Three degrees, life-changing callouts and a life-threatening cancer diagnosis … former paramedic and fresh UNE law graduate Travis Wishart has experienced more than most in his lifetime. And the 33-year-old will now bring it all to the fore in his first legal role.
Travis completed his Bachelor of Laws degree – and an Honours thesis on the disastrous Robodebt scheme – while working full-time as a paramedic with NSW Ambulance and was this year accepted into the NSW Government legal graduate program.
“Being a paramedic with NSW Ambulance in Sydney for eight years shaped me profoundly. I saw all cross-sections of society, how certain groups were treated by law enforcement, and had exposure to all kinds of rights and legal obligations. Seeing people at their most vulnerable taught me empathy, perspective and the real meaning of teamwork.”
That teamwork was put to the test many times during one of the most challenging periods in the history of the ambulance service, which included the COVID-19 pandemic, devastating bushfires, the Bondi Westfield Shopping Centre attack and recent Bondi Beach terrorist incident. On the personal front, it also coincided with Travis’s cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatment.
But as trying as those times were, he says they only served to reinforce his commitment to public service.
“I take a lot of pride in helping people from all walks of life. My work within the NSW Government is very technical and often invisible but I hope to effect legislative change for the people of our state by supporting sound policy development, regulatory frameworks and public sector governance.
“I recently sat in on a sitting of NSW Parliament. Most lawyers never get exposure to how laws are shaped or changed, even indirectly. I feel lucky to be working in a space where I can see that process up close and play a small part in it, including the bills my team is currently working on, which will affect everyone in NSW.”
Image: Travis Wishart on duty with NSW Ambulance, drawing on years of frontline paramedic experience that now informs his emerging career in public-interest law.
As well as a Bachelor of Paramedicine, Travis previously studied economics and political science – all very useful in informing the writing of his Robodebt Honours dissertation.
“Few policy failures in recent Australian history have shaken public confidence like Robodebt. What began as an attempt to modernise welfare compliance through automation became a devastating reminder of what happens when efficiency is prioritised over legality and fairness.
“For me, Robodebt represents more than a case study in administrative failure. It’s a lesson in good governance: that law and accountability are not barriers to effective policy, but the very foundations of it. As future lawyers, policymakers and public servants, we must ensure that technological innovation and fiscal prudence never come at the expense of legality, transparency and compassion.”
Travis appreciated the flexibility of studying with UNE and especially the trimester system that enabled him to “take account of other life commitments”, including the demands of shift work.
He still works for NSW Ambulance, but on a casual basis, and is finishing his Practical Legal Training Diploma with an expected admission ceremony at the Supreme Court later this year
“I’m excited about my new career because the law is practical, involves a lot of problem-solving and opens many doors. I am grateful for where I am in my life and for being able to shape my career to reflect my personal values.”
