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Useful experience for paramedics includes work in:

• hospitals and other health services
• ambulance and patient transport
• emergency services call centres
• the New Zealand Defence Force as a medic.

A defensive driving course may also be useful.

Paramedics may do some or all of the following:

• attend medical emergencies and accidents
• triage patients (work out which patients need to be treated first)
• treat ill and injured people, including those with traumatic injuries and shock
• give pain relief, including intravenous (IV) treatment
• stabilise patients and transport them to and from medical facilities
• attend large gatherings, such as sports and music events, in case of accidents or illness
• record patient information and follow handover procedures when transferring patients
• clean their ambulance.

Paramedics may also do specialised rescue work in air ambulances and rescue helicopters.

Strong demand for paramedics

Opportunities for paramedics are expected to continue to grow due to:

• the ageing New Zealand population, which is creating increased demand for health service workers, including paramedics
• a $21 million government funding boost for ambulance services in 2019
• the trend to have two paramedics working in each ambulance, rather than one.

Paramedic appears on Immigration New Zealand's Green List. This means the Government is actively encouraging skilled paramedics from overseas to work in New Zealand.

According to the Census, 624 paramedics worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Volunteering boosts job chances

Your chances of getting a job are best if you:

• have relevant paid or volunteer experience as an ambulance driver, emergency medical assistant or emergency medical technician
• can relate to people from a wide range of backgrounds, including migrants
• are willing to work outside the main cities and towns.

Most paramedics work for St John

St John is New Zealand's largest paramedic employer. 

Paramedics may also work for:

• Wellington Free Ambulance and other private ambulance services
• air ambulance and rescue helicopter services
• the New Zealand Defence Force.

St John

0800 785 646 - www.stjohn.org.nz

Wellington Free Ambulance

(04) 499 9909 - www.wfa.org.nz

With further training, paramedics may progress to become:

• intensive care paramedics (ICPs), who provide more advanced treatment than paramedics
• flight paramedics, who work in air ambulances and rescue helicopters.

They may also move into management or education roles.

Paramedics may specialise in:

• search and rescue
• pre-hospital care at locations such as oil rigs, super yachts and ski fields
• international relief work, and work in conflict zones
• research and education.

Paramedics need to be:

• understanding towards others, caring, and empathetic
• excellent communicators who work well in teams
• alert and able to work well under pressure and in emergencies
• problem solvers and good decision makers
• respectful of different cultural and religious beliefs
• resilient.