Paramedic – Ambulance Service, South Australia

As a rescue paramedic, Mark Virgin can find himself in any situation – abseiling from a cliff, hiking over difficult terrain or in a helicopter on long-distance retrieval where every minute is precious.

“Long-distance ship rescues across the Bight – you go as far as you can with fuel and reserves. Then, having minimal time, a pilot yelling, you only have seven minutes to stabilise a patient or he’s got to leave without you . . . it can be an adrenaline thing,” Mr Virgin says.

After joining the South Australian Ambulance Service in 1986, Mr Virgin, 42, has progressed through the ranks to be an intensive-care paramedic with the special operations team.

“I’d done some abseiling and spent time surf lifesaving, so when I saw the opportunity to apply for work as a rescue paramedic it was a chance to fulfil childhood aspirations,” Mr Virgin says.

Working a standard four-on, four-off roster; two 10-hour days followed by two 14-hour night shifts, then four days off, he says the shifts allow him to spend time with his children.

Paramedics join the SA Ambulance Service after university study for Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedic), offered in Adelaide at Flinders University, spending a year as an intern paramedic.

If they choose later to qualify as an intensive-care paramedic, further intensive study is required, incorporating a hospital placement and internship.

“Doing that, you have a lot more options open – from rescue paramedic to management stream,” Mr Virgin says.

Each day can bring a new challenge and cement camaraderie among paramedic teams, and not knowing what the day will bring is part of the job.

“We’ve had rescue situations, winching people out of floodwaters at Dalhousie Springs, getting people out of Myponga Falls with time constrictions and in fading light,” he says.

“I have had other opportunities to be involved in business but I get too many rewards out of what I do.

“These include being appreciated and having the ability to do more than just treat people, giving them encouragement and motivation when they are down.

“You never know what’s around the corner or what you’ll find.

“In Adelaide, the city, it can get bad – there are shootings, there are stabbings and people do get seriously hurt and killed in car accidents. We are there for them all.

“But there are the good outcomes – saving lives and seeing people happy, or their families happy.

“I couldn’t think of any better job,” he says.