Australasian College of Paramedicine International Conference (ACPIC 2022)

ACPIC 2022 delivered a wide range of clinical and research sessions from experts and leaders in paramedicine. Hosted in Brisbane (September 2022) the program was designed to inspire, educate and broaden horizons.

Conference theme: Embracing Strengths | Shaping Futures

Unlocking the code - Australian paramedics' use and understanding of their professional code of conduct.

Paramedicine is a newly regulated profession in Australia and with the introduction of regulation in 2018 came increased professional responsibilities – including the introduction of a professional code of conduct. We interviewed paramedics about their use and understanding of the paramedicine professional code of conduct. Through thematic analysis, this study explores the role that paramedics believe the code has in ethical and professional decision-making, the new responsibilities the code introduced as part of being a registered professional and how paramedics used the code to navigate these new responsibilities.

Biography: Derek Collings-Hughes

Derek is an experienced registered paramedic from Western Australia. He started his career in New Zealand as an EMT, before moving to Australia and completing his undergraduate degree at Curtin University in WA. Derek has since developed a keen interest in paramedic research and completed an honours programme at Monash University investigating how paramedics use their professional code of conduct. Derek is also a sessional lecturer and a HDR student at Curtin University.

Moderated by: Louise Reynolds, Associate professor of paramedicine, Victoria University and Vice chair, Research Committee