Paramedics are the backbone of services such as the emergency ambulance services run by St John and Wellington Free Ambulance, as well as the rotary wing rescue services, such as the Westpac Rescue Helicopter. Paramedics often work independently in remote or difficult environments, isolated from other health professionals. The critical, often complex decision-making required of a paramedic is developed in AUT's paramedicine degree through the clincial practice, clinical reasoning and intergrated clinical practice papers.