The Australasian College of Paramedicine (the College) is proud to announce the release of the second Australasian Paramedicine Workforce Survey Report 2024-2025 in a landmark three-year study examining the evolving paramedicine workforce across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
Funded by the College, this research moves beyond traditional demographic analysis to explore the deeper dynamics shaping paramedicine today, including career tenure and aspirations, work demands and conditions, and individual well-being. The workforce is examined across four key domains: clinical, management, education, and research, reflecting the expanding work and complexity of paramedicine in both countries.
John Bruning, CEO of the College said: “This report provides further insights into the lived experience, aspirations, and challenges of the paramedic workforce across Australasia. It is a powerful tool for informing healthcare workforce strategy, policy development, and education, and we are proud to support research that strengthens the profession and ultimately improves person-centred care.”
In 2022, the College commissioned Associate Professor Liz Thyer from Western Sydney University (WSU) as Chief Investigator to lead a collaborative research team from WSU, Edith Cowan University (ECU), and Auckland University of Technology (AUT). This cross-institutional partnership reflects the College’s commitment to evidence-based research to inform the future of paramedicine.
Associate Professor Liz Thyer stated: “This research provides a unique lens into the paramedicine profession across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. The findings highlight both opportunities and areas of concern, and I’m proud to lead a team committed to delivering insights that will shape the future of paramedicine.”
Key findings
The demographic findings are largely reflective of the paramedicine population data that is available through the Paramedicine Board of Australia and Te Kaunihera Manapou Paramedic Council although our sample had a higher proportion of male respondents.
Nine percent of paramedics in Aotearoa New Zealand identify as Māori, and 4% as Aboriginal in Australia. While workforce participation by Indigenous peoples is higher in Aotearoa New Zealand, both groups lag population data in some of the paramedicine role categories.
Survey participants are well educated and well paid, exceeding population averages for both education and salary.
Students and paramedics under the age of 40 are predominately female, while those over 40, and particularly those in management positions, are predominantly male.
More than two in every five paramedics had carer responsibilities for children under the age of 16 while working as a paramedic and at least one in every five has caring responsibilities for an adult family member.
Currently, 24% of paramedics work for two or more employers. This may be to achieve an equivalent 1.0 FTE among multiple employers, or it may be an example of job crafting where employees actively alter the focus of their work to provide a more meaningly experience.
Paramedics still typically work rotating rosters however many had requested changes to work patterns to develop skills or facilitate a work-life balance. Additionally, nearly a third of paramedics from both Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia wanted to decrease the number of hours they currently worked.
The report reveals that a significant proportion of paramedics intend to leave their current employer within the next four years, highlighting an urgent need to better understand the factors influencing workforce retention. At the same time, many paramedics are seeking to move into advanced clinical roles that will not only broaden individual scope of practice but also enhance the visibility and impact of paramedicine within the broader health system.
Despite the critical role of education and research in shaping the future of the profession, few respondents indicated an intention to pursue careers in these areas, signalling the need to address barriers to entry. Encouragingly, in Australia, the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander paramedicine students exceeds that of the general population, suggesting promising potential for greater representation in the clinical workforce.
The College remains committed to advancing paramedicine through evidence-based advocacy, education, and collaboration. This report is a key milestone in that journey.
Click here to access the full report and explore the findings in detail.
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Media contact: media@paramedics.org
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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.