* 2018 CSU online student and Australian hockey player Karri McMahon recently graduated with a Bachelor of Clinical Practice (Paramedic)

* Hopes to work part-time as a paramedic while training for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

* Job opportunities lined up for 2019 in the private mining sector in Western Australia

Charles Sturt University (CSU) recent graduate and Australian Hockeyroo, Karri McMahon (pictured) will next year commence work part-time as a qualified paramedic while balancing a strict training schedule for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Miss McMahon completed her Bachelor of Clinical Practice (Paramedic) online and graduated last week at CSU in Wagga.

Originally from Berri in South Australia (SA), Miss McMahon transferred from a SA university to the CSU online course due to its ease and flexibility, to assist in managing hockey commitments.

“With the national hockey program being in Perth, it was away from my original university (Flinders University, SA), so I had to be an external student.”

“In Western Australia, the training of paramedics was different with on-road training and university together all year, so I was unable to transfer over to a WA course.”

“When I joined CSU, it made life so easy to be able to study online. I have unusual schedules with early morning and late night training and some additional afternoons, so to be able to study online gave me flexibility around training.” Miss McMahon said.

Having always wanted to work in the health industry but unsure what area she’d like to work in, Miss McMahon said that it was a presentation led by a local paramedic, during her final year of high school that opened her eyes to pursuing a career in the field.

“After listening to that presentation, I thought, if I could get the grades to get into paramedics, that’s what I will do.”

Miss McMahon said that her experience at CSU has been incomparable in being flexible with work timelines and accommodating for preference placements.

“I look back at my placements throughout my course and am so appreciative of how accommodating CSU was when my preference was to be able to do my placement in South Australia.

“Not only did they make this happen but they were also flexible on the time frame to complete this due to my international travel commitments for hockey.”

With a busy 12 months ahead, Miss McMahon is keen to begin work as a paramedic as soon as she can, but will be looking for part-time opportunities ahead of the Tokyo Olympics.

“I am very keen to begin work as a paramedic as soon as I can, but with hockey commitments heading into the Tokyo Olympics, I will be looking more for some part-time opportunities until I can begin my internship with a state service.”

“I have some potential job opportunities lined up in the private mining sector in Western Australia (where I am based) for the next year.” Miss McMahon said.