Independent commentary · Estd. 2015

The Paramedic
Observer

News and views on paramedicine — Australasia and beyond

Independent analysis and commentary on paramedic professionalism,
workforce, regulation, and patient care. Tracking the evolution of
paramedicine from registration to scope of practice reform.
For clinicians, educators, policymakers, and the public.

Workforce evidence Health policy Registration & regulation Extended scope Annual workforce monitor International comparison
Ray Bange OAM
Ray Bange OAM
Policy advisor & consultant
Sunshine Coast, Queensland
7.4k
Paramedic Observer Facebook followers
50+
Years working in policy
18K+
Social media commentary
80+
Submissions in public domain since 2006

Follow the Observer on Facebook, Bluesky, or Twitter (X) for regular commentary on paramedic regulation, workforce data, government submissions, and clinical practice developments across Australasia and internationally.

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The Paramedic Observer

One of paramedicine's more active independent voices

The Paramedic Observer has been tracking the evolution of Australasian paramedicine since 2006 — covering legislation, regulatory decisions, workforce statistics, clinical practice developments, and professional recognition with depth and independence.

With over 7,400 Facebook followers alone, the Paramedic Observer is regularly cited in government submissions, academic papers, and legal analyses as a reference source for developments in the profession. The Observer covers events that matter to patients and communities, paramedics, educators, researchers, policymakers, and service planners.

Annual retrospective reviews, published each year since 2021, document the year's most significant events — providing a running record of the profession's progress and challenges rarely found compiled in one place.

The Paramedic Observer operates independently. Its purpose is to inform — bringing evidence and context to a profession that too often has lacked both.

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What the Paramedic Observer covers
10,000+
followers across platforms
Paramedic registration & AHPRA regulation
Workforce data & ROGS analysis
Government legislation & submissions
Extended scope & paramedic practitioners
Community paramedicine & primary care
International paramedic news — NZ, UK, global
Patient care & clinical practice
Annual retrospective reviews (2021–present)
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About Ray Bange

Five decades of leadership experience

Ray Bange is a health policy advisor and a longstanding advocate for the paramedic profession. His career spans engineering, higher education, administration, regulation and accreditation, law enforcement, health governance, and paramedicine — a breadth of experience that has informed his ability to work at the intersection of professional reform, government policy, and academic development.

Ray Bange OAM

"Nobody — and I mean NOBODY — does advocacy and public submissions like Ray Bange. 120+ other submissions are 1–5 pages long. His submission? 45 pages. Referenced. And crystal clear policy."

— Dr Aidan Baron, Paramedic, Researcher & Medical Practitioner · December 2021

He held national leadership positions in higher education — including National President of the Academic Staff Associations and Past President of the Institution of Engineers Australia (IEA), Queensland — before turning his focus to law enforcement, corporate governance and health workforce policy. He brings diverse local and international executive level experience to his work for the profession.

He holds an Adjunct Associate Professor appointment at Central Queensland University (School of Medical and Applied Sciences). As a former Principal Policy Advisor to the profession's peak bodies, he has authored many major government submissions on workforce, extended scope, ambulance service funding, and health system reform across Commonwealth and state jurisdictions.

His current work is focused on developing the Australian Paramedic Workforce Monitor — an annual evidence series that integrates national registration data with jurisdictional ambulance employment, demand, and attrition statistics, modelled on AIHW publication standards.

Paramedicine
Honorary Fellow — Australasian College of Paramedicine
Formerly Paramedics Australasia — recognised for sustained contribution to the profession at national level since 2010
Honorary Fellow — Australian Institute of Paramedic Practitioners
Recognition of sustained contribution to paramedic practice and professional development
Engineering & leadership
Fellow — Institution of Engineers Australia (IEAust)
Past President, IEA Queensland
Fellow — Institute of Managers and Leaders
Recognition of executive leadership and governance across sectors
Higher education
Queensland University of Technology
Governing Council — elected staff member for 12 years. Foundation Head of School and Manager, Outreach and Consultancy Services, International Education
National President — Academic Staff Associations
National president of the academic staff associations; sustained contribution to higher education governance
National honour
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM)
Australia Day Honours 2021 — for services to paramedicine, education and community service
Areas of interest

