Handbook : Course informationEdith Cowan University

Course Information

Graduate Diploma of Community Paramedicine

Effective from 01-JAN-2024 : Code J80

Designed to provide the paramedic with the necessary knowledge and skills for a career in extended care. The course focuses on the clinical issues directly related to practice and develops a greater depth of understanding to enhance clinical decision making and critical thinking. Students will learn advanced-level clinical knowledge to apply to their daily paramedical practice, while at the same time learning advanced skills in evidence-based practice and research. The combination of advanced clinical knowledge and applied research knowledge and skills provides students with the ability to continuously improve their own clinical practice, as well as impact on the organisation they are employed by and the broader healthcare community.

Disclaimer

This course information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester. In particular please check the course requirements and the unit and unit set offerings, as these differ according to course delivery location.

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Communicate complex medical and paramedical knowledge, research principles and methods to demonstrate an advanced level of extended care paramedicine.
2. Apply cognitive, technical and creative skills to investigate, evaluate and synthesise complex ideas, concepts and theories in authentic extended care Paramedicine contexts.
3. Use high level self-management skills to initiate, appraise and operate in complex and dynamic extended care Paramedicine professional environments.

Admission requirements

Admission requirement (Band 8)

• Bachelor degree in a cognate discipline; or
• Where accepted, equivalent prior learning, including at least five years relevant professional experience.

English Language requirement (Band 4)

English competency requirements may be satisfied through completion of one of the following:

• IELTS Academic Overall band minimum score of 6.5 (no individual band less than 6.0);
• Bachelor degree from a country specified in the Admissions Policy;
• Successfully completed 0.375 EFTSL of study at postgraduate level or higher at an Australian higher education provider (or equivalent);
• Where accepted, equivalent prior learning, including at least five years relevant professional experience; or
• Other tests, courses or programs as defined in the Admissions Policy.

Course Specific Admission Requirements

All applicants are required to have a Bachelor’s degree in Paramedicine, or have completed a Graduate Certificate of Extended Care Paramedicine, with equivalents considered. Alternatively applicants can have equivalent prior learning including at least five years appropriate professional experience, or AHPRA Registration (Australia) or equivalent from HCPC (UK) or Paramedic Council (NZ), with equivalents considered.

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level

This course has been accredited by ECU as an AQF Level 8 Graduate Diploma Award.

Course Duration

• Full Time: 1 Year
• Part Time: 2 Years

Course Delivery

• Online: Full Time, Part Time

Course Coordinator

Ms Alecka MILES

Course Structure

Students must complete five core units and one core unit option.

Core unit options may not be available every semester, please check the timetable for offerings of units. Students who commence the course in Semester 2 or those studying part-time will follow a slightly different sequencing of units. Students who cannot complete the Graduate Diploma may be able to exit with a Graduate Certificate with Course Coordinator approval.

^ Core Option