Waka Manaaki EMT Residential Programme

Our new residential EMT programme provides the opportunity for someone new to the health environment to embark on an exciting, fast tracked journey to become an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and begin work on a front-line emergency ambulance. This programme is hosted internally by Hato Hone St John and contains a combination of in classroom time, theory based learning and practical learning on the ambulance. This programme will provide you with the knowledge, skills, and a foundation of experience to become a frontline ambulance officer. Throughout the programme you will be supported by clinical experts, full time ambulance officers and operational managers and mentors.

At the successful completion of the programme you will gain an authority to practice as an Emergency Medical Technician and achieve a Level 5 New Zealand Diploma in Ambulance Practice (NZDAP). You will be paid while you learn, and successful graduates will be placed into roles at the conclusion of the programme.

What is an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)?

EMTs have the independent delegated authority using a framework called authority to practise or ATP to independently perform skills and to administer medications for certain clinical conditions.

The skills, interventions and medications used by EMTs are described in a set of Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs). EMTs may seek advice from, and request to act outside the scope of these CPGs from a Paramedic, Intensive Care Paramedic (ICP) or Doctor via our dedicated clinical advice line.

Paid EMTs would typically work alongside a paid Paramedic in an emergency ambulance, although occasionally they may work with another practice level.

For more information on what it means to be an EMT follow this link: Becoming an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)

Where and what will the course entail?

Locations for courses will be outlined in the advert.

This is an intensive 26-week course. These residential courses require participants to attend approximately 9 weeks of in-house training including facilitated classroom time and self-directed study. During the weeklong blocks (from Monday 9:00am to Friday 3:00pm), you will stay at Hato Hone St John provided accommodation with the other participants on your course and all meals will be provided.

You will also undertake 16 weeks of shift work on frontline ambulances during the program. This will include a mix of day (e.g. 0600-1800), night (e.g. 1800-0600) and swing (e.g. 1000-2200) shifts. If you live locally, then you can live at home during these periods of the programme.

The final week of the course will include an assessment.

Entry requirements

We suggest education to NCEA Level 2 or equivalent is recommended as entry to the course. We need candidates to be able to successfully pass NZQA Level 5, learning at pace. You will undertake a fitness assessment as part of the recruitment process, so a good level of fitness is required. You will also need to meet Hato Hone St John medical standards and hold a full NZ driving licence. (Check our advert for full entry requirements.)

Programme overview

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who is keen to take on a new challenge and a new career direction. This programme is not for the faint hearted, it will be compact, fast paced and will need a lot of focus and dedication (which reflects the realities of being an ambulance officer).

Meet our team

• Rebekah-Judd - "In my opinion, paramedicine is still a profession in its infancy. In the near-future, I believe it will diversify substantially. There will be more opportunities, and I am really excited to see these."
• Jarrod Paget-Knebel - "I think it’s a must to have a good support system around you, especially within emergency care, due to some of the things you witness."
• Dan Spearing - "To be an ambulance officer is a balance of clinical and practical skills but also interpersonal and communication skills as well."
• Jack Wallace - "It was the combination of both the medical side and emergency services that drew my attention to paramedicine as the dream career for me."
• Jackson Whitham - "Everything we try and do in the ambulance service is about improving patient care and outcomes. In my current role, it’s not about saving minutes, it’s about saving seconds."