Corey Armstrong – Tasmania

From the age of two, Corey knew he wanted to help people. As a shy 12-year-old, he joined the Emergency Services Cadet Program, beginning a lifelong commitment to serving communities through emergency services, education and continuous learning.  

Over the past two decades, he has worked as a paramedic, SES leader, emergency manager, trainer and curriculum developer, while volunteering extensively with the SES and Rural Fire Service.

A first-generation university graduate in his family, Corey has combined full-time work with ongoing study throughout his career, completing qualifications in paramedicine, emergency management, tactical medicine and critical care. Like many frontline responders, he has also experienced the challenges that come with emergency work. Rather than letting these experiences define him, Corey used them as an opportunity to grow, developing new skills, continuing to serve his community and returning to frontline paramedicine with renewed purpose.

His passion for learning has also led him to establish Far Edge Studio, where he delivers practical first aid and emergency response training tailored to workplaces and communities. He continues to embrace learning, recently commencing postgraduate studies in adult and vocational education and educational neuroscience.

For Corey, now 33, learning is about far more than gaining qualifications, it is about curiosity, resilience, continuous improvement and finding better ways to help others. His own learning journey has transformed his life while enabling him to teach, support and inspire others, making him a wonderful example of the spirit of Adult Learners Week.