<\/p>\n
Flinders University welcomes Associate Professor Andrew Makkink as the new Head of Paramedicine, bringing a wealth of experience, insight and vision to one of Australia\u2019s fastest-evolving healthcare disciplines.<\/strong><\/p>\n Associate Professor Makkink\u2019s path into paramedicine was anything but conventional. After nearly a decade in the mining industry as a qualified mine surveyor, he made the bold decision to leave it behind and pursue his passion for healthcare.<\/p>\n \u201cDespite having exhausted my financial resources during my studies, it was an amazing decision \u2014 one that I remain convinced was the right one,\u201d he reflects.<\/p>\n Now, as he steps into his role at Flinders, Associate Professor Makkink is excited to shape the future of the Paramedicine Program. \u201cParamedicine is a young and evolving profession,\u201d he says. \u201cThat brings great opportunity \u2014 not just to respond to today\u2019s patient needs, but to expand our reach and impact as a profession.\u201d<\/p>\n He envisions expanding the Flinders program through increased research, postgraduate training, and greater interprofessional collaboration, all while maintaining strong community engagement.<\/p>\n For Associate Professor Makkink, joining Flinders was the right move at the right time. \u201cFlinders offered an opportunity for growth at a world-class university in a beautiful city,\u201d he says. \u201cThe supportive environment and forward-looking ethos here really resonates with me.\u201d<\/p>\n Simulation and hands-on training will remain key pillars of the curriculum under Associate Professor Makkink\u2019s leadership. \u201cAs a simulationist at heart, I believe simulation must be deliberate and carefully mapped to learning outcomes,\u201d he explains. \u201cIt\u2019s essential for preparing students for the realities of patient care.\u201d<\/p>\n But it\u2019s not all academic. Associate Professor Makkink is deeply invested in supporting students, not only as future clinicians, but also by acknowledging the emotional realities of the profession. \u201cIt\u2019s not just about skills and knowledge,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s about helping students build resilience, manage stress, and care for themselves \u2014 because they can\u2019t care for others if they\u2019re running on empty.\u201d<\/p>\n He sees Flinders as a university deeply connected to its community \u2014 one where ambitious ideas can grow and make a real difference.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m excited to be part of an institution that\u2019s committed to improving healthcare through education, research and collaboration.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n In his downtime, Associate Professor Makkink enjoys running through Adelaide\u2019s parklands, tending to his garden, and spending time with his family and their pets. \u201cSettling in here has been easy \u2014 it\u2019s a city that welcomes you, and a university that makes you want to get involved. I\u2019ve felt supported from day one.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Flinders University welcomes Associate Professor Andrew Makkink as the new Head of Paramedicine, bringing a wealth of experience, insight and vision to one of Australia\u2019s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5225,"featured_media":2006,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5838,828],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2020","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-2025-vital-connections","category-college-of-medicine-and-public-health"],"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.flinders.edu.au\/alumni-stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2020","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.flinders.edu.au\/alumni-stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.flinders.edu.au\/alumni-stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.flinders.edu.au\/alumni-stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5225"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.flinders.edu.au\/alumni-stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2020"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.flinders.edu.au\/alumni-stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2020\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.flinders.edu.au\/alumni-stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2006"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.flinders.edu.au\/alumni-stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2020"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.flinders.edu.au\/alumni-stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2020"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.flinders.edu.au\/alumni-stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2020"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}