VAOAT Training

BACKGROUND

The current training and accreditaion program began in 1966.

Over the years, a number of courses have been developed and used by Ambulance Tasmania for the training of Volunteer Ambulance Officers (VAOs). But it was not until 1996 that the Tasmanian Ambulance Service (as Ambulance Tasmania was known until 2010) established an informal curriculum-working group to develop the structures necessary to have an accredited training curriculum for VAOs in place by the end of that year. The working group comprised representatives from VAOs, Permanent Officers, Ambulance Management and Training Staff.

INITIAL TRAINING

Initial training, comprising the Essential Skills Workshop and the Equipment & Technology module, is normally conduction by Volunteer Educators in each region. These courses are normally run over two days on one weekend, or one day each on successive weekends.On completion of these two initial courses, new volunteers are issues a "skills logbook" which outlines basic skills they must learn and be able to demonstrate, initially under supervision and then on their own.

Once the log book is complete, new volunteers are normally issued with a uniform and other essential items and encouraged to attend regular training sessions to cover all the Level 1 modules, either at their "home" station or at other nearby stations.

It normally takes new volunteers about three months to complete their skills logbook and a further 9-12 months to achieve Level 1, depending on the scheduling of Level 1 courses in their area.

RE-ACCREDITATION

All VAOs are required to participate in the service's on-going training and re-accreditation program

Each VAO is required to commence the program upon their initial accreditation. The program has been structured to cater for VAOs at all levels.

The requirements that are generic to all levels include:
- Attend at least 12 structured training sessions each calendar year.
- Be rostered for duty for at least 40 hours in each two month period.
- Demonstrate competence in selected skills each 6 month period.

In addition, Level 2 VAOs must demonstrate competence each two year period in at least one Case Management Exercise from each of the following areas:
- Trauma
- Medical
- Resuscitation.

QUALIFICATIONS

National Accreditation: Volunteer Ambulance Officers now work their way through a series of modules, starting at Volunteer in Training, then progressing to Level 1 and Level 2. Level 3 is no longer offered in Tasmania.

On completion of Level 2, a VAO can request a Statement from Attainment from Ambulance Tasmania which will provide a third-party Registered Training Organisation or other ambulance service with proof of competence in most of the modules required for a "Certificate 4 in Basic Emergency Care", which is a nationally recognised qualification.
Volunteer-in-Training: To become a Volunter in Training (VIT), a VAO is required to complete the following modules:
- Course Orientation
- Essential Skills Workshop
- Equipment & Technology
Level 1: To obtain Level 1, a VAO is required, in addition to the above, to complete the following modules:
- Occupational Health & Safety
- Driver education
- Multi-casualty incident
- Electronic communications

On successful completion, the VAO is awarded a Level I certificate. Level 1 VAOs can practice under the supevision of a Level 2 VAO or a salaried officer. There is no requirement for the VAO to proceed to Level 2.
Level 2: Level 2 has been structured to accommodate those VAOs who would like to be able to practice VAO clinical protocols and patient care guidelines unsupervised. As of September 2010 it is the highest level offered to VAOs in Tasmania.

To obtain the Level 2 qualification, in addition to the above, a VAO is required to complete the following modules:
- Basic support
- Basic trauma life support
- Chest pain
- Cardiac arrest
- Shortness of breath
- Decreased conscious state
- Pain relief Allergies, bites & stings
- Trauma other than BTLS
- Maternity
- Hypothermia
- Scene assessment & control
- Report writing
Level 3: Level 3 was the highest level for VAOs in Tasmania until September 2010 when it was no longer offered. There are still a number of current VAOs who have completed the Level 3 qualification..

To obtain the Level 3 qualification (and the Certificate IV in Basic Emergency Care), in addition to the above, a VAO was required to complete the following modules:
- Interpersonal communications
- Law & ethics