The ACP International Conference provides an unmatched opportunity for our members to learn from experts and leaders in paramedicine. ACPIC 2021 was delivered as a hybrid conference (online and face to face in the Sunshine Coast, QLD and Hobart, TAS) in November 2021.

Enabling Success Panel Discussion

Biographies:

Emma-Kate Thornley Emma’s Paramedicine career began in 2001. She completed a clinical Master’s at medical school in 2012 and now practices clinically as a Paramedic Practitioner (FACPP) in Tasmania in addition to her academic career in postgraduate Paramedicine at UTAS. Emma is a founding board member of Australasian College of Paramedic Practitioners where she continues to develop defined career structures beyond registration for Paramedics and advocates for the legislative changes and organisational evolution that will enable Paramedics to practice as part of the broader Primary Health Care workforce.

Katherine Eastwood Dr Kathryn Eastwood ASM is a Research Fellow within the Prehospital Emergency Care -Australia and New Zealand (PEC-ANZ) Centre for Research Excellence and the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine. Her research areas include data linkage, secondary telephone triage, paediatric pain management, mathematical competence and cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Kathryn is an experienced MICA paramedic with Ambulance Victoria since 2000 and she continues to practice in this role. Kathryn is a member of the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) committee, the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR), and a Fellow of the Australasian College of Paramedicine. In 2019 Kathryn received an Australia Day honor, the Ambulance Service Medal for her outstanding research, education and clinical contributions to Paramedicine in Australia.

Sam Allendar Samantha Allender is an experienced Paramedic of 16 years with 10 years working in all levels of Secondary Triage (ST) with Ambulance Victoria (AV), including being actively involved in the review of ST and its expansion to now triaging approximately 30% of all 000 calls at AV. In 2019, she took on the role of Project Manager for Ambulance Tasmania (AT) to manage the development and implementation of ST that was launched in February 2021. Undertaking this complex project has been a career highlight, and has seen her involved in every aspect of the project including governance and approvals within AT, the Department of Health and at the Cabinet level, identification, procurement and customisation of the patient management system, development of new workflows and processes, recruitment, training and development of a team, actively engaging with other agencies within Tasmania to building alternative clinical and care pathways to ensure that patients can be referred to services that align with their clinical presentation and ensuring a comprehensive public awareness and education program was implemented to inform the public of changes to ambulance service delivery.

Session moderator: Lucy Oatley