Trends in the paramedic workforce: a profession in transition

Abstract

Ambulance services play a key role in the Australian health system, as the primary providers of pre-hospital clinical care, emergency care and specialised transport.1 Although at present there is a strong focus on broad health system reform, and health workforce reform specifically, little attention has been paid to the place of pre-hospital clinical care and the paramedic workforce that provides these services. Despite their significant role in the health system, there is no strategic national approach by government to the development of ambulance services or the paramedic workforce. In this paper, we review current and emerging trends impacting on the paramedic workforce. We examine changes in patterns of ambulance service provision and the nature of clinical work undertaken by paramedics, as well as developments in education, training and career pathways. We focus on the current situation in Victoria to illustrate and identify a number of important implications of current changes, for the profession, service and training providers, and policy makers.