In October 2020, ACP was pleased to deliver our first fully online and interactive paramedic conference. The conference attracted over 1100 attendees, 60 speakers and 36 sessions.

Panel Members:

Paul Simpson, Director of Academic Program for Paramedicine, UWS

Prof. Vivienne Tippett, Academic Lead Research, School of Clinical Sciences, QUT

Prof. Julia Williamson, Prof. of Paramedic Science, Assoc. Dean, Research University of Hertfordshire, UK

ACPIC20 panel discussion:

What is one current project underway that will impact paramedicine the most - positive or negative?

What is the state of play with regards to paramedic researchers (working academically and working clinically) and what are the broad areas of research?

What areas are desperately lacking research?

What is the most effective way of encouraging and supporting paramedics to undertake research?

Biographies:

Paul Simpson - Paul is a senior lecturer and the inaugural Director of Academic Program for Paramedicine at Western Sydney University.  He began his paramedicine career in 1996 with NSW Ambulance, where he worked as intensive care paramedic, clinical educator and research fellow. He completed his PhD in Public Health and Community Medicine, investigating epidemiology and clinical outcomes of older people who fall and receive care from paramedics.  Paul's current research interests are diverse, and include work-integrated learning in undergraduate paramedicine programs, infection control in the prehospital setting, paramedic management of mental health, and paramedic academic leadership and workforce issues. Paul is active in service to the profession of paramedicine.  Paul conceived and established the Australasian Council of Paramedicine Deans in 2018 and was elected as the inaugural Council Chair, as role he continues to serve in. He is the current Chair of the National Research Committee for the Australasian College of Paramedicine, where he has been instrumental in establishing a national research mentorship program.

Prof. Vivienne Tippett - Prior to joining QUT in 2012, Professor Tippett was the Director of the Australian Centre for Prehospital Research. She has extensive experience as a researcher and consultant in the emergency pre-hospital, disaster health and emergency health systems. Her work has been recognised with an OAM for services to medical education (2018) and a Distinguished Service medal from QAS (2012) for services to paramedic research. She is a Fellow of the Jamieson Trauma Institute at RBWH and the Lead Researcher for the Warnings and Communication Theme of the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC (2013-2020). This research program was recognised with a CRC Association national award for research innovation (2019).

Prof. Julia Williamson - Professor of Paramedic Science at the University of Hertfordshire, Julia has extensive experience of undertaking research in a variety of healthcare settings as well as being involved in the development and delivery of Higher Education courses both for already qualified paramedics and, also, for students on pre-registration Paramedic Science programmes. She holds a PhD from King's College, London which was based on her research with people who were street homeless, looking at their experiences of health and healthcare while living on the streets. With what she describes as ‘the perfect job’, Julia has a secondment two days per week to South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust where she undertakes clinical research as well as clinical practice as a paramedic, which she considers essential to enhance the currency of her clinical research as well as her teaching. As Head of Research for the College of Paramedics (UK), she is committed to increasing the capacity and capability of paramedics within clinical research, and she takes every opportunity to inform other organisations about the rich talent that exists within the paramedic profession in relation to clinical research, highlighting the positive contribution paramedics can make to the health care research agenda. These are exciting times for the paramedic profession and research as a career option is becoming well established; the future is bright for paramedic research!