Jen Bolster is an Intensive Care Paramedic and Executive Director of Clinical Services with Ambulance Tasmania, Australia, where she oversees the clinical practice of approximately 1,100 paramedics across the state. Previously, she served in BC Emergency Health Services, Canada, as Manager of Clinical Governance and Professional Practice and as Mental Health and Substance Use Lead. In these roles, she led the innovation and evaluation of enhanced care pathways for people who use drugs in out-of-hospital settings. Her clinical leadership and research in this area have informed paramedic education and practice internationally. This work was recognized with Dalhousie University’s Top EMS Research Award and is now integrated into paramedic curricula to better prepare students for this complex area of care.
Jen was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of the Drug Education Network, a Tasmanian NGO advancing community-based harm reduction through advocacy and education. An emerging academic and paramedic leader, Jen was awarded the McNally and Monash PhD Scholarship in 2023. She has contributed to national initiatives including the CSA National Competency Framework for Paramedics (Z1660:24) and the PAC Career Framework for Paramedics. As a PhD Candidate, Jen explores how drug policy influences paramedic practice, with the goal of advancing preventative models of care for people who use drugs. More of Jen’s contributions: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7239-5839