ROLE OF COMMUNITY PARAMEDICINE IN NON-EMERGENCY PRESENTATIONS
Dr Robbie King
Lecturer in paramedicine and researcher, Australian Catholic University (ACU) Brisbane &
Senior Advanced Care Paramedic/Community Paramedic,
Sunshine Coast District, Birtinya Station,
Queensland Ambulance Service, Australia
RESEARCHER PROFILE
Filmed in Brisbane, Queensland | November 2024
Dr Robbie King is a Lecturer in paramedicine and researcher at the Australian Catholic University (ACU) Brisbane. He also continues to provide clinical care as a registered paramedic for community members served by a jurisdictional ambulance service. Dr King has gained significant experience working in an advanced practice, community paramedic style role, holding expert clinical insight into the nuances of paramedic-led community-based healthcare for non-emergency presentations. This often involves adopting a biopsychosocial approach, rather than following the biomedical model more associated with emergency medicine and paramedic culture.
To encourage a patient-centred approach to paramedic-led healthcare by exploring the unmet needs of people requesting unscheduled emergency ambulance care, Dr King advocates for greater consumer engagement in paramedic research. He completed his PhD in early 2024 which explored the patient perspective of paramedic-led healthcare when patients were not transported to hospital. This research generated a theory that describes a process of patients ‘restoring self-efficacy’ when their vulnerabilities are validated, and they receive clinically competent and compassionate care.
Dr King has presented at professional symposium internationally, and in Australia where he continues to encourage greater consumer involvement in research to inform development of paramedic education and ambulance service models of healthcare delivery. Dr King is a Fellow of the Australasian College of Paramedicine and member of various professional research and Community Paramedic working groups. His research focus includes exploring the role of community paramedics in improving health literacy, self-efficacy, and addressing the psychosocial needs of patients requesting emergency ambulance services.
-
Access to dental care for priority populations
Professor Dileep Sharma is a distinguished dental educator and researcher who currently serves as Professor and Discipline Head of Oral Health at the University of Newcastle, Australia. With over two decades of experience spanning clinical practice, research leadership, and academic mentorship, Professor Sharma has established himself as a leading authority in oral health education and interdisciplinary research.
-
Computer science approach to detecting dementia
Watch Xinyi Wang, a researcher at the Wicking Dementia Research and Education Centre, University of Tasmania talk on identifying new approaches to detecting dementia.
-
Indigenous Australian health and ear disease
Professor Kelvin Kong feels incredibly fortunate to lead a fulfilling life surrounded by his loved ones. With a demonstrated history of service in the health industry, he brings a wealth of expertise across various sectors including clinical research, medical education, surgery, paediatrics, health policy, and Indigenous education. Kelvin started his university, residing at New College in 1992, which brings him fond memories. Graduating from medicine from the University of NSW, Kelvin continued his studies and became a fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) and Australian Society of Otolaryngology, head & neck Society (ASOHNS).
