Clinical placement is an important part of ambulance training. Under the supervision of a clinical instructor, you are progressively introduced to the responsibilities and experiences of the ambulance transport attendant and paramedic.
It is not an observer shift - clinical placement is an opportunity to work as a real paramedic while you study, consolidating and extending your knowledge and skills in the clinical care of patients in a pre-hospital environment.
About your placement
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 6:30am and go to as late as 2:30am, not only on Advanced Life Support (ALS) vehicles but also single responder, Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) vehicles.
Course & industry requirements
You need to complete a number of mandatory industry requirements before starting placement.
Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Paramedicine or HLT51015 – Diploma of Paramedical Science (Ambulance) must successfully complete:
- Annual Fit2Work police check
- Medical check
- Physical capacity test
- Vaccination requirements
- Working with children check.
Costs
Note there are fees that you will have to pay for the mandatory tests/checks such as the Fit2Work police check, medical check, physical capacity test, required vaccinations and working with children check.
Fit2Work check
Initial Fit2Work check
Upon enrolment, students will be emailed a Fit2Work invitation. The email will contain a link to the Fit2Work application document along with instructions for the Fit2Work process. The link will also contain payment details and methods (including PayPal).
You must activate your VU student email to receive the link to the Fit2Work application.
Fit2Work application process
To submit your Fit2Work application please follow these steps.
- Follow the hyperlink to the Fit2Work application document from your Fit2Work invitation email
- Complete the consent form online
- Print the form (using the 'printable version' option)
- Take the form and 100 points of ID to the Clinical Learning Office, St Albans Campus, Building 4, Level 4.
An Authorising Officer in the Clinical Learning Office must view the original or certified 100 points of identification before proceeding with the check (as outlined by AUSTRAC guidelines). The Authorising Officer will also confirm whether payment has been made or not
If payment has been made, the Authorising Officer will submit the application online. Fit2work will then perform an automatic check and return one of two possible results:
- CLEAR (AU Police Check: No Match Found) – the applicant could not be found in the Crimtrac database and hence does not have any police history information.
- MATCH (AU Police Check: Match Found) – the applicant could be found in the Crimtrac database and has disclosable police history information. This outcome requires additional manual checking, and may take a couple of weeks longer.
Fit2Work outcomes are emailed to the student and clinical team for reference and archiving.
All Fit2Work checks must be submitted by the method outlined on this page and in the Clinical Placement Mandatory Requirements section. Students who do not meet the due dates for initial submissions will be automatically removed from any clinical and/or corresponding units.
Ongoing Fit2Work Checks
Fit2Work checks are a yearly requirement of paramedic clinical placements. A police check is a pre-requisite for both year 2 & 3 clinical units. Without a police check you are not permitted to enrol into any clinical units.
Students who do not meet the due dates for ongoing submissions will be automatically removed from any clinical or corresponding units.
Medical check
Medical checks are an industry requirement for students undertaking a clinical placement with Ambulance Victoria. A satisfactorily completed medical check is valid for the duration of the course that you are enrolled in.
Ambulance Victoria will only accept tests conducted at InjuryNET. Students must meet medical standards, including the medical guidelines for the 'Assessing Fitness to Drive for Commercial and Private Vehicle Drivers 2012'.
Physical capacity test
Students will be required to undertake a number of physical tests to determine their ability to perform the physical demands inherent to the emergency ambulance services.
The physical capacity test was developed to obtain an indication of overall fitness and ability to cope with the physical demands inherent to emergency ambulance services. The test measures upper body strength, abdominal strength, aerobic capacity, lumbar and hamstring flexibility and body composition.
The test includes aerobic step, double leg hold, supine neck hold, core strength, static lifts at various heights, static pull, static push and grip strength. All components of the test must be passed to achieve an overall pass.
If you have questions relating to physical testing please speak to the authorised testing centre listed on this page. Commencing students who are concerned whether a medical condition, such as diabetes, epilepsy, hearing or visual difficulties, meets the medical standard for clinical placements should contact the clinical course leader, Jacquie Le Busque by email: jacqueline.lebusque@vu.edu.au.
Testing & fitness centres
Ambulance Victoria will only accept tests conducted by InjuryNET.
InjuryNET
173 Burke Road
Glen Iris
Victoria 3146
Phone: 1800 240 395
Services offered: Medical and physical assessment packages are offered.
VU St Albans Health & Fitness Centre
Building 11S
McKechnie Street
St Albans
Victoria 3021
Phone: +61 3 9919 2639
Email: stalbansfitness@vu.edu.au
Services offered: Pre-testing programming and fitness support.
Medical & physical test outcomes
For Bachelor of Paramedicine 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.
Pre-existing & new medical conditions
Pre-existing and new medical conditions include conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy, hearing and visual difficulties.
Prospective, commencing and continuing students concerned about whether a medical condition meets the medical standard for clinical placement refer to:
- the Ambulance Victoria website, or
- contact the clinical course leader, Jacquie Le Busque (jacqueline.lebusque@vu.edu.au) for clarification.
Unsatisfactory medical & physical outcomes
Continuing Bachelor of Paramedicine 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.
HLT51015 – Diploma of Paramedical Science students who do not successfully complete 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 coordinator.
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.
Uniform fittings are conducted at your enrolment session. You will be advised of payment methods and due dates on the day.
Rural placement support
Students are required to pay for the costs associated with clinical placements such as accommodation and transport. Greater Health offers support programs to students attending clinical placements in rural areas, including finding accommodation, financial assistance and scholarships, and networking opportunities.
Contact us
Clinical Placement Office
Phone: +61 3 9919 2708
Email: paramedic.placements@vu.edu.au.
Clinical Course Leader: Jacquie Le Busque
Phone: +61 3 9919 2251
Email: jacqueline.lebusque@vu.edu.au.
Paramedic - Head of Discipline: Dr Catherine Kamphuis
Phone: +61 3 9919 2944
Email: catherine.kamphuis@vu.edu.au.
Course Leader: Scott Stewart
Phone: +61 3 9919 2642
Email: scott.stewart@vu.edu.au.
