Record ambulance officer recruitment target exceeded

The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) has exceeded its record target of recruiting 255 additional ambulance officers this financial year (2007-08), Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts said.

Mr Roberts said the QAS recruitment drive had been so successful that the Service is on track to recruit another 40 officers by the end of the month which would bring the total to 295 additional ambulance officers over 12 months.

“The Bligh Government is making a record commitment to ambulance services. We are planning for the future and we are improving frontline emergency services,” Mr Roberts said.

“Through State Budget and savings identified in the Ambulance Audit, the QAS will recruit an extra 250 ambulance officers in 2008-09,” Mr Roberts said.

“These are additional ambulance officers – over and above attrition.”

Under the 2008-09 State Budget, the QAS has a record budget of $455.7 million, an increase of $53.1 million over last year’s budget. QAS will also buy 145 new ambulance vehicles in 2008-09.

Mr Roberts welcomed 13 new qualified officers to the Queensland Ambulance Service in Brisbane today.

“Of these 13 new officers, nine are from the United Kingdom, one is from New Zealand and another three from across Australia,” he said.

“Once these officers have completed a three-week induction program, they will be assigned to an ambulance station where they will work alongside a qualified Advanced Care Paramedic for a minimum of one-month.”

5 June 2008
Media contact: Kirby Anderson 3247 8194 or 0418 197 350