Unqualified man sentenced for claiming to be a paramedic at motorcycle events

12 Dec 2024

A fake paramedic who provided paramedic services at a number of motorcycle events has been convicted and ordered to serve a 24-month Community Corrections Order.

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) prosecuted Mr Lachlan Gardner for working as a paramedic without registration, in contravention of section 116 of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law 2009 (National Law).

Mr Gardner agreed to work as a paramedic at various motocross events across regional NSW despite being unregistered. Mr Gardner does not hold any approved paramedicine qualification and is not currently eligible for registration as a paramedic in Australia under the National Law.  

Mr Gardner worked via his company, Event Health Services (EHS), providing emergency first aid services at motorcycle events. At various times in 2023, Mr Gardner held himself out as a paramedic to motorcycle event organisers, emergency workers, a triple zero (000) operator and members of the public. 

In one instance, at a motorcycle event at Lake Innes, Mr Gardner treated a child who had been involved in a collision. In the course of treating that child, Mr Gardner falsely claimed he was a paramedic to a 000 operator. The child was airlifted to hospital and admitted to an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The child made a full recovery. There is no evidence Mr Gardner’s offending caused any harm to the injured child.  

When later questioned about his credentials Mr Gardner continued to make the false claim that he was a paramedic. The title ‘paramedic’ is protected by the National Law, and only those persons who hold current Ahpra registration in the paramedicine profession may lawfully refer to themselves as a paramedic.   

On 11 December 2024 Mr Gardner pleaded guilty to one count of knowing holding himself as being registered as a paramedic and two counts of using a title or description that indicated he was authorised or qualified to practise in the paramedic profession.

In imposing sentence Deputy Chief Magistrate T. Tsavdaridis noted that the importance of the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme ‘is not to be understated…. It is in place to ensure the process of registration does not fall into disrepute and to maintain public confidence and trust.’ 

The Ahpra CEO Martin Fletcher welcomed this court outcome.

’It is a gross violation of the trust of the community to make false claims about being a registered health practitioner. This prosecution highlights that Ahpra won’t hesitate to act when individuals put the public at risk through such actions.’  

Paramedic Board of Australia Chair, Professor Stephen Gough ASM said ‘To be able to call yourself a paramedic means that you have the necessary skills and qualifications to provide safe and appropriate care. Mr Gardner’s use of the title not only discredits the important work of our profession but puts members of the public in unnecessary danger.’

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