St John - first to care




Welcome to the PRIME course, a training programme designed to prepare rural health practitioners for their role as members of the emergency response team in the PRIME system of out-of-hospital emergency care.

The purpose of PRIME is to supplement the ambulance service to provide timely access to clinical skills that have the potential to improve outcomes for patients in rural areas. PRIME aims to ensure access to high-quality out-of-hospital emergency care in areas where there is a shortage of suitably trained paramedics, or where ambulance service rural response times may be longer than usual.

The course has a predominately practical focus to consolidate skills such as high performance CPR, trauma and acute medical emergency management. The course includes principles of triage, major incident management, teamwork with ambulance and fire officers, patient extrication and transport considerations as they apply in the rural setting.

Important information about course bookings

The initial course is five days, Mon – Fri (40 hours), the refresher is one day (Sat or Sun) 8 hours.

The PRIME course booking system will prioritise those who are employed by a medical practice that holds a PRIME contract, so other bookings may be put onto a waiting list to accommodate this. We do not guarantee a place on a course for non-PRIME contract holders and they may be moved to waiting lists even once confirmed if we require that space.

You must hold a NZ Medical Registration (HPCA 2003) to attend this course and it is recommended that you also hold at least a resuscitation certificate to Level 6, and have had some other experience in emergency medicine. IV certification is required for attending this course.

If you have any queries with regard to your booking please email PRIME.support@stjohn.org.nz.

Auckland 14.10.2024 - 8.30am to 5.00pm
15.10.2024 - 8.30am to 5.00pm
16.10.2024 - 8.30am to 5.00pm
17.10.2024 - 8.30am to 5.00pm
18.10.2024 - 8.30am to 5.00pm
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Christchurch 21.10.2024 - 8.30am to 5.00pm
22.10.2024 - 8.30am to 5.00pm
23.10.2024 - 8.30am to 5.00pm
24.10.2024 - 8.30am to 5.00pm
25.10.2024 - 8.30am to 5.00pm
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Tauranga 18.11.2024 - 8.30am to 5.00pm
19.11.2024 - 8.30am to 5.00pm
20.11.2024 - 8.30am to 5.00pm
21.11.2024 - 8.30am to 5.00pm
22.11.2024 - 8.30am to 5.00pm
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Auckland 17.02.2025 - 8.30am to 5.00pm
18.02.2025 - 8.30am to 5.00pm
19.02.2025 - 8.30am to 5.00pm
20.02.2025 - 8.30am to 5.00pm
21.02.2025 - 8.30am to 5.00pm
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Dunedin 03.03.2025 - 8.30am to 5pm
04.03.2025 - 8.30am to 5pm
05.03.2025 - 8.30am to 5pm
06.03.2025 - 8.30am to 5pm
07.03.2025 - 8.30am to 5pm
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Whangarei 07.04.2025 - 8.30am to 5.00pm
08.04.2025 - 8.30am to 5.00pm
09.04.2025 - 8.30am to 5.00pm
10.04.2025 - 8.30am to 5.00pm
11.04.2025 - 8.30am to 5.00pm
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Christchurch 19.05.2025 - 8.30am to 5pm
20.05.2025 - 8.30am to 5pm
21.05.2025 - 8.30am to 5pm
22.05.2025 - 8.30am to 5pm
23.05.2025 - 8.30am to 5pm
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Auckland 09.06.2025 - 8.30am to 5.00pm
10.06.2025 - 8.30am to 5.00pm
11.06.2025 - 8.30am to 5.00pm
12.06.2025 - 8.30am to 5.00pm
13.06.2025 - 8.30am to 5.00pm
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The PRIME Refresher course embraces a blending learning approach comprising of one day (8 hour) face-to-face delivery supplemented by on-line activities. The course is practically based that reviews the emergent management principles and procedures encountered on the PRIME Initial Course. PRIME practitioners are required to attend the refresher programme every two years after the PRIME Initial course.

Alexandra 12.10.2024 - 8.30am to 5pm
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Gisborne 12.10.2024 - 8.30am to 5pm
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Coromandel 19.10.2024 - 8.30am to 5pm
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Dunedin 02.11.2024 - 8.30am to 5pm
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Christchurch 09.11.2024 - 8.30am to 5pm
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Auckland 09.11.2024 - 8.30am to 5pm
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Kerikeri 16.11.2024 - 8.30am to 5pm
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Fairlie 23.11.2024 - 8.30am to 5pm
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Tauranga 30.11.2024 - 8.30am to 5pm
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Tauranga 15.02.2025 - 8.30am to 5pm
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Christchurch 15.02.2025 - 8.30am to 5pm
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Feilding 22.02.2025 - 8.30am to 5pm
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Wellsford 22.02.2025 - 8.30am to 5pm
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Motueka 29.03.2025 - 8.30am to 5pm
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Auckland 05.04.2025 - 8.30am to 5pm
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Christchurch 12.04.2025 - 8.30am to 5pm
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Gisborne 03.05.2025 - 8.30am to 5pm
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Dunedin 17.05.2025 - 8.30am to 5pm
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Kerikeri 17.05.2025 - 8.30am to 5pm
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Cambridge 07.06.2025 - 8.30am to 5pm
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Whangarei 07.06.2025 - 8.30am to 5pm
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