Background to Scholarship
Ric was an icon in the evolution of ambulance services and professionalisation of paramedicine in Australia. He has previously been honoured by the Australian Medical Association (AMA) and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) for his leadership in this area. Apart from his engagement and support of his community in the Latrobe Valley where he lived and practised most of his professional life, he was the co-initiator of the Latrobe Valley Ambulance Service, member of its committee for over 25 years and was President of Victorian Ambulance Services Association (VASA) for 25 years. In addition, Ric helped establish the Ambulance Officer School at Geelong in 1961.
Ric also established the direction for Ambulance Officer education in that era and remained a member of the Ambulance Officers’ Training College (AOTC) Advisory Committee. He lectured and examined at the AOTC for many years and influenced advancing the clinical practice of Ambulance Officers and their engagement in the community. In the late 1960s, he was ahead of his time in advocating that Ambulance Officers “should have an education equivalent to that of nurses”, and was a strong supporter of the Institute of Ambulance Officers Association.
Without the leadership of people like Ric, paramedic education and scholarship would not be possible to the standard that it is today in Victoria, Australia. Given the recent passing of Ric in 2017 and because of his leadership it is now appropriate to name an Honours Scholarship after him. Through the generous support of Ric’s family, the next era of paramedics will be given a great opportunity to continue Ric’s legacy and build strong foundations for the future direction of research in paramedicine.
Further information
