Cochrane eyes Australian paramedics to fill staffing gaps

Cochrane may recruit paramedics from Australia amid a local staffing shortage. The district service board approved hiring up to 8 Australian paramedics.

The Chief of Paramedic Services for the Cochrane District said when he needs to find more paramedics, he may turn to the international community. Marc Renaud said due to some political changes with the U.S. and England, there is a surplus of paramedics and other health care workers in Australia.

“They’re, very qualified. There’s a three-year program through Monash University in Australia that leaves them very qualified to come and work here. We have a pathway through New Brunswick where they would be able to get credentialing to be able to work in Canada,” said Renaud.

Renaud said the Cochrane District Services Board recently approved the recruitment and immigration of up to eight licensed paramedics from Australia with a required two-year service commitment.

“If we can’t find local staff, our primary, method of recruitment is our local colleges, and that’s who we want to recruit first,” said Renaud.

Renaud said the part-time pool is lower at this time than he’d like and he wants to have those positions filled 100 per cent of the time.

Northern College officials said they applaud the Cochrane District Paramedic Service’s initiative and added that there is no better time than now to become a paramedic in Ontario since the province continues to offer an Ontario Learn and Stay Grant. Northern College also said there is currently no waiting list to get into the program.

“I encourage students and parents to really think hard about the savings that they would incur, you know, long term and the fact that they get a credential that is transferable to anywhere they want to work, you know, later in life, and it’ll be something that will always be in demand,” said Sarah Campbell, dean of Health and Veterinary Sciences at Northern College.

The next intake for Northern College’s paramedic program is in September and the class size is about 40 students. Mature students are also welcome to apply.