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Types of Paramedics

Day in the life

Maria Deacon, MICA Paramedic

Works on a two-person MICA crew dealing with very ill patients, including those with cardiac problems and serious trauma. 'At the end of the day it's very rewarding. I'm never bored and always learning. I love every day I go to work.'

Become a Paramedic

MICA paramedics

In 1971, Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance (MICA) paramedics began working in Victoria, making the state the first in Australia and the second place in the world to boast this level of pre-hospital care.

As the name implies, MICA paramedics have a higher clinical skill set and can perform more advanced medical procedures.

MICA paramedics training goes beyond practical skill precision to include more detail in anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacology to greater increase capacity to make complex clinical decisions without medical consultation.

A number of procedures performed by MICA paramedics are world first. These include the ability to paralyse a patient and insert a breathing tube (intubate) into their lungs.

MICA paramedics can:

  • perform advanced airway management, including endotracheal intubation
  • complex management of patients with head injuries, including rapid sequence intubation
  • insert intra osseous (into bone) cannula for advanced drug and fluid administration in paediatric patients
  • treat life threatening chest injuries including pneumothoraxes (collapsed lung) by inserting a chest tube
  • advanced management of cardiac conditions
  • perform all other procedures contained in the clinical practice guidelines

MICA paramedics operate either as part of a two person crew on a MICA response emergency ambulance or as a single responder.

You must be a MICA paramedic if you wish to work on the air ambulance helicopter.

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