CCS25: Breaking barriers: A journey from student to MICA Flight Paramedic

Critical Care Summit is a biennial Australasian conference, aimed at providing targeted education and engagement for critical care practitioners, including paramedics, nurses, and emergency and retrieval physicians. The Critical Care Summit 2025 (CCS25) was hosted in Melbourne (May).

Conference theme: Mastering the essentials

Breaking barriers: A journey from student to MICA Flight Paramedic

Presented by Sarah Hirons – One of Ambulance Victoria’s First Female MICA Flight Paramedics Leader. Clinician. Mentor. Sarah Hirons has carved a path few have travelled, from her days as a student paramedic to becoming one of Ambulance Victoria’s first female MICA Flight Paramedics. In this inspiring and personal presentation, Sarah shares the challenges, triumphs, and pivotal moments that shaped her journey.

Join her as she explores:

• The road to becoming a Critical Care Flight Paramedic – the training, the mindset, and the reality of working at the highest level of paramedic practice.
• Breaking barriers in a traditionally male-dominated field – lessons in resilience, leadership, and perseverance.
• Critical care in the sky – the unique demands of aeromedical retrieval and life-saving interventions in the most challenging environments.
• Mentorship and the future of paramedicine – empowering the next generation of paramedics to reach new heights.

This session is more than just a career retrospective—it’s a testament to growth and pushing the limits of what’s possible. Whether you’re an aspiring critical care paramedic, an experienced clinician, or simply someone who values stories of determination and excellence, Sarah’s journey will leave you motivated and ready to take on your own challenges.

Presented by: Sarah Hirons, MICA Flight Paramedic, Ambulance Victoria

Sarah is an intensive care flight paramedic with over 20 years of experience working across Victoria. She joined Air Ambulance Victoria in 2019, where she delivers critical care and search and rescue across the state. Combining her passion for rock climbing and the outdoors, Sarah has assisted in training new recruits in personal preservation and group survival training in austere environments. She is passionate about human factors and team work in high stress environments and the importance of remaining physically and mentally fit for longevity in prehospital care.

Moderated by: Dr Ben Meadley, Director, Paramedicine Ambulance Victoria