Ambulance Paramedics jobs in Australia

Licensing

Licensing by state

Paramedics are separately registered — not under the nursing board. Since 2018 paramedicine has been a registered profession under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme, regulated by the Paramedicine Board of Australia through Ahpra. Registration is national: one general registration is recognised in every state and territory, the title 'paramedic' is protected nationally, and you do not re-register when you move interstate. Registration standards, including professional indemnity insurance, CPD, recency of practice and criminal history, are set nationally by the Board. What varies by jurisdiction is the employer — each state and territory has its own ambulance service, two of them operated by St John under government contract — the industrial instrument, which is almost always a service enterprise agreement rather than the federal Ambulance and Patient Transport Industry Award 2020, the clinical practice guidelines and drug authorities issued by each service under that state's medicines and poisons legislation, the scope of practice tiers and titles each service uses, and the driver licence class, emergency driving accreditation and screening checks required locally.

the Australian Capital Territory

The ACT Ambulance Service, part of the ACT Emergency Services Agency rather than the health directorate, is the territory provider, with paramedics covered by an ACT public sector enterprise agreement. Medicines are authorised under the Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 2008 (ACT) and ACTAS clinical procedures. Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) registration is required, and ACTAS frequently works across the border with NSW Ambulance.

New South Wales

NSW Ambulance, part of NSW Health, is the state provider, with paramedics covered by NSW state industrial instruments for operational ambulance staff. Medicines are authorised under the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 1966 (NSW) and NSW Ambulance protocols. NSW Ambulance operates Extended Care and Intensive Care Paramedic tiers, plus specialist Aeromedical and Special Operations teams, and runs internal recruitment intakes with its own education program.

the Northern Territory

St John Ambulance Australia (NT) delivers ambulance services under contract to the Northern Territory Government, so paramedics are employed by a non-government provider under its own enterprise agreement. Medicines are authorised under the Medicines, Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 2012 (NT) and St John NT clinical guidelines. Extreme distances, aeromedical retrieval, remote community response, heat and tropical presentations, and cultural safety practice with Aboriginal patients define NT paramedicine; an Ochre Card is required for child-related work.

Queensland

The Queensland Ambulance Service, part of the state health portfolio, is the sole emergency ambulance provider, funded in part through the Community Ambulance Cover arrangement, with staff covered by a Queensland Ambulance Service certified agreement rather than the federal award. Drug authorities flow from the Medicines and Poisons Act 2019 (Qld) and QAS clinical practice guidelines and drug therapy protocols. QAS runs its own graduate and Critical Care Paramedic pathways; a Blue Card is required for paediatric-facing and community roles.

South Australia

The SA Ambulance Service, part of SA Health, is the state provider, with paramedics covered by an SA Ambulance Service enterprise agreement. Medicines are authorised under the Controlled Substances Act 1984 (SA) and SAAS clinical guidelines. SAAS operates Intensive Care Paramedic and Extended Care Paramedic roles and works alongside MedSTAR for retrieval, with volunteer ambulance officers staffing many regional stations.

Tasmania

Ambulance Tasmania, within the Department of Health Tasmania, is the state provider, with paramedics covered by a Tasmanian state service ambulance agreement. Medicines are authorised under the Poisons Act 1971 (Tas) and Ambulance Tasmania clinical guidelines. Registration to Work with Vulnerable People (RWVP) is required. Long transport distances, single-officer rural stations and a substantial volunteer workforce shape practice.

Victoria

Ambulance Victoria is the statewide provider, with paramedics covered by the Ambulance Victoria enterprise agreement. Medicines are authorised under the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Vic) and Ambulance Victoria clinical practice guidelines. Victoria uses Graduate Ambulance Paramedic, ALS, MICA (Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance) and Air Ambulance tiers — MICA is a distinctly Victorian designation — and Ambulance Victoria has a large volunteer and Community Emergency Response Team network in regional areas.

Western Australia

St John Ambulance Western Australia delivers ambulance services under contract to the WA Government, making it the only mainland state where the provider is a non-government organisation, so paramedics are employed in the federal industrial system under a St John WA enterprise agreement. Medicines are authorised under the Medicines and Poisons Act 2014 (WA) and St John clinical practice guidelines. WA relies heavily on volunteer ambulance officers in country areas and on the Royal Flying Doctor Service for long-distance retrieval.