Handbook : Course informationEdith Cowan University

Course Information

Master of Critical Care Paramedicine

Effective from 01-JAN-2025 : Code J84

The Critical Care Paramedic course equips paramedics with advanced clinical knowledge and skills essential for their practice. It emphasizes clinical decision-making, critical thinking, evidence-based practice, and research. Graduates can enhance their own practice and positively influence their organization and the broader paramedicine 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.

Clinical or professional work placement Requirement

This course includes mandatory clinical placements in anesthetics and intensive care, totaling a minimum of 80 hours. Students must complete these hours in a supernumerary capacity, separate from their existing paramedic role. They will maintain a logbook and achieve specific learning outcomes for each placement setting.

Duty of care

To be eligible to undertake professional practice experience and fulfil the duty of care, students are required to complete clinical practice orientation, risk management training and obtain various screening and clearances as required by the university and placement provider. The requirements for this course can be found at: <a href='https://www.ecu.edu.au/schools/medical-and-health-sciences/placements/disciplines/master-critical-care-paramedicine-coursework-j84'>https://www.ecu.edu.au/schools/medical-and-health-sciences/placements/disciplines/master-critical-care-paramedicine-coursework-j84</a> There may be vaccination or similar requirements including those imposed by government or third-party placement hosts that apply to clinical placements which form part of this course. Please consider this requirement before enrolling in this course and speak to the Course Coordinator if this raises any concerns. You may not be able to complete the placement unit if you are unable to meet the placement requirements, which may impact your ability to complete this course. Due to the practical nature of the paramedic profession, there are inherent requirements applicable to this course that may impact the success of some potential students. Applicants and students with a disability or other issue likely to impact on their ability to perform in practice are encouraged to contact the Course Coordinator to discuss support and inherent requirements of this course. The university inherent requirements can be found at: <a href='https://www.ecu.edu.au/future-students/course-entry/inherent-requirements'>https://www.ecu.edu.au/future-students/course-entry/inherent-requirements</a> It is the students responsibility to ensure that the correct documentation is obtained and provided to the university prior to commencing clinical placement.

Attendance requirements

Students will be required to attend the practicum during the hours established by the clinical placement agency. These may occur at times outside the identified semester weeks or normal business hours. Clinical practice periods may change with minimal notice to students due to circumstances outside the control of the School.

Professional practice rules

You must maintain Ahpra registration as a Paramedic throughout the course. Parental leave and other types of leave are possible while maintaining registration. Students are responsible for ensuring their behavior aligns with Ahpra's Code of conduct (the code). Students will be expected to comply with the conduct requirements of their clinical placement provider.

Implications of failing

Students are required to successfully complete all practicum requirements to graduate from the course.

Course Learning Outcomes

1. Critically analyse and apply advanced medical and paramedical knowledge, research principles, and methods to demonstrate mastery of critical care paramedicine.
2. Employ cognitive, technical, and creative skills to investigate, evaluate, and synthesize complex ideas, concepts, and theories in real-world critical care paramedic settings.
3. Demonstrate effective communication, collaboration, and clinical reasoning skills in professional critical care paramedic environments.
4. Apply advanced self-management skills to initiate, evaluate, and perform effectively in complex and dynamic critical care settings.

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 a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in Critical Care Paramedicine, with equivalents considered. Alternatively applicants can apply with equivalent prior learning including at least five years appropriate professional experience. Additionally applicants must have registration with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) or equivalent accredited professional registration body , with equivalents considered.

Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level

This course has been accredited by ECU as an AQF Level 9 Masters Degree (Coursework) Award.

Course Duration

• Full Time: 1.5 Years
• Part Time: 3 Years

Course Delivery

• Online: Full Time, Part Time

Non standard timetable requirements

This course can be studied entirely online when suitable agreements have been established to provide supervision of the practical components of the course. However, if suitable supervisors and/or facilities are not available at the time, attendance at the Joondalup Campus will be required. In the absence of clinical placement settings, an on-campus intensive workshops will be provided to meet the learning outcomes of individual units.

Course Coordinator

Mr David FORD (SMHS)

Course Structure

Students who cannot complete the degree may be able to exit with a Graduate Certificate or a Graduate Diploma of Critical Care Paramedicine with Course Coordinator approval.