Provides intensive pre-hospital medical care or onsite health care to injured, sick, infirm, and aged people. May provide or assist with emergency transport to medical facilities. Specialisations include Ambulance Paramedic, Critical Care Paramedic (CCP), Extended Care Paramedic (ECP), Intensive Care Paramedic (ICP), Search and Rescue Paramedic, Flight Paramedic (rescue helicopter or air ambulance), and Defence Force Paramedic.

Attends accidents, medical emergencies, and requests for medical assistance; provides intensive pre-hospital medical care or onsite health care; triages patients by assessing health of patients, need for assistance, and specialised needs and factors affecting patients' conditions; performs therapies and administers pain relief and other drugs, including intravenously, according to protocols; resuscitates and defibrillates patients and operates life-support equipment; treats traumatic injuries and shock; stabilises patients and transports them to and from medical facilities; attends events where accidents and other health emergencies may occur; records patient information and follows handover procedures when transferring patients; cleans and restocks associated equipment and vehicles.

Works inside in vehicles (ambulance, car, helicopter, or fixed wing plane) and in homes, businesses, and public premises, but is frequently outside at accident and emergency sites. Buildings and vehicles are generally adequately heated and ventilated. Outside work occurs in all-weather conditions. Deals with serious injuries and fatalities on a daily basis, and may work in stressful and sometimes hazardous conditions with people who may be highly distressed.

• Sedentary to heavy physical demand level. The job involves frequent walking and standing. Sitting is required on an occasional to frequent basis. There are limited opportunities for flexibility of movement. Stretching and reaching across is occasionally required, especially when at accident scenes. Bending, squatting, crouching, or kneeling is frequently necessary. Twisting of the body or neck and heavy lifting, pulling, or carrying are likely to be necessary on an occasional basis. Contact with skin irritants is unlikely, but there may be physical contact with people who have infectious conditions, protective equipment will be utilised at all times.
• Driving and navigation of vehicles at speed is frequently required in non-flight specialisations.
• Hand-held objects used include medical equipment, communication devices, and general office tools. Repetitive movements are not a significant feature of this job but may occur when making patient notes.
• Skills and knowledge necessary include: knowledge of human anatomy, physiology, emergency care, medicines, and life-saving procedures; ability to use equipment e.g. defibrillators; advanced driving skills; local area knowledge; high-level verbal communication, empathy, assessment, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills; cultural and religious belief sensitivity; works well in teams and under pressure and is resilient; ICT device literate and accurate note-taking skills.

• There are several levels of qualification which can be completed by taking tertiary courses (ANZSCO Skill Level 1 or 2): Basic Life Support Paramedic; Intermediate Life Support Paramedic; and ICP (qualified to administer resuscitation drugs and intravenous sedation). Another route is doing a Bachelor of Health Sciences majoring in Paramedicine (or equivalent qualification).
• Additional requirements include: a Full Class 1 Driver Licence (defensive driving training advantageous); ability to employed with regard to the Children’s Act 2014; an Authority to Practice issued yearly by an employer (via assessments); and registration with the NZ Paramedic Council.
• To specialise as a Flight Paramedic requires completion of a Postgraduate Certificate in Health Sciences, endorsed in aeromedical retrieval and transport (or equivalent qualification).
• Qualifications can be undertaken full-time or part-time while working in a relevant paid or voluntary role (e.g. as an Ambulance Driver, or an Emergency Medical Assistant (EMA), or an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for St John or other relevant organisation).

Shift work is a norm in this job (including nights and weekends).