New paramedics join the ranks

Emergency Services Minister Neil Roberts today welcomed 18 interstate and overseas paramedics into the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS).

The qualified Advanced Care Paramedics - eight from the United Kingdom, four from New Zealand, two from South Africa, and four from other states in Australia – officially began their induction into the service today.

“These paramedics have proven and highly sought after ability to deliver quality ambulance services for emergency care, non emergency care and the transportation of patients,” Mr Roberts said.

“This three week induction program will familiarise the ambulance officers with operational, clinical, and departmental policies, including an orientation day at Mt Cotton Driver Training Services to become comfortable with current Queensland and QAS driving rules and regulations.”

Once the paramedics have finished the course, they will be teamed with a Queensland qualified Advanced Care Paramedic for a minimum of one month in their allocated region, to assist with the familiarisation of procedures and protocols.

“I’ve often marvelled at the type of person that is drawn into the emergency services,” Mr Roberts said.

“With the stressful environment and unconventional hours, paramedics do their job because they want to contribute to the community.

“And in this instance it is even more special, because they are contributing to the health and welfare of a new community that they are currently not familiar with.”

Mr Roberts told the recruits they were joining a service that among the top ambulance services in Australia.

“The Productivity Commission’s recent Report on Government Services shows the QAS has the fastest response times in the country.

“Queensland out performed all other states by responding to 50% of all life threatening Triple Zero calls within 8.3 minutes.

“That’s more than a minute better than the national average of 9.55 minutes and 1.5 minutes better than New South Wales’ time of 9.9 minutes.

“In 90% of Code One cases, a QAS ambulance was on scene within 16.7 minutes, well below the national average of 18.75 minutes and better than Victoria at 19 minutes, New South Wales at 19.9 minutes, Tasmania at 22.4 minutes and the Northern Territory 23.5 minutes.”

Mr Roberts said the new recruits joined the QAS as a result of recruitment drives interstate and overseas, such as the successful ‘Sea Change’ program in the United Kingdom.

“In the current economic climate, it is important to create jobs,” he said.

“That is why the Bligh Government has committed to employing an additional 250 ambulance officers this financial year, on top of the 255 employed last year.

“These additional positions reflect the Bligh Government’s focus on enhancing front-line service delivery in the Queensland Ambulance Service.

“We are also providing our ambos with the tools they need to do their job, including spending $16.9 million this financial year to commission 145 ambulances.

“And as I announced on Sunday we will be putting Satellite Navigation Systems in each and every ambulance on the road in Queensland.”

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