Diploma of Emergency Health Care

The Diploma of Emergency Health Care is a vocational qualification for people who want to work on the front line of emergency response. You'll learn how to assess a patient, manage an airway, control bleeding, splint fractures, administer oxygen and some medications, and make quick decisions when things are changing fast. Expect units in anatomy and physiology, emergency care practice, trauma management, resuscitation, and safe transport of patients. You'll also cover infection control, legal and ethical responsibilities, and how to communicate with patients, families and other emergency services. Much of the training happens in simulated scenarios, so you practise on manikins and with classmates before you ever deal with a real patient.

This is a diploma, which sits at AQF level 5. It's delivered over 1.5 years, usually across three or four study periods rather than the standard two-semester year. You'll complete a set number of units of study, each worth credit points, and the course normally includes a supervised clinical placement or work-integrated learning component in an ambulance, hospital emergency department or similar setting. Assessment is competency-based: you have to show you can perform the skills, not just pass a written exam. Check the official CRICOS entry for the exact units, placement hours and credit points, because those details are set by the provider and can change.

Skills you'll pick up include patient assessment, basic and advanced life support, trauma care, triage, manual handling, and working under pressure as part of a team. You'll also get used to writing patient care records and handing over to paramedics, nurses or doctors. The course suits school leavers who want a practical way into health, as well as mature-age students, enrolled nurses, defence medics, or volunteer first responders looking to formalise their experience. If you're an international student, you can work up to 48 hours per fortnight while you study, and after you finish you may be eligible for the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream. English requirements for this course are typically IELTS Academic 6.0–6.5 overall, though you should confirm the exact score and accepted equivalents on the official page.

• Emergency medical technician or ambulance officer in state ambulance services
• Patient transport officer with private and non-emergency providers
• Emergency department assistant or clinical support worker in public and private hospitals
• Event first-aid responder at sporting venues, festivals and community events
• Remote or industrial medic on mine sites, construction projects and offshore facilities
• Defence medic or first-response roles within the Australian Defence Force
• Pathway into further study, such as a bachelor degree in paramedicine or nursing