Industrial paramedic?

Hi all, In SA there is now the health care act and therfore only one “emergency ambulance” provider the other non emerg stuff is a bit open. I have also notice some non gov ambulances wandering around not sure what they are here for but I would have a good guess. I thinkn they are looking at the non emerg stuff.

But don’t vehicles carrying out a business in the ACT – or acting as ambulances in the ACT – have to be registered in the ACT?

I doubt that anyone has a franchise on ‘paramedic’ or ‘ambulance’. It’s nonsensical to try and devise another name for a vehicle that serves that function.

As far as I can tell the industrial paramedics are better trained and more experienced than regular ambos. In the remote mining sites they’re the only medical support available (until the flying doctor turns up).

But why use the name Industrial Paramedic, use the name Industrial first aid. The words Ambulance or Paramedic should only be left for the Ambulance service.

I like to know why they need to have lights on their vehicle. They do not have the authority to respond under 306.

Don’t know what happened there. All of the first three paragraphs should be italics.

In NSW Only NSW AMBOS and St John can use the word Ambulance. ACT tried to introduce the same but was told it would be a breach of trade practice act.

They are wanna be 1st aiders. They can apply to provide first aid services for events. But come on using the words Ambulance or Paramedics, having red, blue and some green lights are wannabies. What’s wrong with a plan car with first aid in a simple way.

The ACT Ambos are dead against these people. You get arrested for pretending to be a cop should be the same for these people.

Interestingly enough I was talking to the ‘Industrial Paramdic’ who looks after the people I work with while they’re out and about. He’s employed by St John’s as part of their fast growing industrial division. He was adamant that the real diference between working as a regular ambo and the role he has now was the hours and pay were much better now. He did point out that the work was probably not as exciting as the job he’d had for the past nine years before coming to Australia – as a medic in the British army (including two stints in Iraq).

dvaey said :

A quick google for ‘industrial paramedic’ brings up more information than you wanted to know. Interestingly, anyone with a qualifying first aid certificate can undertake the 80-hour course.

Anna Key said :

There is no registration requirements for paramedics, unlike doctors, nurses etc.

From this page:

To become an ambulance paramedic you must complete the St John Ambulance Bachelor of Science (Paramedical Science) through Edith Cowan University (Joondalup campus). To be accepted into the course you must have successfully completed Year 12 and must hold a current Senior First Aid Certificate and driver’s licence.

Student Ambulance Officers then undertake 12 weeks’ full-time training, before going out on the road with qualified ambulance paramedics who act as on-road tutors. During their first and second years, ambulance officers also undertake case studies and assignments.
..
People interested in working as industrial paramedics must complete a nationally accredited 10-day Industrial Paramedic Course.

But I don’t think this is a legal requirement of the WA govt. Anyone can call themselves a paramedic. It’s up to an employer to ensure they don’t employ anyone who is not qualified. To call yourself a medical practitioner, you have to satisfy the medical registration board. There is no equivalent for paramedics.

Rawhide Kid No 2 said :

St Johns Ambulance has nothing to do with the ACT Ambulance Service, also St Johns Ambulance is a volunteer organization in the ACT. So I cant see St Johns sending anyone a bill for $200.

As this happened over 10 years ago, maybe it came from ACT ambulance service, I cant remember exactly. We had to go to ambulance headquarters to pay the money, rather than a shopfront or any other entity. My point was that the bill didnt come from ACT health or revenue services, but came from the ambulance people directly.

My comment was in response to the ‘we might get a cut’ comment that you used. They dont get a cut, they get the whole lot. I sure wish I could legally goto a dance party, an hand out bottles of water, then be able to send out bills demanding payment, sounds like an easy way to prop up the coffers for those who dont pay.

dvaey said :

junkett said :

The bill came directly from St Johns, so they didnt make ‘a cut’, they made $200 for giving a bottle of water to a young girl, then sending a bill that she had to either cover or explain to her parents why she was at a dance party overnight.

St Johns Ambulance has nothing to do with the ACT Ambulance Service, also St Johns Ambulance is a volunteer organization in the ACT. So I cant see St Johns sending anyone a bill for $200.

junkett said :

Nice one Dvaey – the ambos check on your underage friend outside a dance party because she was dehydrated? No doubt she was pilling! “Quick” think the ambos, “we might be able to waste our time AND clog up A&E with yet another twit who can’t look after themselves – we love that! Wow, we might even get a cut if we charge her too..”

Maybe you mis-read my comment. She was underage (from memory, 14 or 15 at the time), she was not drinking alcohol or under the influence of any drugs. The ambos didnt take her to emergency, they were ambo’s who were used in the same situation as these ‘Industrial paramedics’, basically providing a first-aid table where they gave out a bottle of water in exchange for your name and address. The bill came directly from St Johns, so they didnt make ‘a cut’, they made $200 for giving a bottle of water to a young girl, then sending a bill that she had to either cover or explain to her parents why she was at a dance party overnight.

At least you have a right of reply in regards to my commments – unlike the ambos who HELPED your friend.

They did nothing to help her at all, they gave her a bottle of water which she took innocently enough thinking (as a 14 year old does), that water is free especially if youre at an organised party that youve paid to get into. Heck, even licenced clubs arent allowed to charge a cent for water, but ambos are allowed to charge whatever they feel like, by calling it medical care.