Andrew Makkink

Associate Professor Andrew Makkink is a paramedic academic and educator in the College of Medicine and Public Health at Flinders University. Drawing on extensive international experience in paramedicine, he is committed to preparing graduates who are clinically capable, reflective practitioners and future leaders in healthcare. His teaching philosophy centres on creating authentic, evidence-informed learning experiences that foster critical thinking, clinical reasoning, reflexivity and lifelong learning.

Andrew teaches across undergraduate and postgraduate paramedicine programs, with particular interests in advanced clinical practice, neurological emergencies, critical care, behavioural emergencies, clinical decision-making and simulation-based education. He has extensive experience in curriculum development and assessment design, ensuring learning activities align with contemporary professional standards while equipping students with the knowledge and skills required for increasingly complex healthcare environments. His work also integrates research-informed teaching practices that promote meaningful student engagement and professional growth.

Andrew's research sits at the intersection of paramedic education, reflexive clinical practice and system-level patient safety, with a particular emphasis on simulation-based learning, handover communication and workplace safety. He employs quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods and scoping review methodologies, reflecting a commitment to rigorous, context-sensitive research.

His simulation research includes developing the Simulation Assessment Tool Limiting Assessor Bias (SATLAB), investigating low-cost moulage techniques, and exploring learners' perspectives of simulation debriefing. This work aims to optimise feedback and assessment of both technical and non-technical skills. He has also examined student behaviour and patient safety in clinical education, including research investigating potential overtreatment by paramedic students across three South African institutions.

Collectively, Andrew's research contributes to improving paramedic education, strengthening simulation-based pedagogy and enhancing communication across the emergency care continuum. His work seeks to develop evidence-informed interventions that enhance experiential learning, refine assessment practices, and inform educational policy and curriculum development to improve patient outcomes and practitioner capability.

Andrew values interdisciplinary collaboration and partnerships between universities, ambulance services, healthcare services and organisations as well as the wider community. He believes the greatest advances in paramedicine occur when education, research and clinical practice are closely integrated.

As an educator, Andrew fosters inclusive learning environments where students are challenged, supported and encouraged to develop confidence in their professional identity. Through his teaching, scholarship and research, Andrew is committed to advancing paramedicine while contributing to a skilled, resilient and evidence-informed healthcare workforce capable of meeting the evolving needs of the paramedicine community.