A leading Canadian paramedic educator has joined the teaching staff of the pre-hospital care programs of the School of Biomedical Sciences at Charles Sturt University (CSU) in Bathurst.

 

Mr Joe Acker, a former Operations Director of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) from Alberta Health Services in western Canada, says his passion for the development of EMS leaders is what brought him to Bathurst.

 

“Charles Sturt University is very well respected around the world for delivering exceptional paramedic education, and I want to be part of the team to develop a world-class leadership program for EMS,” Mr Acker said.

 

The Professor of Paramedic Practice and Leadership at the CSU School of Biomedical Sciences, Professor Peter O’Meara, welcomed Mr Acker’s appointment, saying, “We are very happy to have been able to recruit a paramedic leader of Joe’s reputation to Charles Sturt University. He will complement the knowledge and skills of our existing staff and strengthen our already strong links with Canada. His enthusiasm for the development of leaders in ambulance services is particularly welcome as we are introducing a new course in leadership and management for paramedics next year.”

 

Professor O’Meara said Mr Acker has over 20 years experience in pre-hospital care in the state of Alberta where he worked as a rural, urban, and critical care paramedic, paramedic educator, General Manager of the Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society (STARS) helicopter program, and Chief of EMS for the City of Edmonton.

 

Mr Acker has international teaching experience in Brunei, as well as consulting in the United Arab Emirates, and has presented at a number of clinical and leadership focused conferences in Canada and the United States. His research focus for his Master of Arts in Leadership (from Royal Roads University in Victoria, British Columbia) was the development of a leadership competency profile for senior managers of pre-hospital care systems. During his first year teaching the paramedic program at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology in Edmonton, he received the prestigious Instructional Excellence Award.

 

“I have always loved teaching and working with students,” Mr Acker said.

 

“For an EMS system to be successful, it requires skilled, compassionate, and professional paramedics on the front line. I have had some great mentors, and I believe I have learned lessons throughout my career that I can share with others. I am very excited to be here at Charles Sturt University where I believe I can contribute to improving EMS systems from Australia to Canada and everywhere in between.”