Where the Observer's work is focused next

📋
Paramedic registration & regulation
As Principal Policy Advisor, led national advocacy for AHPRA registration, contributing directly to the legislative and regulatory framework that established paramedicine as a registered health profession in 2018.
📊
Workforce analysis & monitoring
Creator of the Australian Paramedic Workforce Monitor — an annual longitudinal evidence series integrating PBA registration data with ROGS employment, demand, and attrition statistics.
🏛️
Health policy & government submissions
Major submissions to Commonwealth and state parliaments on workforce planning, extended scope, ambulance funding, and health system reform across multiple jurisdictions.
🎓
Paramedic education & accreditation
Supporting CQU on paramedic science accreditation, curriculum integrity, and the relationship between university graduate supply and workforce demand.
🏥
Extended scope & community paramedicine
Research into paramedic practitioner models, primary care integration, treatment-in-place, and the role of paramedicine in reducing avoidable emergency department presentations.
🌏
International workforce comparison
Comparative analysis of paramedic workforce trends in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and internationally, including regulatory models and scope of practice frameworks.
Australian Paramedic Workforce Monitor
Under development

An annual evidence series

The Australian Paramedic Workforce Monitor is envisaged to provide a longitudinal, publicly reproducible account of Australia's paramedic workforce — integrating national registration, employment, service demand, and attrition data modelled on AIHW and Productivity Commission publication standards. Publication of the inaugural edition is planned for early 2027.

Note: The Australian Paramedic Workforce Monitor is currently in preparation. The four-part analytical framework below describes the proposed structure of the report. Key findings will be published here when the inaugural edition is released.

Part A
Workforce supply
National registration data from the Paramedicine Board of Australia — tracking registrant growth, gender profile, and jurisdictional distribution since 2018.
Part B
Workforce demand
ROGS ambulance response data — total responses, emergency response trends, and population-adjusted rates by jurisdiction over a decade.
Part C
Workforce capacity
JAS employment analysis — estimating the proportion of registered paramedics employed within jurisdictional ambulance services and the growing non-JAS cohort.
Part D
Workforce balance
The integrative contribution: is supply keeping pace with demand? Attrition, age profile, graduate pipeline, and workforce sustainability over time.

Updates on the Monitor's progress will be posted to the Paramedic Observer Facebook page and this website.

Selected publications

Publication Collaborations

2025
Paramedic practitioners within ambulance services: views of Australian policymakers, health professionals, and consumers
Wilkinson-Stokes M, Gerdtz M, Crellin D, Bange R, Braitberg G et al. · BMC Health Services Research 25:533
2024
How should non-emergency EMS presentations be managed? A thematic analysis of politicians', policymakers', clinicians' and consumers' viewpoints
Wilkinson-Stokes M, Yap C, Crellin D, Bange R, Braitberg G, Gerdtz M · BMJ Open 14(7): e083866
2022
Primary care paramedicine in Australian jurisdictional ambulance services: an environmental scan protocol
Wilkinson-Stokes M, Gerdtz M, Crellin D, Bange R, Braitberg G, Tew M · Open Science Framework
2014
Pre-hospital medical services and paramedic engagement in Australian health care: improving the pathways of care through collaborative action
Brightwell R & Bange R · Family Medicine and Community Health — First Editorial Board Meeting, Chinese General Practice

Full publication list available on ResearchGate and Academia.edu.

Get in touch

Feedback & enquiries

Corrections, submission requests, story tips, speaking invitations, collaboration or media enquiries, or general feedback on the Observer's work — all welcome. Responses aren't guaranteed for every message, but all feedback is read.

For PDF requests on older submissions not yet linked in the archive, the Facebook page remains the fastest channel.

Connect

Find the Observer online

The Paramedic Observer is active across professional platforms. Follow for regular commentary on paramedicine, workforce data, policy, and regional and international developments.

