The genesis of the Australasian College of Paramedic Practitioners (ACPP) began with four Critical Care Paramedics who had all recently graduated as Physician Assistants (PA). During (PA) clinical placement they all shared an immersive and diverse clinical experience and realised that paramedics, with additional primary care skills, can be a versatile and valuable addition to the wider healthcare system. Frustrated by the lack of opportunities for paramedics to expand their primary care skills within and outside of ambulance services they formed ACPP.
The evolution of paramedics into the broader health care system is highly complex and will take time and patience, but it is inevitable. Besides creating pathways to employment ACPP also aims to set standards for education and professional practice.
Paramedicine is the forgotten health profession. It is mostly siloed into ambulance services and the remote oil and gas industry. ACPP is the specialist College founded to introduce Australasian paramedics, with additional primary care skills, into the broader healthcare system. Just as Medicine and Nursing have specialist Colleges that represent their specialist clinicians, ACPP represents Paramedics with additional primary care skills.
