New paramedic model to boost access to healthcare

23 Apr 2025

More Australians will be able to access high-quality, safe healthcare, under a proposal to support paramedics to expand their scope of practice. 

Under the regulation model proposed by the Paramedicine Board of Australia, advanced practice paramedics would be endorsed to provide advanced critical care and advanced primary care in paramedicine, as well as independently prescribe scheduled medicines.

Public consultation on the proposal opens today and runs until Friday 20 June 2025.

‘Australia’s healthcare landscape is changing rapidly, with an ageing population and increase in chronic diseases leading to ongoing workforce challenges,’ Paramedicine Board of Australia Chair, Professor Stephen Gough said.

‘Enabling qualified, highly experienced paramedics to fully utilise their health expertise, both in ambulance services and in community care settings, will give more Australians greater access to the care they need.’ 

The Paramedicine Board is proposing to set a national standard for this level of practice to regulate the advanced practice paramedic workforce, while ensuring paramedics are qualified, competent and safe to practice at the advanced level.

Increasing the advanced practice paramedic workforce will allow the expansion of the capabilities of jurisdictional ambulance services, especially around emergency prescribing, while also bringing additional expertise in critical, primary and community care to support the primary health system.

Health Ministers have indicated their interest in the Board establishing regulation for advanced practice paramedics and enabling independent prescribing outside of ambulance services.

Currently, paramedics are unable to independently prescribe medicines. The Board says that allowing experienced paramedics to expand their scope of practice in this area will support improved access to health care services when needed, especially in rural and remote communities.

Paramedics will be required to complete additional education and training, as well as meet length of service requirements, to be eligible for endorsements to their existing general registration, as an advanced practice paramedic. 

‘It’s not about changing the role of paramedics, but rather expanding on what already exists in a safe and sustainable way,’ Professor Gough said.

‘Advanced practice paramedics can improve access to expertise in both critical care and primary care situations, which supports the health workforce and meet community health care needs.’

Public consultation is open until close of business on Friday 20 June 2025. Visit the current consultations page of the Board website for more information. 

For questions about the consultation, contact the Board at paramedicineconsultation@ahpra.gov.au