Media release: ABS recognises paramedics in major review of OSCA

The Australasian College of Paramedicine (the College) commends the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) for officially recognising the paramedicine profession in the updated Occupations Standard Classification Australia (OSCA) V.01. This significant update follows the College's lengthy advocacy campaign pushing for recognition of the paramedicine profession to enhance national data collection, benefiting workforce utilisation and person-centred care.

"Prior to this major reclassification, paramedics were inaccurately listed, leading to incorrect data collection and reporting. While the full list of paramedic occupations and main tasks are still not reflective of our complete advice to the ABS, we will continue to work with the ABS on the OSCA to ensure this data collection reflects contemporary paramedicine,” said College CEO John Bruning.

"Accurate data is crucial for decision-makers in designing health policies and implementing system reforms. This revision will provide governments and providers with improved data to better utilise paramedics across the health sector."

The revised OSCA continues to use a tiered system for occupation classification in which paramedics are now recognised under the sub-major group Health Professionals – an important skill level shift from the previous sub-major group Health Workers. The review has further created two occupations Paramedics and Critical Care Paramedics. The review also acknowledges Patient Transport Officers and Ambulance Community Officers within the sub-major group Health Support Workers and Assistants.

Over the past two years, the College has been involved in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO, now known as OSCA) reclassification project, working with paramedicine leaders to ensure a more accurate classification. In October, the ABS and Stats NZ jointly announced that each country would implement their own tailored occupational statistical classifications.

"Throughout this process, the College has worked closely with the respective data collection agencies to ensure the profession is appropriately recognised in each country.”

View OSCA V.01 here.

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Media contact:

Jemma Altmeier, College Advocacy and Government Relations Manager; email: jemma.altmeier@paramedics.org; phone: 0409 911 681