Eleven Charles Sturt University (CSU) paramedic students will embark on a three-week study tour to China starting on Saturday 21 June.

Mr Joe Acker, senior lecturer in paramedics at the CSU School of Biomedical Sciences, will lead seven second-year paramedic students from CSU in Port Macquarie and four second- and third-year paramedic students from CSU in Bathurst to Beijing, Jilin, and Changchun in north-east China.

"I am very excited have the opportunity to take our paramedic students to China," Mr Acker said. "This study tour will give paramedic students the opportunity to learn about emergency medicine, medical education, and pre-hospital care in a completely different environment.

"We will observe paramedic practice and the provision of emergency services within the healthcare and ambulance environments in metropolitan and rural communities of China.

"Students will also visit a medical school and hospital to gain an understanding of the similarities and differences in comparison to their Australian experience.

"In addition, we will get to immerse ourselves in the rich culture, history, food, and language of northern China."

The tour will include visits to and/or placements with the Beijing Emergency Medical Centre (ambulance), the International SOS Clinic and Emergency Assistance Centre (Beijing), and Changchun ambulance service.

The students will study with nursing and medical students at Beihua University for one week, and do a one-week shift rotation in emergency department and intensive care at Jilin Hospital.

The students will also see the sights of Beijing, and will visit the Great Wall of China, the Temple of Heaven, the Forbidden Palace, and the Summer Palace. They will also ride the Bullet Train to Jilin, and do language and culture training for one to two hours each day.

In preparation for the study tour, students have been meeting once per week to study Chinese culture, language, and customs.

"One of the Port Macquarie paramedic students, Mr Jimmy Tai, speaks Mandarin and he has been teaching the group some basic Mandarin as well as about the food, religion, culture, history, government, and healthcare systems," Mr Acker said.

The paramedic study tour is from Saturday 21 June to Thursday 10 July. Another group of CSU paramedic students will make a similar study tour to Thailand at about this time, conditions permitting.This study tour is facilitated by CSU Global. The program is partially funded by the Australian Government's Study Overseas Short-term Mobility Program through the Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education. CSU recognises the support of the Australian Government in providing targeted funds which have subsidised the cost of this program to students.