Faculty of Health | Te Kura Hauora 0800 944-847 Âť info@whitireia.ac.nz Âť www.whitireia.ac.nz
Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedic) Information for Working or Volunteering Paramedics 2017
General Information The Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedic) programme at Whitireia New Zealand (Whitireia) is a three year full time degree run in conjunction with Wellington Free Ambulance and is designed to prepare students for practice as contemporary ambulance paramedics. For those already qualified as paramedics we offer a Flexible Leaning Stream which allows working or volunteering paramedics to study part time and have up to six years to complete the degree. The programme offers a depth and breadth of learning which was not possible within the scope of former qualification programmes. Working or volunteering paramedics can have up to two-thirds of the degree credited to them for their prior experience and qualifications. This is done through a process called “Recognition of Prior Learning” (RPL) which you will complete prior to starting your study (refer page 5). The Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedic) Degree is approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority under the provisions of the Education Act 1989, and Whitireia is accredited to offer this programme. Victoria University Melbourne is the external moderator. The programme is also approved by the Council of Ambulance Authorities and Paramedics Australasia as a pre-employment degree recognised by ambulance providers throughout Australasia. Graduates may go on to complete postgraduate study at Whitireia, as well as other institutes including VUM and AUT.
The role of the paramedic has evolved rapidly in recent years and continues to do so. In order to deliver safe and effective patient care in the twenty first century, paramedics need to integrate scientific and clinical knowledge with information gathering and physical assessment skills, clinical judgment and practical application. In common with colleagues overseas, many New Zealand paramedics are seeking the opportunity to deepen and enhance their learning by gaining a Bachelor’s Degree in Paramedicine. Whitireia offers existing paramedics, EMT (BLS), Paramedic (ILS) and ICP (ALS), the opportunity to engage in a flexibly delivered programme leading to the Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedic) Degree.
In consultation with industry, the Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedic) curriculum has been reviewed and a new curriculum will be rolled out from 2017, starting with year one. In order to minimize any effect of the curriculum changes on your programme of study, an individual transition plan for study options may be discussed with you.
At Whitireia, we are committed to our students' success and therefore offer a range of services to meet the learning needs of individual students. These include the Poutama Learning Skills Centre where one-to-one and small group assistance, peer tutoring, workshops and study skills sessions on a variety of topics, and online material are available. To increase our students' chances of success, we provide support for our students in other ways such as financial advice, counselling, health services, childcare facilities, and a service for students who have a disability, illness or health problems that may interfere with their studies. Māori and Pacific liaison staff are available to provide pastoral care for Māori and Pacific students, and information on alternative support networks and grants. 2017 Information for Applicants: Working or Volunteering Paramedics Fees, programmes and dates are subject to change
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Programme Summary Programme Length
Based on your individual Recognition of Prior Learning; the Degree must be completed within six years.
Hours on Campus
Completed by distance, with several block courses.
Course Fees
Course fees are available on the BHSc working or volunteering paramedic page on the Whitireia website.
Course Dates
Course dates will be available on the BHSc working or volunteering paramedic page on the Whitireia website from November.
Additional Costs
Includes, but is not limited to, the following (all costs are approximate): Textbooks Stationery Personal Equipment (e.g. stethoscope) Health Screening
Varies depending on courses $50 $70-$150 $280 (dependent on number of tests required)
Detailed course information (i.e. credit value, hours and aims) and block dates are available on the Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedic) working or volunteering paramedic page on the Whitireia website.
The Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedic) is an applied qualification with a significant component of practical work. As part of your study, you will complete clinical logs based on your work with the ambulance service for which you are working or volunteering. This work may be covered by your normal working roster, or may require additional shifts double or triple-crewed with an appropriately qualified paramedic – it is the responsibility of the student to arrange this in consultation with their line manager. In addition to your time with an ambulance service, you may be offered a variety of other placements. These could include placements with emergency departments, operating theatres, cardiology units, intensive care units, coronary care units, air ambulances, primary healthcare and the New Zealand Police. Placements within hospital departments will be arranged through Whitireia – students should not approach the hospital/DHB. You will develop a personal clinical placements plan with your tutor during your study.
We strongly recommend that before making arrangements for travel, accommodation and/or placements, you ensure that your study plans have been approved by Whitireia.
2017 Information for Applicants: Working or Volunteering Paramedics Fees, programmes and dates are subject to change
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What do I Need to Consider? The programme is approved by StudyLink for student loans and allowances, however the number of courses you are studying may affect your ability to obtain a student loan and you may therefore need to fund your study yourself. Please also note that, if you withdraw from a course more than two weeks after the course start date, you will not be eligible for a refund of fees. Remember as well that you will need to budget for the cost of travel and accommodation for block courses and transport to and from clinical placements. Access to a personal computer and broadband internet connection is also essential. Please note there is a one-off RPL administration fee of $50.00.
