Originally Posted by chris rose

Hi Phil, Have a look at this thread
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...=nsw+ambulance

- Loads of info from people have asked a similar question. There are a few of us in the "system" at the moment, with, i believe, 5 UK paras already working in Sydney.
I myself, have an offer to start in July, but frustratingly i cannot sell myself at the moment
best regards
chris

Originally Posted by Flapper

Hi all! This is my first post on this forum, which i 'discovered' today, and so far i have been amazed at the amount of info available. I am also a paramedic based in Pembrokeshire, having worked for the Welsh NHS ambulance trust for over 12 years.
Last summer i submitted applications to both Western Australia (St.Johns), and the Queensland Ambulance services. So far i have had a telephone and a face-to-face interview, and a fitness test with WA, and i am expecting to have a face-to-face interview with QLD early to mid March.
I have been doing a lot of research, and have started to form a bit of an impression of both organisations, and they do seem to be quite different!
We are going out to WA for a month on the last week of March for a rekkie/holiday. We did plan on doing 2 wks in each place, but a month is just not long enough, and i didn't want to turn it into a knackering slog for my wife and 11yr old son. We settled on WA as at the time of booking it looked like the place we may be more inclinded to head for, but since then QLD have been very pro-active, and i'm starting to have some doubts about the St.Johns organisation. After myself and another Pembs colleague's applications were going before the directors for final perusal, they have now decided to hold further telephone interviews?!
Unlike many who are planning on/have emigrated to OZ, we already have quite a good lifestyle out here in the sticks in that we are surrounded by beautiful un-spoiled and un-crowded beaches (coastal national park), and spend many a summers evening sipping a pint outside watching the sun go down over the sea. Down-side is you have to drive for hours to get anywhere!Our reasons for contemplating emigrating to OZ (rose-coloured glasses off!), are mainly for concerns for the way the UK seems to be going, more time spent outdoors due to better weather (lifestyle), and future prospects (inc.property) for our kids.
After the initial rush and excitment of the thought of selling up everything and heading off to the other side of the world, i'm now starting to have some doubts, mainly about earnings and house prices in OZ, and about what i will have to give up here. Being a backwater, the problems of the UK tend to get diluted somewhat. Also, having done years of hard labour on the house we are currently in and almost have it finally finished!, and with AFC money, and having to sell my lovely Impreza and beach buggy, and leaving family and friends behind, etc, etc, the decision seems to be getting tougher!
I'm getting the impression that these days you have to have a reasonably good income/low borrowings in order to afford and enjoy the Ozzie dream, and although it's not all about the money, i don't want to take a hefty pay cut, give up a pretty nice UK lifestyle, and have money worries/working stacks of OT just to move to OZ.
Chances are we'll probably fall in love with the place when we go out next month, come home with big rose-coloured glasses, say sod it, sell up and move out there!!
I used to be in-decisive, now not so sure!!
Any tales of experiences since making the big move to OZ, and of working for their ambo services, would be very gratefully received.
Thanks for having the patience to read my first ramble!

Originally Posted by medicmandan

hi all,
just wondered if anyone knows the process once in australia for progression from advanced care paramedic to intensive care paramedic? time scales and what you have to do? i am just a little concerned with my skills dropping off because obviously, as a paramedic here in the U.K. we can do most of the procedures and give most of the drugs etc. that an ICP in Oz can give and going over as an ACP, i would not be allowed to practice these.

on the other hand, would be getting roughly the same money as here for alot less responsibility and then when i DO get the responsibility back as an ICP, they pay you for the privilege and make it worth your while, unlike here

any thoughts or experiences would be welcomed to help with my decision on whether to take the plunge down under!!

Originally Posted by TLEH from Canada

Hi All!

My boyfriend and I are both Paramedics (Advanced Care, and Primary Care Medics) in the Niagara Region of Ontario Canada (encompassing Niagara Falls, St. Catharines, Fort Erie, Welland, Grimsby, Port Colborne, etc). See link- http://www.regional.niagara.on.ca/li...perations.aspx

We're both looking for a drastic change, but seeing as we both love our jobs, we're both just really seeking to relocate to New Zealand.

We're also both working on our respective university degrees (Psychology, and Health Sciences), but are willing to transfer to a University in New Zealand and complete our degrees there. I am also interested in taking the ACP course (I guess whatever the equivalent would be in New Zealand) to take my career up one step further.

This all said, I've been searching for a couple weeks online now, and haven't come across any useful information, or found any Paramedic Services to call.

I did, however, come across this forum, and I'm wondering if someone would be willing to answer a few of my questions?
- How many Paramedic services are there in New Zealand?
- Where are they located?
- Are they privately run, or owned and operated by the region/county?
- How many levels of care are there? (ie: in Ontario there are i) Primary Care, ii) Advanced Care, iii) Critical Care, iv) Primary, Advanced and Critical Flight Medics, v) Specialized: Tactical Medics, Marine Medics, Bike Medics)
- What qualifications are needed to work in New Zealand
- What responsibilities do your Primary, Advanced, and Critical Care Medics have?
- What certifications do you possess?
- What equipment and medications do you carry?
- What is the application process like?
- Do services in New Zealand hire on medics from other countries?
- What would we need to do to apply to the different services?

I know this is an awful lot of questions...and I probably have more, but I suppose this is sufficient for now.

Any answers or comments are welcomed! Thank you kindly to all those who do answer!

Originally Posted by jg0505

Hi Guys

I know that this is not the correct area to be discussing this, but you all seem like a friendly bunch

I have spent some time travelling, quite a bit in Oz, too! I'm returning to the UK and want to train to be a paramedic.

I think my work history’s a bit sketchy though. Basically I left college before completing my A-Levels, because I was offered a place at Middlesex uni to study nursing. I only completed the first year, got into money trouble and got a job in a bar, and was eventually made assistant manager. I then worked as a van driver for Pret a Manger in London, they then promoted me to customer services, and I was put in charge of their fleet of vans. While working for them I volunteered for Samaritans. I left London last September, and went travelling for a year.

I really wanted to hear from people who held really different jobs before getting into what you do now. They say they are looking for a stable employment/education record. My problem is quitting 2 education courses doesn’t look good on my CV. Should I be thinking of trying to get in more entry level?

Any comments would be appreciated.

Cheers

Jim