Affiliations

Academic & professional

Central Queensland University
Adjunct Associate Professor · School of Medical and Applied Sciences · Paramedicine · 2015–
University of the Sunshine Coast
Adjunct Associate Professor · 2018–2024
Australasian College of Paramedicine
Honorary Fellow · Principal Policy Advisor (former)
Australian Institute of Paramedic Practitioners
Honorary Fellow
Institution of Engineers Australia
Fellow · Past President, Queensland
Institute of Managers and Leaders
Fellow
Australian Health Care Reform Alliance
Executive Committee Member · 2014–
Submissions & policy papers

Document archive

Formal submissions to Commonwealth and state parliamentary inquiries, regulatory reviews, and government consultations. PDFs can be downloaded or are available on request. Where submissions are published on government websites, a direct link is also provided.
This archive covers 81 submissions and policy papers. Filter by type below. Not all submissions are available in the open domain but may be available on request via the Paramedic Observer Facebook page.
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2026
2026
National Safety and Quality Standards for Virtual Care
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC), Australia
Policy paper PDF
2026
Developing a Specified Prescription Medicines List for Designated Paramedic Prescribers
Manatū Hauora | Ministry of Health, Aotearoa | New Zealand
Submission PDF
2026
Health Insurance Amendment (Incentive Payments and Other Measures) Bill 2026
Community Affairs Legislation Committee, Australian Senate
Submission PDF Government site
2026
Graduate Employment Outcomes and Paramedicine
Education and Employment References Committee, Australian Senate
Submission PDF Government site
2026
Medicare Support for Rural, Regional and Remote Health: A Paramedicine Perspective
Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee / Australian Senate
Submission PDF Government site
2026
Defining an NDIS Provider: A case for inclusion of paramedicine as a registered provider profession
NDIS Review / National Disability Insurance Scheme
Submission PDF
2026
QCAT Act Statutory Review 2025–26, Issues Paper 6, Health Practitioner Disciplinary Jurisdiction (Paramedicine)
Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal
Submission PDF
2026
The OSCA Classification of Paramedics: Response to the Review of Occupational Classifications for Paramedics
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Submission PDF
2025
2025
Delivering Quality Care: Response to the Interim Report of the Productivity Commission
Productivity Commission, Australian Government
Submission PDF Government site
2025
E-Bike and E-Scooter Regulation in Queensland
Parliament of Queensland, Legislative Assembly
Submission PDF Government site
2025
Ensuring Balance and Natural Justice: Systemic Delays and Procedural Fairness in Health Practitioner Immediate Action
Office of the National Health Practitioner Ombudsman
Submission PDF
2025
Excellence Under Pressure: Observations and recommendations on the operations of Ambulance Victoria
Legislative Council Legal and Social Issues Committee, Parliament of Victoria
Submission PDF Government site
2024
2024
Classification of Paramedics: Response to the Round 4 Proposals for Reclassification under ANZSCO
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Submission PDF Government site
2024
PHI and Paramedicine: mobilising the forgotten health profession
National consultation on Private Health Insurance
Submission PDF
2024
The National Allied Health Workforce Strategy and Paramedicine
Consultation on the Draft National Allied Health Workforce Strategy
Submission PDF Government site
2024
Unleashing Paramedicine: Response to Issues Paper 2
Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce review, Australian Government
Submission PDF Government site
2024
ACC Inclusion of Paramedics: Recommendations on proposed changes to ACC regulations applying to paramedics as healthcare providers
Accident Compensation Corporation, New Zealand
Submission PDF
2024
Health professionals MIA: Observations on the mobilisation of paramedics in the collection of data on health and wellbeing
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Submission PDF
2024
The canary in the system – reviewed: Review of proposals to support the delivery of sustainable health and paramedic services
Parliamentary health policy review
Policy paper PDF
2024
Draft Classification of Paramedics: Response to the Preliminary Proposals for Reclassification under ANZSCO
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Submission PDF
2023
2023
Measuring Progress: Observations on the Impact of Incentives and the Utilisation of the Paramedic Workforce in Rural and Remote Australia
National Rural Health review
Policy paper PDF
2023
The health workforce and paramedicine: Responses to the Issues Paper on Workforce Development in Northern Australia
Inquiry into Workforce Development in Northern Australia, Australian Government
Submission PDF Government site
2023
Industrial Paramedic: Recommendations for reclassification under the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Submission PDF Government site
2023
The Classification of Paramedics: Recommendations for reclassification under ANZSCO
