Three Tasmanian Women Begin a New Chapter in Paramedicine
10 Aug 2026
Tanya Fitzpatrick, Kate Routley and Allison Pook each arrived at paramedicine from different professional backgrounds. What they share is a desire to build a career focused on helping people in their community.
For Tanya, paramedicine followed more than 30 years in occupational therapy. Her previous work included youth health, mental health and alcohol and other drug services, as well as leadership positions.
After decades in the profession, she decided she wanted to take on something different. Her interest in how the human body works led her towards paramedicine.
Completing an accelerated three-year degree required Tanya to manage university, employment and family responsibilities at the same time. She continued working as a mental health clinician while studying and raising three children, who were aged 24, 21 and 16.
Her experience has given her a new perspective on changing direction later in life and developing skills in a completely different field.
Kate took a different route into paramedicine. Once her four children were all at school, she began looking for an opportunity to pursue higher education and develop a career of her own.
Her previous experience covered several industries, including agriculture, health and fitness, administration, marketing and travel. Although returning to study was something she had wanted for years, fitting university around family life was challenging.
For Kate, one of the hardest parts was being away from her younger children and dealing with the feelings that came with that.
She is now preparing to take her training into the field, where she hopes to support people when they need urgent care.
Allison's career change came during another important family milestone. With her youngest child about to begin high school, she started considering what she wanted from the next stage of her working life.
Having previously worked as a nurse, she decided to explore paramedicine and submitted an application for a degree almost spontaneously.
The decision proved to be a major turning point. Starting university as a mature-age student was initially challenging, but building strong relationships with fellow students helped her settle into the new environment.
Her friendship with Tanya and Kate became an important part of that experience, giving the three women a strong support network throughout their studies.
Together, Tanya, Kate and Allison bring a broad range of professional and personal experience to Tasmania's paramedic workforce.
Their journeys also show that a career change does not have to happen early in working life. For those considering a new direction, their experience offers a simple message: starting again can be possible at any stage.
Three Tasmanian Women Begin a New Chapter in Paramedicine
Source: Ambulance Tasmania, Tasmanian Department of Health