Alice Knox, 10 June, 2024
There are many careers in health that combine a knowledge of science with caring for people. If you want to make a difference and make the most of your ATAR…
Read about:
- Working in patient care
- ATAR thresholds
- Upgrading through university studies
- Courses to consider when choosing or upgrading.
When it comes to caring for people, it’s not just doctors and nurses who look after patients. There are many different roles in healthcare that offer you the opportunity to help people while playing to your personal strengths.
But why work in patient care?
- Super rewarding careers—if you are a people person who genuinely cares and wants to make a difference, this is for you.
- Use your science brain. These courses will challenge your knowledge of chemistry, physics, and anatomy to help with the healing.
- You want to travel. Many of these courses offer careers across Australia and around the world. You could make a difference in low-socioeconomic countries or pursue a career in the UK or Canada.
- You want a job, guaranteed. Most clinical sciences courses have a close to 100% employment rate—particularly courses like podiatry and pharmacy. Healthcare is the highest employing industry in Australia. While it is tricky to get a job as a paramedic in Qld, watch this space—and there are also opportunities overseas and in time, community paramedicine.
‘I’ve always been interested in chemistry and healthcare. Combining my passion for science with my desire to make a positive impact in health, I found that pharmacy was the ideal pathway for me.’
Cheryne Dela Rosa
What is with the high ATAR thresholds to get into these courses?
It’s mostly demand based. Many of these courses have a limited number of places available. Sometimes places are limited by how many practical placements are offered by hospitals and private practices for students to get experience. Other times, it’s just a really popular course.
Here are the ATAR thresholds for clinical sciences courses in 2024:
- Bachelor of Medical Imaging (Honours) 99.10
- Bachelor of Paramedic Science 87.00
- Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) 76.00
- Bachelor of Podiatry 80.00
- Bachelor of Radiation Therapy 96.00
- Bachelor of Vision Science/Master of Optometry 98.10
If you have your heart set on a course with an ATAR threshold of 99.10 or 98.10 that can feel really daunting. However, there are options and things to think about when you are weighing up your dreams.
See if you can give your ATAR a little nudge
When you apply make sure you give yourself every advantage. Depending on your background or school you may be eligible for Adjustment Schemes to improve your ATAR.
You can also receive an adjustment based on subjects completed at school—although check the details because some course exclusions apply.
Consider upgrading via other university studies
This takes a little longer but since you’re going to be working a long time it’s worth going on the journey. Many people are in a similar position, either swapping courses by plan or if they change their mind!
If you study at a university level for one year and pass all your subjects, you are eligible for a selection rank of 93.00. That’s pretty competitive. But to get in to the really high ATAR courses you’ll need to do more than pass. Here’s a table that shows the grade point average (GPA) you need for higher entry courses:
Find out more about upgrading via university study.
If you study at QUT, and you get a high enough GPA, you can apply directly to the uni to transfer into paramedic science, pharmacy, or podiatry. But for courses like medical imaging, radiation therapy, and vision science (optometry) you’ll have to apply again through QTAC.
All of this leads to next question…
Which course should I choose if I want to upgrade?
The answer is: choose a course you will enjoy, so you give yourself the best chance to succeed! There aren’t really any direct upgrading pathways for clinical sciences courses—the core subjects are quite different so there’s limited opportunity to get advanced standing (credit) for subjects you’ve studied.
However, most clinical sciences courses include anatomy as a foundation subject AND there are some cross-overs in diagnostic methods and ways of working. So here are some comparisons to get you thinking about what you might want to do.
If you’re interested in medical imaging, look at podiatry
- Podiatry has an ATAR threshold 80.00
- Podiatry students learn how to use radiography as part of diagnosing foot conditions
- You perform musculoskeletal assessment, use 3D scanning technology and advanced digital tools for designing custom-made orthoses—technology tick!
- Wound care and surgery make up important parts of podiatric practice
- You’ll have opportunities to work in rural communities
- Podiatrists work regular hours in clinical settings (the holy grail of healthcare work)
- Over 90% employment rate.
Read: What it’s like to study podiatry
‘I didn’t originally choose podiatry as my area of study. I loved science, particularly anatomy and biology in school, and I was also very involved in sports. Following two knee surgeries I was incredibly grateful for the health care I received, particularly from a podiatrist during my rehabilitation. So, I decided to give podiatry a go and I have fallen in love with the degree. I am very happy to have ended up here.’
Cleo Daley
If you are interested in optometry, consider pharmacy or podiatry
- Pharmacy ATAR threshold 76.00
- Podiatry ATAR threshold 80.00
- Graduates of these courses all work similar hours in clinical and retail settings
- You’ll work with individuals and families as a trusted health services provider
- If you love chemistry seriously consider pharmacy
- Opportunities for expanding scope of practice—there are optometry, podiatry and pharmacy prescribing programs currently or in development
- High demand for podiatrists and pharmacists both locally and nationally.
Read: What it’s like to study pharmacy or What it’s like to study podiatry
‘I chose pharmacy originally because I wanted to use this degree to study paramedicine. I now realise there’s much more that goes into pharmacy than I first thought. I have loved studying this course so much that I’ve decided this will be the degree and career pathway for me.’
Sajal Tyagi
If you are interested in radiation therapy, check out pharmacy
- Pharmacy ATAR threshold 76.00
- Strong science component to this degree
- Pharmacists are experts in how medicines act on the body to treat disease
- Strong patient-care aspect and the opportunity to make a difference for patients, families and communities
- Pharmacists and radiation therapists work in hospitals and research as well as private practice settings
- Pharmacists and radiation therapists also work regular hours in clinical settings
- Both radiation therapy and pharmacy roles require conversations with people—listening, emphasising and understanding.
Read: What it’s like to study pharmacy
Paramedic science—clinical work with a difference
- Paramedics work in fast-paced, dynamic environments, this can be quite different to most other clinical sciences workplaces
- Nursing can offer a good pathway option—nurses work in varied settings and specialisations, and there’s flexible work hours with plenty of options to travel
- Nursing ATAR threshold 72.00
- If you are drawn to the physiological assessment and physically active aspect of paramedicine, consider clinical exercise physiology where you perform diagnostic tests like 12 lead ECG, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, pulse rate and blood glucose to prescribe exercise to help treat medical conditions and disorders
- Clinical exercise physiology ATAR threshold 75.00.
Read: What it’s like to study nursing or What it’s like studying clinical exercise physiology
‘Initially, I pursued a business/psychology double at QUT, with the goal to become a psychologist. I completed a subject called Health Psychology and was fascinated by the positive impact exercise had on mental and physical wellbeing. This drew me towards clinical exercise physiology.’
Julia Davies
You always have options—make the best decision for you
Year 12 can feel like a pressure cooker filled with big decisions and life-changing outcomes. But there’s a wide world outside of that. You have a range of options and pathways to follow that could lead to unexpectedly wonderful destinations.
We genuinely wish you all the very best and hope you find your way to the course and career of your dreams.
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