International Paramedics Day - Mel's Story

A ‘new challenge’ is how Melissa Carmody describes her step into being a paramedic after moving from nursing in an emergency department – a chance to give back.  

 

“I was a nurse for quite a long time in the emergency department, I wanted something a bit more. It felt like a very natural progression to develop my skills and get out there a bit more to the community.” 

 

“ACTAS had this really great development graduate program. You developed a whole bunch of skills during that time and had a really good team to go into. Having a small group of paramedics, it made things a lot easier to develop your skills and become part of that team. 

 

The training is extensive to be a paramedic, with all trainees progressing from time at the ACT ESA’s Hume Training Centre and then ride-along training in an ambulance. 

 

“It’s 15 months of training, you are in the HUME Training Centre for about ten weeks developing those first initial assessments and critical thinking skills and how to ambulance 101 basically. And then you're out on road and you can see you develop those skills going out in the community, seeing patients.” 

 

It’s a tough job, paramedics are serving our community at all hours of the day but Melissa says it’s the people that make the difference.  

 

“It's a very small community the ACT Ambulance Service. We're all very close and I love coming to work and working with all the different people. We all get along so well and I think it's definitely a great thing that we're all there for each other to support each other.” 

 

As a paramedic for 4 years, Melissa will never forget her first emergency situation. This moment was important because it involved teamwork, not just with other ACTAS paramedics but with the public. 

 

“I think my it was my second day on the job - It wasn't in a home or in a hospital, It was in the public. We had to rely on bystanders who had minimal or no medical skills or knowledge and having to work as a team and that was trying to save this person's life.” 

 

“Using everyone around you and trying to communicate what was going on and what you needed and being able to help that person. We actually saved that guy's life, which was lovely. That's when I felt this is amazing and I love it.” 

 

Melissa has an extensive support network around her and various services within ACTAS including employee assistance programs (EAP) and mentor catch-ups. When the days are tough as a paramedic, she has no shortage of people to lean on.  

 

“When something is pretty rough or doesn't go down the way that you expect, there's definitely people straight away that will be there for you. They always come in and check on you, so communicating with them what happened and talking about it with them is definitely the way to go about it. I have a good support crew around me.”  

 

This International Paramedics Day we celebrate all aspects of ACTAS, including ComCen (Triple Zero) operators who take your call and Non-Emergency Patient Transport (NEPT). Melissa wants the community to know they are here to serve the community.  

 

“I think knowing that we're there to help them, to do the best by them and what's going to be the best outcome is important. Of course, we're human and still learning every day. We're there for the community and we'll always be happy to help in any way.” 

 

Melissa genuinely loves being a paramedic as there are never two days the same, and every day you feel like you are making a difference.  

 

“There are so many aspects of being a paramedic at ACTAS I love: the autonomy, the critical thinking and just being there for the greater community.  Being there for those people in their time of need definitely makes me feel like I'm doing something important. It feels like I'm giving back to society.” 

 

Melissa Carmody and all ACT paramedics are being recognised this International Paramedics Day for their dedicated service and passion for serving the community.  

 

Thank you for everything you do.