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17 April 2026
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Personal connection to ambulance inspires graduate paramedic, Australia
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When Wodonga Ambulance Victoria (AV) graduate paramedic Charlotte Beavan started on-road, she had a special mentor by her side – the paramedic who had inspired her to pursue the career. Charlotte always wanted to work in healthcare and began considering paramedicine after a friend suggested she would enjoy the work. She looked into it, loved the idea and applied to study a paramedicine degree.
As university began, so too did the COVID-19 pandemic. “Paramedicine appealed to me because I like being out and about, so it was tough when my studies went online,” she said. “At the end of the first year, I wasn’t sure that it was what I still wanted to do.”
As Charlotte pondered her future, a family tragedy struck. Her grandparents were involved in a serious car crash and her grandmother tragically passed away. Her grandfather was taken to hospital by ambulance. It was one of the saddest days of Charlotte’s life, but it turned out to also be one of the most significant.
When Charlotte and her family arrived at the hospital, one of the paramedics came and spoke to them. “He told us what had happened and although it was sad and overwhelming, in that moment I knew that being a paramedic was what I wanted to do,” she said.
Charlotte continued her studies and for the last 18 months of her degree, worked as an Ambulance Community Officer (ACO) in Tallangatta to gain more on-road experience.
ACOs are AV first responders are employed on a casual basis to work on-call in rural and remote communities. They are trained to provide advanced first aid, to support qualified paramedics and can transport patients to hospital.
In October, she officially hit the road as a graduate paramedic at AV.
The paramedic who had spoken to her at the hospital became Charlotte’s first clinical instructor – a qualified paramedic paired with a graduate to support and oversee their work, learning and development. “When I was an ACO, I had asked around and managed to find out who he was. Starting as a graduate with him as my first clinical instructor was a real full circle moment,” she said. “My first couple of months at AV were unreal – the best months I’ve had on road.”
Charlotte grew up in the NSW Snowy Mountains and moved to Albury when she started high school. Now based at the Wodonga ambulance branch, she said working close to home has been rewarding but challenging. “I attend to patients who know me or know people close to me. It means that what’s happening to them can hit home more,” she said.
Already, Charlotte is making an impact on her patients, providing best care and helping save lives. One case that stands out was attending a patient experiencing an ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), a major heart attack that is life-threatening if not treated quickly. “It’s one of those things you learn about at university but while we attend a lot of people with chest pain, it’s rare that they are having a STEMI,” Charlotte explained.
“This patient was clearly really sick. We treated them and handed them over to the air ambulance helicopter crew who airlifted the patient to hospital. A few weeks later, the patient walked into our branch with a cake. It was nice to have that reconnection and it’s a case I’ll remember.”
Learn more about becoming a first responder at AV.
Source: Ambulance Victoria
As university began, so too did the COVID-19 pandemic. “Paramedicine appealed to me because I like being out and about, so it was tough when my studies went online,” she said. “At the end of the first year, I wasn’t sure that it was what I still wanted to do.”
As Charlotte pondered her future, a family tragedy struck. Her grandparents were involved in a serious car crash and her grandmother tragically passed away. Her grandfather was taken to hospital by ambulance. It was one of the saddest days of Charlotte’s life, but it turned out to also be one of the most significant.
When Charlotte and her family arrived at the hospital, one of the paramedics came and spoke to them. “He told us what had happened and although it was sad and overwhelming, in that moment I knew that being a paramedic was what I wanted to do,” she said.
Charlotte continued her studies and for the last 18 months of her degree, worked as an Ambulance Community Officer (ACO) in Tallangatta to gain more on-road experience.
ACOs are AV first responders are employed on a casual basis to work on-call in rural and remote communities. They are trained to provide advanced first aid, to support qualified paramedics and can transport patients to hospital.
In October, she officially hit the road as a graduate paramedic at AV.
The paramedic who had spoken to her at the hospital became Charlotte’s first clinical instructor – a qualified paramedic paired with a graduate to support and oversee their work, learning and development. “When I was an ACO, I had asked around and managed to find out who he was. Starting as a graduate with him as my first clinical instructor was a real full circle moment,” she said. “My first couple of months at AV were unreal – the best months I’ve had on road.”
Charlotte grew up in the NSW Snowy Mountains and moved to Albury when she started high school. Now based at the Wodonga ambulance branch, she said working close to home has been rewarding but challenging. “I attend to patients who know me or know people close to me. It means that what’s happening to them can hit home more,” she said.
Already, Charlotte is making an impact on her patients, providing best care and helping save lives. One case that stands out was attending a patient experiencing an ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), a major heart attack that is life-threatening if not treated quickly. “It’s one of those things you learn about at university but while we attend a lot of people with chest pain, it’s rare that they are having a STEMI,” Charlotte explained.
“This patient was clearly really sick. We treated them and handed them over to the air ambulance helicopter crew who airlifted the patient to hospital. A few weeks later, the patient walked into our branch with a cake. It was nice to have that reconnection and it’s a case I’ll remember.”
Learn more about becoming a first responder at AV.
Source: Ambulance Victoria