He graduated with a Bachelor of Clinical Practice (Paramedic) from Bathurst in 2017 and is currently working as a paramedic in London.

Mr Kelly, from Orange, has been working at West Ham in East London for two-and-a-half years.

There are no normal days as a paramedic but a typical shift is spent liaising with doctors, nurses, midwives, carers, police (including London City Police, Metropolitan Police and the British Transport Police) and public transport staff.

Patients range from general practitioner referrals, car accidents, sporting injuries, chest pain, difficulty breathing, abdominal pain and general infections.

"It's extremely varied, that's the beauty of the occupation. All matter of the weird, wonderful and downright strange things can occur," Mr Kelly said.

"The most common presenting complaints from patients would be chest pain, difficulty in breathing, mental health and the varying degrees of trauma."

He said at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the London Ambulance Station received 11,000 phone calls in one day, with an increase in patients presenting with breathing difficulties and cardiac arrest.

A standard call would require personal protective equipment (PPE) of a surgical mask, gloves and apron. Confirmed cases of COVID-19 or patients in cardiac arrest would require paramedics to wear a full Tyvek suit, FFP3 respirator, eye protection and gloves.

The key role of these paramedics during the pandemic was determining who required hospitalisation and who was well enough to be treated at home.

Mr Kelly said his ability to conduct and engage in difficult conversations with patients and their loved ones has developed during the past few months.

Despite the unprecedented circumstances presented to the paramedics during the pandemic, they said the knowledge they obtained during their time at Charles Sturt provided a good foundation to respond in times of pressure and hardship.

"The training and study at university is the foundation knowledge underpinning every decision and action taken within day-to-day practice," Mr Kelly said.

"It's the reason people call us: they are faced with medical issues and/or injuries they either don't understand or are unable to manage. They are asking for your help and treatment because of your knowledge.

"It is a great course. Due to the science-based and practical nature, it's engaging and requires you to step up academically and practically while at university, which I found to be the most rewarding aspect."

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