Paramedic career pathways

Dr Louise Reynolds has vast national and international experience as a Registered Paramedic, researcher, and academic educator. She is currently Associate Professor in Paramedicine at Australian Catholic University, where she continues to collaborate in prehospital systems research and education.

Louise is a keen advocate for increased visibility and acceptance of paramedics and paramedicine as a safe, viable and available workforce, seamlessly integrated into the wider healthcare system. She is passionate about targeted health care reform to ensure that we get the right care to the right person at the right time. She believes that realisation of this model of care means supporting the available workforce to expand their scope of practice while delivering safe, quality, equitable healthcare.

Brodie is a Registered Paramedic with over 15 years experience in both jurisdictional ambulance services and private practice. As the founder of Medical Edge Australia, Brodie supports a team of over 500 clinical staff nationally delivering services to 150,000 patients per annum. Brodie holds a range of qualifications in paramedicine and is passionate about providing high quality care in private practice.

Ben Meadley is a registered paramedic and Director, Paramedicine at Ambulance Victoria. Ben has worked as a clinician, educator, and researcher in paramedicine for more than 26 years, with the majority of his time as an intensive care flight paramedic. His research interests include respiratory and cardiovascular physiology, point of care ultrasound, human performance optimisation, and selection to specialist paramedicine teams. Ben divides his time between clinical leadership, teaching and research roles. He is a Fellow of the Australasian College of Paramedicine and was awarded the Ambulance Service Medal in 2023.

Alicia holds a Bachelor of Nursing and a Bachelor of Paramedicine from Charles Sturt University and has been a member of Ambulance Victoria since 2010, currently serving as an Advanced Life Support paramedic in Northeast Victoria. In early 2024, she expanded her professional scope by joining Gateway Health as a community paramedic within the CP@clinic program. Alicia is deeply passionate about the development of community paramedicine as an alternative career pathway in Australia, recognising the unique contribution paramedics can make to early intervention and preventative care. She believes paramedics are well-positioned to support vulnerable and disconnected members of the community through accessible, relationship-based care. Her work has strengthened her commitment to building trust with clients and has deepened her empathy for the complex health and social challenges faced by many individuals.

Anita has been an advanced life support paramedic with Ambulance Victoria for the past 17 years, where she works in northern Victoria. She is also a critical care registered nurse, although she now works as a ‘hobby nurse’ (just for fun!) within the community nursing setting. For the past 12 months Anita has also worked as a community paramedic with Primary Care Connect in Shepparton, under the CP@ Clinic Program. She has loved being able to integrate and expand her assessment skills and knowledge in the community space, while delivering measurable outcomes for the clients that present to her clinics. She is studying her Masters of Paramedic Practitioner and is excited to see the way that this course and community paramedicine can work together for better patient outcomes in the years to come.