Education level
Job area
Your role as a cadet paramedic
Indigenous cadet and multicultural cadet paramedics are student paramedics that help us provide ambulance transport and emergency medical care to sick and injured people. This includes:
- helping to assess a person's condition
- keeping patients safe on the way to hospital
- giving basic first aid and medical care when directed.
The cadetship is a full time role, and we’ll pay you to work and study. You’ll work different shifts as part of a team, and we’ll help you fit them around your study commitments.
How your role is different from a qualified paramedic
Cadet paramedics work with us while studying. They have a limited scope of work and can give basic care under the supervision of qualified paramedics, who provide advanced care.
What your day might look like
In this role, you’ll work for the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) at one of our ambulance stations. You’ll be part of an ambulance crew that we send to help people during a medical emergency.
You’ll help your supervisor check the person for life threatening conditions and provide basic urgent care, such as:
- treating breathing, blood flow or heart rhythm issues
- stopping or slowing bleeding
- treating burns, cuts, animal bites and injuries
- preparing medicines and equipment
- medical care and treatment during childbirth or a seizure.
Your supervisor will explain what patients need and how to give basic care. You’ll provide higher levels of care as you get experience and complete training milestones.
You’ll take people who need more care to our hospital emergency departments by ambulance, and help to monitor the patient’s vital signs during the trip. Emergency staff will help you safely transfer patients into their care so you can quickly return to the community to help people. After each job, you’ll help your supervisor record information about what happened to the patient and what treatments they had.
You’ll also support our work with police, fire and other rescue services, and help keep people safe during:
- major traffic accidents or water rescues
- floods, storms, bushfires and natural disasters
- building fires, chemical spills and radiation incidents
- violence, safety threats, or mental health emergencies.
When you’re not out on a job, you’ll be practising your clinical skills and helping get our ambulances ready for emergencies. You may also support stable patients who need to travel in our ambulances for non-urgent health care.
Qualifications
To work as a cadet, you need either of the following:
- Queensland Certificate of Education (Year 12 certificate or equivalent)
- Certificate III or higher in any area of study.
You must also show proof of your Indigenous or multicultural heritage and identity in your community. Learn who can apply and what you need to provide on the Queensland Ambulance Service website.
Professional registration
You must register with the Paramedicine Board of Australia when you start your paramedicine degree.
Training program
You’ll do the following training as part of your cadetship. We pay for all study courses.
Induction with the Queensland Ambulance Service
In this 6 week course you’ll learn how to work safely with the Queensland Ambulance Service. It includes a 5 day driver training program, and a 2 week orientation at ambulance stations in your district.
Certificate IV in Health Care
You’ll study a Certificate IV in Health Care with the Queensland Ambulance Service. As a registered training organisation (RTO), they’ll provide all your training and assessment. Most cadets finish this in 1 to 2 years full time.
Bachelor of Paramedicine
You’ll do your Bachelor of Paramedicine with Central Queensland University. You may also do a short course to prepare you for university.
Pay and benefits
We’ll pay for all training as part of your cadetship, including your university degree.
Your pay rate and benefits will depend on your role and your pay point. In your first year you’ll start at Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse cadet program grade 1, pay point 1. You’ll get a higher rate as you finish each major stage of your training.
We also offer:
- regular wage increases
- a superannuation rate of 12.75%
- several types of leave, with 17.5% annual leave loading
- flexible working arrangements and a supportive workplace with free counselling and peer support
- salary packaging
- help with training costs.
If you're moving to start a new job with us, you may be able to get help with moving and travel costs.
Learn more about working for the Queensland Ambulance Service
Rural and remote opportunities
We have cadet paramedic roles right across Queensland, from major cities to rural and remote communities. The Queensland Ambulance Service has a list of ambulance stations in each region.
Professional growth
We’ll support your development and help you grow your professional skills through formal training and ongoing workplace learning and coaching. You’ll have a dedicated supervisor who helps you set goals and gives regular feedback as you progress toward becoming a qualified paramedic.
Career paths
You can work as a qualified paramedic when you've finished your degree and have your professional registration.
Getting experience as a paramedic or doing more training can also lead to other roles.
- Advanced care paramedic
- Critical care paramedic
- Specialist paramedic in an area such as flight retrieval, mental health or falls
- Ambulance operations supervisor
- Remote hospital paramedic.
If you plan to do more study, ask your training provider if your past studies can count towards a higher qualification.