By Jordan Berger
The Australasian College of Paramedicine’s International Conference 2025 was nothing short of exceptional, and I am so grateful to have been able to attend it in beautiful, sunny Brisbane with my friends, esteemed colleagues and some of the best of our profession.
One day one we started off strong, the Australasian College of Paramedicine offered two streams of pre-conference workshops - some aimed at ASL paramedics, and some focused more for students.
The Student Day in particular was immensely inspiring for me, not just for the lessons that were taught, but for the hard work I saw being put into bringing the idea to fruition. Having worked closely with Emma Tyzack-Price, the appointed ACPIC25 planning member on the Australasian College of Paramedicine's Student Committee, I saw firsthand, as the Australian Chair, how hard she worked to make the day a reality, and the efforts she went to throughout the conference. I cannot begin to express my pride for her work, and the outstanding contributions of the entire planning committee! Designed by students, for students, the program had the perfect balance between theory and practical workshops on trauma management, oxygenation, ventilation, and wound care, giving students the chance to learn directly from experienced clinicians. Beyond the skills practice, the day created space for networking with fellow students from across Australasia, exchanging stories, and discovering the many ways paramedicine is practiced across Australasia. For students, including myself, this was a great introduction into the wonderful world of professional development and further education.
Day two built on this momentum with a mix of keynote presentations, panel discussions, and research sessions highlighting the sheer breadth of our profession. Sessions on death and difficult conversations reminded me that paramedicine is as much about compassion as clinical skill. As a student, it has always been an area of concern for me, so hearing experienced clinicians give tips on these areas was incredibly important and relieving.
I also enjoyed learning about workplace safety, including paramedic practices such as wearing a seatbelt, occupational violence, and the use of body cameras. Having researched this area at university made it all the more fascinating, and reminded me of how I’d like to practice as a clinician once I graduate. And of course, learning about HALO, (high-acuity low-occurance) procedures is always something that catches my eye. As a student wanting to someday get into the critical care area, hearing the inspiring and heroic stories always gets me excited about my future in paramedicine.
The Gala Dinner was another highlight where I gained invaluable insight into Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and Māori culture, which I had not been deeply exposed to before. The stories shared were moving and have pushed me to broaden my understanding of cultural safety and how inclusivity strengthens paramedicine. And not to mention, the food and entertainment was outstanding, providing the perfect backdrop to some more networking.
Finally, day three opened with the “Her impact: Paramedicine power talks", which was extremely impactful for me as a young woman entering the workforce. Reflections on leadership, balance, and women’s health outcomes were eye-opening, and provided me with some great perspectives. Later sessions on fatigue, mental health, and learning reinforced the importance of reflection and growth in this career.
Finally, Dr. Dinesh Palipana’s emotional speech highlighted the impact we as paramedics can have on patients’ lives and inspired me as a student to strive for humility and compassion when I begin my role as a paramedic.
ACPIC25 was overall a fantastic experience, that no-doubt left attendees feeling inspired to grow into more compassionate, curious, and culturally safe clinicians. As a student, these professional development opportunities are invaluable, and certainly an opportunity to encourage all students and junior clinicians to jump on.
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The College is the peak professional body representing and supporting paramedics and student paramedics across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand since 1973.
The College acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the traditional custodians of the land and sea in which we live and work, we recognise their continuing connection to land, sea and culture and pay our respects to Elders past, present and future.
We recognise the unique role of Māori as Tangata Whenua and embrace Te Tiriti o Waitangi, recognising Māori as tino rangatiratanga of Aotearoa New Zealand while supporting the guiding principles of Te Tiriti – Tino rangatiratanga, Equality, Active protection, Options, and Partnership.