Real pressure. Real practice. Future paramedics.
13 April 2026
A new fully equipped simulator ambulance is giving paramedicine students the opportunity to apply the theory they have learnt in the classroom in a realistic setting.
Inside the ambulance, learning shifts; priorities change and teamwork becomes more important than ever.
Students are no longer practising isolated skills. They are navigating patient care within a confined, fast-paced space. They consider patient positioning, equipment access, communication and decision-making under pressure. It’s here that the complexity of paramedic work comes into focus.
“A major challenge for students is learning how to assess, treat, communicate, and make decisions within the confined, dynamic, and often pressured space of an ambulance,”
Michelle Young, the Paramedicine Course Coordinator explains.
The experience also opens the door to interprofessional learning, with students working alongside peers from medicine, nursing and midwifery, strengthening their understanding of interdisciplinary care across the health system.
But it’s the impact on student confidence and capability that stands out most.
“What I am most proud of is the level of student engagement and confidence that develops through these simulation experiences. Students consistently value opportunities to practise in a realistic setting, and many report feeling better prepared for placement,” states Michelle.
Through these realistic scenarios, students develop the teamwork, communication and clinical judgement required in high-pressure environments.
For many, the simulator becomes more than a teaching tool.
It fosters a sense of ownership, professionalism and belonging, as students contribute to maintaining the space and take pride in the role they are preparing to step into.