Australian Bureau of Statistics (referred to Jobs and Skills Australia)
Submission PDF
2023
Unlocking the Potential: Response to the Exposure Draft of the Long Term Insights Briefing on the Paramedic Workforce
Productivity Commission / Paramedicine Board of Australia
Submission PDF Government site
2023
Enhancing Resilience: mobilising the forgotten health profession
Senate Select Committee on Disaster Resilience, Australian Parliament
Submission PDF Government site
2023
Informing Future Skills: Observations on the Operation of Jobs and Skills Australia
Jobs and Skills Australia, Australian Government
Submission PDF Government site
2023
Draft Data Strategy
Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
Submission PDF Government site
2023
Ready, Willing and Unable: Mobilising Australia's Forgotten Health Workforce – Paramedicine
National health workforce policy / multiple bodies
Policy paper PDF
2022
2022
Hiding in full view: Mobilising paramedicine to support the health and wellbeing of Northern Australians
Inquiry into Workforce Development in Northern Australia
Submission PDF Government site
2022
Future Health Victoria: mobilising the forgotten health profession
Workforce Strategy Consultation, Victorian Government
Submission PDF
2022
Deadly delay: observations on ambulance ramping and the delivery of sustainable health services in New South Wales
NSW Parliament, Portfolio Committee No. 2 – Health
Submission PDF Government site
2022
The ANZSCO Anomalies: An examination of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations as it applies to paramedics
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Submission PDF
2022
Review of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) June 2022
Australian Bureau of Statistics
Submission PDF
2022
Draft Industry Summary for Ambulance and Paramedic Industry Reference Committee
Industry Reference Committee / SkillsIQ
Submission PDF
2022
The Future of Health in Tasmania: mobilising the forgotten health profession
Public consultation, Tasmanian Government
Submission PDF
2022
Informing Health Policy and Practice: Proposals to support the delivery of sustainable health services in Tasmania
Tasmanian Rural Health Services Inquiry, Parliament of Tasmania
Submission PDF Government site
2022
Health Practitioner Regulation National Law and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2022
Queensland Parliament, Health and Environment Committee
Invited commentary PDF Government site
2022
The canary in the system – updated: Additional analysis and proposals to support sustainable health services
SA Inquiry into SA Ambulance Service Resourcing, Legislative Review Committee
Submission PDF Government site
2022
The canary in the system: A submission highlighting proposals to support the delivery of sustainable health services
SA Inquiry into SA Ambulance Service Resourcing, Legislative Review Committee, SA Parliament
Submission PDF
2021
2021
General Practice and Paramedicine: mobilising the forgotten health profession
Inquiry into general practice and primary healthcare, Australian Parliament
Submission PDF Government site
2021
Creating Pathways to Better Health: highlighting the importance of mobilising paramedicine to support rural and regional health
Rural and regional health inquiry, Australian Government
Submission PDF
2021
Primary Care and Paramedicine: mobilising the forgotten health profession
Primary Health Reform Steering Group, Australian Government
Submission PDF
2021
The delivery of ambulance services in Western Australia
Inquiry into the delivery of ambulance services in WA, WA Legislative Council
Submission PDF Government site
2021
Meeting the healthcare needs of rural Tasmanians – Supplementary Submission
Rural Health Services Inquiry, Parliament of Tasmania
Submission PDF Government site
2021
Draft National Preventive Health Strategy
Department of Health, Australian Government
Submission PDF Government site
2021
Meeting the healthcare needs of rural Tasmanians
Rural Health Services Inquiry, Government of Tasmania
Submission PDF Government site
2020
2020
National Preventive Health Strategy – Response to Initial Consultation Paper
Department of Health, Australian Government
Submission PDF
2020
RCNDA Draft propositions – Response
Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements
Submission PDF Government site
2020
Paramedicine: The forgotten health profession — A commentary highlighting the common omission of paramedicine from national health policy
National health policy commentary
Policy paper PDF
2019
2019
Options for Commonwealth Government Policy Reform and Investment: Serving the needs of Rural and Remote Australians
Rural and remote health policy inquiry, Australian Government
Submission PDF
2019
Submission on the ARC – ANZSRC Review
Australian Research Council
Submission PDF Government site
2018
2018
Mental health and paramedics: Submission for the Senate Inquiry into the high rates of mental health conditions experienced by first responders
Senate Standing Committees on Community Affairs, Australian Parliament
Submission PDF Government site
2018
Submission on New Zealand Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction
New Zealand Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction (with ANZCP Executive)
Submission PDF
2018
