Australasian College of Paramedicine International Conference (ACPIC25)
ACPIC 2025 delivered a wide range of clinical and research sessions from experts and leaders in paramedicine. Hosted in Brisbane (September 2025) the program was designed to inspire, educate and broaden horizons.
Conference theme: Foundations to future: Advancing paramedicine
Disparities in ambulance service delivered telehealth amongst patients with limited English proficiency
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth use has increased across healthcare, including ambulance services. This study identifies disparities between patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) and English-proficient patients in ambulance service-delivered telehealth outcomes. Analysis of over 100,000 cases showed LEP patients were referred to alternative care pathways less frequently and were more likely to have an ambulance dispatched to them. These findings suggest potential inequities in telehealth outcomes for LEP patients seeking ambulance service assistance, possibly due to barriers in assessment and technology. Further qualitative research is needed to understand and improve equitable access to care through ambulance service service-delivered telehealth.
Biography: Ricky Lam
Ricky is a Clinical Deployment Supervisor in the Queensland Ambulance Service with experience in remote and isolated practice, resource management, and telehealth. Through various roles, Ricky has led multidisciplinary teams in clinical deployment, healthcare navigation, and ambulance service-delivered telehealth. His work is grounded in research and evidence-based practice, having published peer-reviewed literature on cultural competence training in paramedicine. Currently, Ricky is combining his interests in telehealth and culturally and linguistically diverse practices by exploring ambulance service delivered telehealth outcomes of non-English speaking patients.
Moderator: Stephanie Nixon, Advanced Care Paramedic, Queensland Ambulance Service
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.
