Bachelor of Paramedic Science/Graduate Certificate in Emergency and Disaster Management

Duration3.5 years full-time, 7 years part-time
Location
Online and Rockhampton
Next start termTerm 1, 2025
Study modeOn Campus, Online
Course codeCM40
First-year fee
$9,325 (Indicative) (CSP)
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Overview

If you have an interest in anatomy and seek a fast-paced career, devoted to helping those in need and where no two days are the same, this is an ideal course for you. Our Bachelor of Paramedic Science/Graduate Certificate in Emergency and Disaster Management is a versatile dual degree that will future-proof your career, qualifying you as a registered paramedic with a highly relevant postgraduate qualification in emergency and disaster management. 

Prepare for the evolving field of paramedic science, which now encompasses various multidisciplinary settings such as emergency service agencies, public safety, industrial environments, and humanitarian aid organizations. Your comprehensive skillset will enable you to add value in any setting, particularly those that are remote, challenging, or under-resourced.

Additionally, your training will focus on disease processes and emergency treatment, including practical placements in paramedic care, ensuring you graduate with practical experience and high employability.

The undergraduate units will establish a strong foundation in sciences, human body systems, study and research skills, and paramedic practice.

In this double degree, you'll also gain postgraduate-level expertise in emergency and disaster management, equipping you to excel in dynamic emergency and high-threat environments.

Industry work placements will allow you to apply your learning in real-life emergency situations, working closely with experienced paramedics.

If you choose to study full-time, you will study four postgraduate units to satisfy the Graduate Certificate in Emergency and Disaster Management. Your first two units cover foundations of emergency and disaster management and current and contemporary research in the field. You will study these units over Term 3 in your second year. You will go on to complete the final two units in Term 3 in your third year which will develop your knowledge of crisis communication and disaster risk reduction.  

This course adopts key concepts of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's) and the approach of the prevention, preparedness, response and recovery (PRRR) model. Knowledge of these principles are becoming increasingly important for paramedics across Australia and globally as regions experience natural disasters such as floods, cyclones, fires, and the current pandemic and are being required to offer more than standard paramedic roles. 

 

Study experience

Career Opportunities

As a graduate of the Bachelor of Paramedic Science/Graduate Certificate in Emergency and Disaster Management you'll be equipped to work as health professionals in emergency medicine, prehospital retrieval and emergency and disaster management sectors.  Employment options after the course include government ambulance services, hospitals, private, government, non-government and community organisations supporting mines, and local and regional councils. You may specialise in intensive care paramedic practice, aviation and retrieval medicine, occupational health and safety, tactical medicine, special operations, clinical education, public health, business management, hospital health services and roles encompassing emergency and disaster management.

Structure & Availability

The course structure and available locations can change depending on when you want to study. You can choose the intake that best suits you in the drop-down menu below.

Available locations

Your course

You must complete 28 units (168 credits):

  1. 1
    The core structure (28 units)

Unit details

The units you'll study are listed below. Click on a unit to learn more.

Showing 8 of 28

Course planner

To help you plan your studies and see which unit comes first, if one unit should be completed before another and when you will study each unit, check out our course planners.

Additional information

All students will be required to attend compulsory residential schools for several units. Residential schools may be held in Cairns, Townsville or Rockhampton. Information relating to residential school locations will be available to the students via the handbook and associated Moodle pages.

Clinical Paramedic Practice 3 - PMSC13004

Throughout the course, students are required to undertake compulsory work-integrated-learning placements with an approved placement provider. Clinical placements will provide students the opportunity to develop and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and professional attributes required to safely and competently practice as a paramedic.

Clinical Paramedic Practice 2 - PMSC13002

Throughout the course, students are required to undertake compulsory work-integrated-learning placements with an approved placement provider. Clinical placements will provide students the opportunity to develop and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and professional attributes required to safely and competently practice as a paramedic.

Clinical Paramedic Practice 1 - PMSC12002

Throughout the course, students are required to undertake compulsory work-integrated-learning placements with an approved placement provider. Clinical placements will provide students the opportunity to develop and demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and professional attributes required to safely and competently practice as a paramedic.


If you have completed prior study relevant to units within this course, you may be eligible for credit for your past studies. Learn more about credit and recognition of prior learning.

Requirements

To be eligible

For your application to be considered, you must meet the following entry requirements. 

Student and course profiles

View the student and course profiles for this course and learn about CQU's Undergraduate Profile for Term 1, 2024 via our Institute Profile. 

Institute Profile

During your study

While not needed to apply, you'll need to meet the following requirements throughout your studies. 

Fees & Scholarships

Indicative first-year fee

The Indicative First-Year Fee is the approximate cost of enrolling in this course for one full-time academic year (eight units over two terms) for a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) and should be used as a guide only. Your actual fees may vary, depending on the units you select to study and your study load. Check the cost-per-unit spreadsheet available on our fees webpage for the approved unit fees. Fees are reviewed each year and are subject to change. Understanding your fees.

Commonwealth Supported Places

This course has Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) available, and as a domestic student, you'll be offered a CSP, provided you meet CSP eligibility requirements. CSPs are subsidised by the Australian Government, meaning you are only required to pay the student contribution rather than full tuition fees.

HECS-HELP Loan

You may be eligible for a HECS-HELP government loan if you are offered a CSP. HECS-HELP is an Australian Government loan scheme that assists you in paying your student contributions. Provided you meet the HECS-HELP eligibility criteria, you may use HECS-HELP to defer part or all of your student contribution fees. 

Learn more about paying for university.

Part of your course costs will include Student Services and Amenities Fees (SSAF). SSAF is charged in addition to your student contribution or tuition fees and is used to help enhance your study experience. There may also be other costs as part of your studies, such as textbooks, technology expenses, travel expenses, professional certifications, uniforms, or vaccinations. Explore other study costs.

We believe a quality education can be for everyone – regardless of background, location, or life circumstances. That's why we offer a variety of scholarships and bursaries that can give you a helping hand with a range of expenses and enhance your employability.

Explore scholarships.

How to apply

How to apply

Check what you need to do to apply to study this course. 

Your application options

Follow these steps

  1. 1
    Check you meet the course requirements
  2. 2
    Get a Unique Student Identifier

Extra admission information

Prior to applying, take a look at important application dates and learn about our admission considerations, such as information for domestic students with overseas qualifications, indigenous support, and elite athlete, coach and performer support. You should also check out the adjustment schemes that might be available to you and how to access them. You can also explore our offer information to learn more about what happens after you've submitted an application and how to respond to an offer to study with CQU.