Australian Medical Research and Innovation Priorities
Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), Department of Health, Australian Government
Submission PDF Government site
2018
Sustainable Health and Paramedic Services: Serving the needs of West Australians
WA Country Health Service, Government of Western Australia
Submission PDF
2017
2017
Review of the Ambulance Service Act 1986
Public consultation on the legislative framework for ambulance services, Queensland Government
Submission PDF
2017
Response to draft proposal for the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Amendment Law 2017
NRAS Review Implementation Project, Department of Health, Australian Government
Submission PDF Government site
2017
DPCS Review: Drugs Poisons and Controlled Substances Review
Public consultation on the DPCS Regulations, Victorian Government
Submission PDF
2017
Proposed Sentencing Reforms to the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law
NRAS Review Implementation Project, Department of Health, Australian Government
Submission PDF
2017
The future of public interest journalism
Senate Select Committee inquiring into the future of public interest journalism, Australian Parliament
Submission PDF Government site
2017
Regulating the paramedic workforce under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003
New Zealand Paramedic Regulation (with ANZCP Executive)
Submission PDF
2017
Paramedic Services and the Statutory Duty of Candour
Victoria Health and Human Services Expert Working Group, Targeting Zero review
Submission PDF
2016
2016
The establishment of a national registration system for Australian paramedics to improve and ensure patient and community safety
Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs, Australian Parliament (with Brightwell R, Maguire B)
Submission PDF Government site
2016
Supplementary Submission on the establishment of a national registration system for Australian paramedics
Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs, Australian Parliament (with Brightwell R, Maguire B)
Submission PDF Government site
2016
Health Workforce — National policy position paper
Australian Health Care Reform Alliance (AHCRA Executive)
Policy paper PDF
2015
2015
Enhancing Workplace Resilience: Identifying Issues and Improving Workforce Morale
Independent Oversight Panel into Workplace Culture, Queensland Ambulance Service
Submission PDF
2014
2014
Submission to the Review of the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme for Health Professions
Three-Year Review of the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme, Australian Health Ministers Advisory Council
Submission PDF Government site
2013
2013
Paramedic Professionalism and Registration
Annual Conference of the Western Australian Chapter of Paramedics Australasia
Policy paper PDF
2012
2012
National registration of paramedics: embracing professionalism
Regional Conference (PARQ2012), Queensland Chapter of Paramedics Australasia
Policy paper PDF
2011
2011
Professionalism, Paramedics and Registration: a paradigm shift for crisis care
ACT Chapter of Paramedics Australasia, Canberra
Policy paper PDF
2010
2010
Review of Procurement of Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Department of Health and Families, Northern Territory Government
Policy paper PDF
2010
Thinking out of the box: Optimising healthcare delivery through mobilising the paramedic workforce in interprofessional practice
Australasian College of Ambulance Professionals National Conference, Melbourne
Policy paper PDF
2009
2009
An Agenda for Change
Inquiry into St John Ambulance (WA), Department of Health, WA Government (on behalf of ACAP)
Submission PDF
2008
2008
Submission to the Inquiry into the Management and Operations of the NSW Ambulance Service
NSW Legislative Assembly Standing Committee on Public Works
Submission PDF Government site
2007
2007
Defining a Regulatory Framework for Paramedics: A Discussion Paper
Journal of Emergency Primary Health Care (JEPHC), Vol.5 (with Fitzgerald G); republished Australasian Journal of Paramedicine 2015
Policy paper PDF Government site
2007
Professional regulation: a time for change — and action
Annual Conference, Australian College of Ambulance Professionals, Gold Coast (with Fitzgerald G)
Policy paper PDF
2007
Public–private partnerships: Identifying governance risks
Building Capacity Series, Number 10 (with Weierter S)
Policy paper PDF
2006
2006
Putting the pieces into place: Implementing the CMC fraud and corruption control guidelines
Crime and Misconduct Commission, Queensland
Submission PDF
2006
Implementing Fraud & Corruption Control Strategies
Corruption Prevention Network Queensland
Policy paper PDF
2006
Ethics, Probity and Accountability in Procurement
Heads of Government Procurement Network, Brisbane
Policy paper PDF

To request a PDF, contact Ray via the Paramedic Observer Facebook page or LinkedIn. As PDFs are uploaded to this site they will be linked directly from each entry.

Note on availability: Some papers in this archive were prepared under confidentiality arrangements, for restricted government consultations, or are subject to access conditions that limit public release. In some cases government links may also be subject to access restrictions. Where no PDF or government link is available, this is the likely reason.