet the required standards.
A satisfactorily completed medical check is valid for the duration of the course that you are enrolled in.
Any concerns regarding fitness or suitability due to pre-existing or current medical conditions should be addressed to the Clinical Course Leader.
Ambulance Victoria will only accept tests conducted at InjuryNET.
InjuryNET’s Medical Assessments and Services protect the health and wellbeing of current and future employees via identification of health risk factors.
InjuryNET general enquiries: info@injurynet.com.au.
You need to be immunised in order to attend clinical placement. We encourage you to begin your immunisation schedule with your doctor once you receive your course offer.
Refer to Victorian government health for the latest information about vaccination requirements for healthcare workers.
The annual Immunisation Checklist is available via VU Collaborate. Once completed by a medical practitioner, upload it to InPlace.
Using InPlace, enrolled Paramedicine students can:
You are required to wear and/or carry the prescribed VU student paramedic uniform at all times when on clinical placement at ambulance services and non-emergency patient transport services.
Uniform fittings are conducted at the St Albans Campus upon commencement.
Hip Pocket Workwear and Safety has an online store where you can view the VU paramedic student uniform.
Phone: +61 3 5339 5446
Email: paramedics@hippocketballarat.com.au
Ambulance Victoria’s acceptable reasons for placement non-attendance are listed below. Provided you supply appropriate supporting documentation, a replacement shift will be granted with the date/time/location at Ambulance Victoria's discretion.
Acceptable reasons include:
As a courtesy, please call your Duty Team Manager (DTM) to advise of your absence and then upload a Medical Certificate to InPlace (via the Medical Certificate field) within seven days of the absence.
Clinical Placement Office
Phone: +61 3 9919 2708
Email: paramedic.placements@vu.edu.au
Clinical Course Leader, Rebecca Houli
Phone: +61 3 9919 2450
Email: rebecca.houli@vu.edu.au
Head of Program Allied Health, Dr Catherine Kamphuis
Phone: +61 3 9919 2616
Email: catherine.kamphuis@vu.edu.au
Ambulance Victoria Duty Team Manager
Metro phone: 1300 551 624
Rural phone: 1300 113 319
