Graduate paramedic experience of rolling recruitment: an exploration

Background: Most Australian new paramedic graduates apply for work through rolling recruitment. Under this model, they are assessed, ranked then remain on a waitlist for up to several years until a position becomes available or they abandon their application. Aims: A longitudinal, prospective, mixed-methods exploratory survey approach was used to investigate the experience of rolling recruitment. Methods: A small cohort of final-year paramedicine undergraduates ( n =18) were followed over graduation, rolling recruitment and starting clinical work and completed a survey every 3 months. Qualitative responses underwent thematic analysis, while quantitative data were analysed using one-way ANOVA with post-hoc pairwise comparisons. Findings: Participants spent 3–17 months in recruitment; 61% gained employment and 39% did not. Prolonged employment uncertainty correlated with significantly abnormal stress scores, and there were additional statistically non-significant rises in depression and anxiety. Participants stated they felt ‘helpless’ in an ‘inhuman’ system that ‘reduced them to numbers’ and ‘strung them along’. Conclusion: Rolling recruitment may be associated with an adverse graduate paramedic experience. A larger, controlled sample is required to generalise results.