Striving for the professionalisation of Australian paramedics

For paramedical practitioners to realise their full potential, national registration is an essential component in gaining recognition by the broader healthcare industry. This paper’s purpose is to evaluate if the paramedic industry is considered a profession by informed members of the public in isolation from paramedic culture. An altruistic opportunity exists to engage with the consumer and affording them the opportunity to be commensurate of the issues of registration, with the pretence to improve the delivery of paramedical services. The current literature somewhat examines paramedic professionalisation, by identifying the hallmarks of recognised professions and what may be restricting paramedicine from achieving national registration. The research methodology for this study employed focus groups and purposive interviews. The respondents in the research study were 48 first year students enrolled in the Bachelor of Paramedic Practice degree at the University of Tasmania (Rozelle campus, Sydney). The key thematics illuminated in the research were: that the government, paramedics and paramedicine are all accountable for the implementation of national registration. Tertiary education is synergistic to national registration and has the potential to enhance the quality of service delivery. This research is a significant contribution to paramedicine’s literature, as its workforce strives for acknowledgement of their unique niche in the healthcare industry.