2022/23 annual summary

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Registration

24,164 paramedics

Up 4.8% from 2021/22
2.8% of all registered health practitioners

1,947 first-time registrants

1,878 domestic (including new graduates)
69 international

2.0% identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
49.1% female; 50.8% male

Age

Figure showing age groups of paramedics. The largest group is aged 25 to 34 years.

Regulation

104 notifications lodged with Ahpra about 88 paramedics
216 notifications about 175 paramedics made Australia-wide, including HPCA and OHO data

0.7% of the profession Australia-wide

Sources of notifications

Pie chart showing that 29% of notifications were raised by a patient, their relative or a member of the public. The next biggest source was employers, at 26%.

Most common types of complaints

Pie chart showing that the most common types of complaints were fairly evenly spread across the categories of clinical care, health impairment, behaviour and offence against other law.

Notifications closed

Pie chart showing that almost three-quarters of the 140 notifications closed resulted in no further regulatory action. The next biggest category was conditions imposed on registration or an undertaking accepted.

3 immediate actions taken
19 mandatory notifications received

8 about impairment
6 about alcohol or drugs
3 about sexual misconduct
2 about professional standards

38 practitioners monitored for health, performance and/or conduct during the year
13 criminal offence complaints made
2 notifications finalised at tribunal
No matters decided by a panel
1 appeal lodged

A report from the Chair

Issues this year

The number of notifications about paramedicine practitioners believed to be practising unsafely or acting unprofessionally continues to grow, as does the number of paramedics. The Paramedicine Board of Australia continued to engage with the profession on ethical and professional issues related to the types of notifications received about paramedics. The Board is committed to its role in ensuring public protection and will continue to take necessary and appropriate regulatory action including taking matters to tribunals when required.

Policy updates

The Board participated in the ongoing cross-profession reviews of registration standards including those related to criminal history, English language skills, recency of practice and continuing professional development. It continued to routinely review and update other published material to ensure it was up to date, clear and accurate.

Focusing on cultural safety

After several years spent successfully embedding the paramedicine profession into the National Scheme (1 November marked five years since paramedics entered the scheme), the focus of the Board’s work turned to development, advancement and review. The Board reinforced its commitment to actively support, promote and enhance the cultural safety of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in a number of ways, including sponsoring work related to improving the cultural safety of the notifications process.

Accreditation

The Board joined in the whole-of-scheme approach to reviewing accreditation arrangements. The Paramedicine Accreditation Committee developed and endorsed guidelines for risk-based accreditation decision-making in conjunction with the Chinese medicine, medical radiation practice, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice and podiatry accreditation committees. These guidelines were supported by the Board and took effect on 1 July 2022.

Stakeholder engagement

The Board implemented an enhanced communications and engagement strategy for the profession. As part of this, the Board has established private and public sector employer-based reference groups to provide a stronger two-way connection with registered paramedics. The Board hopes to be able to connect and engage widely with practitioners through these reference groups.

Other news

We are very pleased to welcome Ms Kate Griggs to the Board as a community member. Kate comes to the Board with a strong background as a health consumer representative and has served several terms on Ahpra’s Community Advisory Council. We were also delighted that Ms Tiina-Liisa Sexton was re-appointed to the Board for a second term as a community member. We look forward to the strong, ongoing role community members have in the work of the Board.

My personal thanks must go to the Board and committee members for their ongoing work and support. And the Board notes its gratitude for the support of key stakeholders in its work, including professional bodies, educators, employers and health departments across Australia.

Professor Stephen Gough ASM, Chair

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