Be realistic about how much time you have available for study. Consider the time you spend at work and/or volunteering, the time you need to allocate to family and friends, any holidays you have planned, hobbies or other interests. Is there anything you might need to give up for a while? Prospective students often overestimate the number of courses they can take on at any one time. It may be better to start with just one course than to enrol for two or three, and find out later that you need to withdraw.
Do you have the support of your whanau? Do you have the support of your employer? Studying for a degree is a much more positive experience if those around you understand what you are doing and why.
We are keen to develop access opportunities for our students in District Health Boards (DHB), both to enhance clinical learning and to promote the integration of paramedic care in the health sector. This will be of increasing importance as the profession moves towards HPCA regulation. If a student is offered a clinical placement within a DHB they will need to comply with, and meet the costs of, the health screening requirements of that DHB.
With the introduction of the Vulnerable Children’s Act (2014), all vocational trainees i.e. nursing, paramedic and social work students, who may work with children during the course of their study, must be safety checked. Safety checking includes: reference checking, work history, identity check, police vet and an overall assessment of the applicant’s safety to work with children. Students admitted to the Flexible Learning Stream are accepted on the understanding that a safety check will have been completed by their ambulance employer. Applicants need to ensure that the letter of support from their employer confirms they have been safety checked.
Due to the various shift patterns and working hours of students within the Flexible Learning Stream, all written examinations will be conducted online within a given timeframe. The details around access to these examinations will be covered in each course descriptor (where applicable).
2017 Information for Applicants: Working or Volunteering Paramedics Fees, programmes and dates are subject to change
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About Flexible Learning Flexible learning expands choice on what, when, where and how people learn, while supporting different styles and modes of learning. Flexibility means anticipating and responding to, the ever-changing environment in which learning takes place, promoting access to quality educational opportunities. The paramedic programmes at Whitireia aim to provide flexibility to support the development and achievement of qualifications that meet student and ambulance service needs. This flexibility is achieved through the use of ‘blended learning’, i.e. a combination of traditional classroom (face to face) learning and eLearning. Flexible learning in the Paramedic Programme includes a mix of:
Traditional classroom learning Block courses Educational pathways to meet student and industry need Using technology to support learning (eLearning) eLearning in the Paramedic Programme includes:
Use of the Moodle learning management system to deliver a range of learning opportunities to students. These opportunities can include a repository for information, conten t and resources; the creation of learning activities for individuals and/or groups using a variety of multimedia tools; a communication vehicle to allow students and educators to engage with each other and the content; and a vehicle for assessment.
Students will need to:
Staff will: Engage with the content and learning activities; Engage with their peers in discussion forums and collaborative activities; Take responsibility for own learning; Ask for support early; Manage time and commitments to meet course requires.
2017 Information for Applicants: Working or Volunteering Paramedics Fees, programmes and dates are subject to change
Develop and maintain quality, accessible learning resources that are available in a timely manner; Give advanced notice of block courses and assessment requirements; Respond to student's emails and discussion postings within a timely manner; Provide ongoing feedback to support the students's learning journey.
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Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) The RPL process assesses a student’s prior learning, to see whether they are able to gain credit for any of the Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedic) courses. Prior learning will only be credited where the student can demonstrate that the relevant learning outcomes have been met (RPL cannot be granted for part of a course). Any student may apply to the Selection Committee for exemption from any course if they are able to show evidence of having studied the subject matter of that course to that level, which is at least equivalent to that for which credit is claimed, and has passed an appropriate assessment procedure. Students granted such exemptions will be credited with a pass in the module for the purposes of the award. If students have completed relevant courses of study with another institute they can apply for cross credit by completing a credit transfer form.
Credit may be awarded only for learning that has a balance, appropriate to the subject, between theory and practical application. Credit is awarded for learning and practical experience. Credit must be appropriate to the academic context in which it is accepted.
For applicants who wish to RPL a recognised ambulance service qualification, there is an RPL administration fee of $50, payable on submission of your application. Applicants who wish to apply for RPL of any other qualification (non-standard RPL) must pay the RPL administration fee of $50.00 on submission of your application, plus an additional fee of 15% of the cost of each course for which recognition is sought (prior to enrolment). Please request the Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedic) RPL application form from our Information and Enrolment Centre.
How to Apply Complete the green ‘Application for Working or Volunteering Paramedics’ form and the Application to Enrol and return, along with all the requested documentation, to Whitireia to start the application process. Applicants applying for non-standard RPL (refer RPL section above) will need to contact the Information and Enrolment Centre and request the Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedic) RPL application form. There is competitive entry for a limited number of places, so it is important to apply early.
For information on student loans and allowances visit the StudyLink website www.studylink.govt.nz or contact them on 0800 88 99 00.
Should you have any questions, please contact: Faculty of Health Advisor Information and Enrolment Centre Phone: 0800 944 847 2017 Information for Applicants: Working or Volunteering Paramedics Fees, programmes and dates are subject to change
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