Rapid Response is the College’s monthly eNewsletter providing current and important information from the College.

Advocacy Update

College CEO John Bruning met with Jono Cash and Sam Kellick from Hato Hone St John to tour the emergency operations centre

• Last week, College CEO John Bruning, travelled across Aotearoa New Zealand meeting with the Health Minister Dr Shane Reti, Te Kaunihera Manapou | Paramedic Council, the Council of Ambulance Authorities, Auckland University of Technology, road and air service providers, and several College members.

The trip provided a valuable opportunity to reconnect in person with numerous colleagues, members, and decision-makers. Our discussions primarily focused on enhancing professional recognition, fostering increased collaboration, and addressing integrated workforce planning. Several action points came out of this trip, and we look forward to updating members with opportunities and progress soon.

• Last week, College Chair Ryan Lovett attended the Primary Health Care Congress in Adelade, an event hosted by APNA and driven by the newly formed Primary Health Alliance of which the College is a proud member.  Special guests included Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care Ged Kearney, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care Anne Ruston, Chief Allied Health Officer Shadow Anita Hobson-Powell, Prof. Mark Cormack Independent Lead for the Scope of Practice Review. The day provided a great opportunity for leaders from across primary care disciplines to come together and discuss alignment of big-picture ideas for primary care reform across Australia. Through this alliance the College will continue to advocate for professional recognition, inclusion and health literacy of paramedicine in multidisciplinary teams working to improve health outcomes for all communities across Australia.

• The College is thrilled to support the National Rural Health Student Network’s (NRHSN) upcoming council meeting, to be held in Melbourne from 7-8 September 2024. The NRHSN represents the only student led multidisciplinary network, focused on fostering the next generation of dedicated rural and remote clinicians. The NRHSN oversees 28 university-based rural health clubs (RHCs) composed of more than 11,000 students across the country. Their twice-yearly council meetings bring together students from each RHC for future planning, professional development and collaboration on the advancement of rural health from the student perspective. Despite paramedicine representing a small percentage of the overall healthcare workforce, their inclusion within this process is equally important and we look forward to seeing the results produced by this group of dedicated emerging clinicians. 

Education Update

Adaptive Leadership Program: Lead with purpose, adapt with confidence

The College’s Adaptive Leadership Program is designed for both new and experienced leaders alike, emphasising leadership as a skill to be developed and applied, rather than an inherent trait or position title. This six-month program combines face-to-face and online modules, covering core topics for all leaders including diversity and inclusion, feedback, negotiation, coaching, and resilience and wellbeing. Find out more here.

Conference Update

Australasian College of Paramedicine International Conference 2024 (ACPIC24)

Workshops: https://paramedics.org/ACPIC24/schedule

LIMITED TICKETS AVAILABLE – some workshops are almost sold out, so get in quick to avoid missing out.

Wound care for paramedics: Guaranteed to have you "in stitches" and an opportunity to get "stuck in", this workshop will be a fun yet informative hands-on experience with the opportunity to practise/show off your suturing and skin-gluing skills from rank beginner to microsurgeon level with multiple foam practice blocks available to participants. Emergency Birth: A Hands-On Workshop for Paramedics: This workshop covers pathophysiology, patient assessment and interactive workstations with high-fidelity models

Conference sessions: https://paramedics.org/ACPIC24/register

Did you know that by purchasing a conference ticket (12 & 13 September) you have the opportunity to listen to 37 live presenters PLUS have access to the recordings of the streams you missed to watch in the weeks/months following the conference?

Gala Dinner

Enhance your conference experience by attending our Gala Dinner. Enjoy a delightful three-course meal and a four-hour drinks' package while listening to our keynote speaker, Dr Brendan Shannon (https://paramedics.org/ACPIC24/gala-dinner). This evening is perfect for networking, reconnecting with old colleagues, and unwinding before another exciting day of sessions on Friday.

Research Symposium wrap-up

The College hosted the Research Symposium on July 18-19 at the Australian Catholic University in Brisbane. The event, themed “Influence and Inspire: Advancing the Paramedicine Research Agenda for Australasia,” highlighted the importance of paramedic research in improving emergency care. Day 1 featured workshops on various research topics and a networking event, while Day 2 included presentations and panel discussions on current trends and challenges in paramedic research. The symposium was well-received, with positive feedback on the networking opportunities and the focused nature of the event.The success of the symposium was attributed to the contributions of speakers, workshop hosts, and sponsors.