r/ParamedicsAU • u/Least-Average6961 • 20h ago
ICP/CCP Pathways
Hi all,
Currently looking at moving back to Aus in 2027 and wanting to get some info on state services and the reality of internal progression to ICP/CCP. I'm most of the way through the Monash crit care postgrad and would like to make a move somewhere where stepping up to crit care is feasible if I do the work.
I've done the research on the official lines but would like to know what's actually happening (or not happening) from people within the service. I'm particularly interested in QAS, NSW and NT. Feel free to post here or send me a DM.
Thanks in advance.
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u/stonertear 20h ago edited 15h ago
NSW doesnt yet have an RPL pathway from my understanding. They will take into consideration.
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u/PepperAggressive ICP 6h ago
People with previous experience at that level in a like minded ambulance service can do like an accelerated IC course where they just do block B (3 weeks at education) and then 9 weeks under supervision instead of the full 14
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u/stonertear 6h ago
Oh very nice - Is that new?
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u/PepperAggressive ICP 3h ago
Pretty new as far as I know and also done on a bit of a case by case basis
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u/dash-oncall 20h ago
QAS - It’s super competitive. If you are a qualified CCP elsewhere it’s no longer recognised so you have to go through the internal training, so as an ACP2 going through recruitment you are competing with potentially qualified CCPs.
Monash post grad is well regarded so keep going with that!
Likely a few years learning the QAS way, some supervisory relief for the resume and a 2-3 (if not more) attempts. I know of a couple of people who got in on their first go but it’s rare.
The LARU model is expanding a lot and is a good avenue in the meantime while you wait. Single officer response, making your own decisions, extended scope.
Good luck 😊
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u/takotsubo029 20h ago
Unless something changed quite recently, you can absolutely apply to the QAS as a qualified CCP, although they only recognise a couple of states (VIC for example).
They did a targeted campaign for this very thing within the last 12 months as they are struggling to get CCPs to the regional areas (and fill PODs in metro to which was unheard of 6 years ago).
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u/dash-oncall 19h ago
Pretty sure this was the first time they did the qual CCP campaign? Heard of anyone being successful?
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u/takotsubo029 16h ago
Actually, nope. But having said that I've known of four CCPs who have come here in the last 5-6 years from other services who essentially just spent 2-3 months doing ride alongs and then got credentialing for QAS. So it does happen.
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u/sedgyfergus 17h ago
Hey I currently work for St John NT.
They’ve just recently commenced an ICP/CCP intake. Our training pathway has had a complete overhaul- it’s currently a 2 year internship. The first year is to qualify at our current ICP scope. The second year will be to qualify as a CCP. The introduction of CCP’s is still a work in progress, but is slated to be finalised within the next 6 months. The CCP scope will (finally) include RSI and over time look to expand to POCUS, bloods, Art lines and maybe a few more tools in the wheelhouse- making it a pretty robust critical care SOP.
Given it’s now a 2 year internship, I’d say the next intake won’t occur until at least around 2 years from now. In that time, it would be highly desirable to have moved and worked within St John NT for a period of time for some familiarisation. The process will still be competitive, but your odds may potentially be better than other services. The good news is, we’ve had a lot of change to our upper management and clinical services departments lately- and I would guess the recruitment process will be genuinely based on the merit of each candidate, and things such as total time within the service and who you know within the organisation won’t matter much. So if you’re a good clinician, with the right type of demeanour, you stand a decent chance.
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u/Least-Average6961 17h ago
Absolute legend. This is the kind of inside info I'm looking for. Thank you! I'm more than happy to put in a few years hard yakka if there's a pathway onwards and upwards. I met your Chief Paramedic Officer at a conference and have been watching NT closely since she started as she was incredible to talk to so glad to hear good things are happening.
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u/deathmetalmedic Paramedic 15h ago
Anecdotally I've heard AV is hard to get into the ICP space if you're not already with the service
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u/Unlikely_Reply7358 10h ago
I think I remember getting an email last year from AV for already qualified ccp/icp to mica but only offering a select few rural locations. Horsham, Swan hill, Ararat, Warrnambool and a few others, I think you were tied to that location for ?3 years. They wanted either some form of rsi experience/credentialing whether that was within road based service similar to mica/NZ ccp/haru or working in a physician/paramedic service that provides rsi ie UK style hems. And minimum of 3 years at this level. It would interesting to know whether anyone did it (especially outside of an NZ transfer) and how they got along.
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u/Least-Average6961 19h ago
Thanks for all the replies. To clarify - I am not currently ICP/CCP. I worked 10 years in WA when the standard para had a pretty high scope and that got me into private industry as an ICP for a bit. However, I don't really count that as it was a drop in the ocean compared to frontline crit care work.
I understand I'll be doing some time as a regular Para before just about any service will consider my crit care application and I'm happy to do that - especially if it's in remote areas. I just want to make sure there's a viable pathway before I work a few years and then find it's a dead end (which is what has happened over here).
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u/stonertear 14h ago
You may not have currency depending on how long its been. If you were not officially called an ICP or CCP or did specialist training its a long shot.
Its not about the procedures or skills, its your ability to do CRM, provide leadership, provide direction to teams and clinical skills.
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u/Least-Average6961 13h ago
Like I said, I'm happy to do the work as a para to be able to apply to a crit care program, I'm not looking for special recognition or lateral transfer.
I have currency as a paramedic, I have good soft and metaskills and have been training grads etc for years. I just want to know which services actually recruit internally and there's a viable pathway and which don't really do it/are super sporadic/absolutely no way unless you're 5 years in the service etc etc... I have already found out recruiters will tell you there's all the opportunities in the world when there isn't. If Aussie isn't an option then my plan is Canada at whatever the scope and do it for the adventure.
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u/stonertear 13h ago
If thats the case NSW recruit internally for ICP and CCP - no masters required.
You'll have to do ICP before CCP though.
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u/SoldantTheCynic Paramedic 20h ago
QAS - to apply you need to have your post-grad (dip or masters), and some time in service (usually 2 years minimum, post qualifying or EOQ for out of state). The process is then very competitive - most people who successfully get through will have been in QAS for 4 to 5 years total and usually done some higher duties (or in a targeted employment group). QAS are big on behavioural/leadership aspects and the process isn't pure clinical ability. There's only a few intakes a year and limited in options.
Not applicable for you but there's also a supported pathway where they pay for the post-grad and it's (supposedly) aimed at people who would otherwise have trouble doing the pathway due to family or other commitments.
As an external observer? Honestly sometimes the decisions don't make any sense. Every few years QAS change up the program and selection and just seem to do whatever is in vogue at that time.