UTAS Paramedicine School to open in 2023

The move follows changes in the health workforce that have seen the role of a paramedic expand beyond emergency response to include primary healthcare.

It also comes amid increasing enrolments at both the Hobart and Rozelle (Sydney) campuses, which has instigated the addition of more staff.

The school will be headed up by Associate Professor Belinda Flanagan, who labelled the news "extremely exciting for the profession".

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"Demands placed on health services, workforce shortages, increased expectations from the public, and an ageing population are providing opportunities for the advancement of the paramedic profession," she said.

"Paramedics are considered to be experts in out-of-hospital emergency care. Traditionally, paramedics have provided this care in community or industrial settings, however the role of paramedics is evolving."

Professor Flanagan said she hoped more graduates would go on to work in the Tasmanian health service.

"That is the goal," she said.

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"Students have many opportunities depending on their personal circumstance as to where they actually want to settle, but there's certainly lots of opportunities for graduates working within Tasmania.

"Our graduates work internationally - the UK, the US heavily recruit from Australia because of the standard of paramedics we put out in our programs.

"We work really closely with Ambulance Tasmania to increase our student numbers as well, which we have for next year."

The change won't impact those already studying paramedicine with the Tasmanian School of Medicine.

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