I currently work both as a frontline paramedic and as a lecturer at Canterbury Christ Church University in Medway. As my students approach graduation, they all find that there is a 'gap' between their time as a student and their role as a practising paramedic – their 'work-readiness' as a graduate, and this instils panic and anxiety. This sensation has only been heightened during recent times owing to the pandemic.

The purpose of my Fellowship is to investigate ways to 'close' this gap, to ensure that the future paramedics we bring to the workforce are set up to achieve and excel in their chosen careers, and that our curriculum is aligned to the needs of the changing pre-hospital workforce. My aim is to travel to Australia to witness first-hand some of the work-readiness programmes available in their universities, to see if some of these changes could be brought back to the UK to be implemented.

I was a student once. I remember those feelings of anxiety and doubt, and I remember feeling ill-prepared for the responsibility of my graduate job. I would prefer that my students do not graduate feeling this way.