Local Ambulance Committees
The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) mission is to contribute to the preservation and restoration of health, and the prevention of injury and illness for people in Queensland.
The QAS provides Queenslanders with the highest qualified officers and the best equipment available. But Queenslanders, too, play an important role in their community's Ambulance Service.
What is a Local Ambulance Committee?
Local Ambulance Committees (LACs) are made up of members of the community who, like you, take an active interest in the provision of ambulance services in their neighbourhood.
They know that they can have a direct bearing on the provision of pre-hospital patient care and work with the QAS to ensure their community receives the best possible service available.
What functions do LACs have?
LACs liaise between the community and the QAS, and:
- promote community participation in and an awareness of ambulance services;
- provide advice to the Commissioner in respect of ambulance services in their community;
- carry out fundraising activities for the benefit of ambulance services in their community; and
- manage money held in trust for the benefit of ambulance services in their community.
LACs work with their community for the benefit of their community. All moneys raised by local fundraising activities, donations or bequests remain in their respective communities.
LACs therefore, have a direct impact on the delivery of services in their community.
What responsibilities does an LAC have and how are they carried out?
LACs liaise between their community and the QAS by:
- representing their local community on matters affecting the provision of ambulance services;
- advising local ambulance officers about local community expectations for ambulance services;
- being represented on the selection panel to appoint the local station Officer-In-Charge; and
- monitoring the purchase and use of equipment funded by the local community.
LACs promote community participation in, and awareness of, ambulance services by:
- assisting local ambulance officers to promote awareness of the QAS within the community; and
- promoting community fundraising for QAS projects.
LACs provide advice to the Commissioner by preparing reports, participating in meetings and conferences and monitoring QAS services at a local level.
Where do LAC members come from?
LAC members come from their local community and they are elected for a two-year term.
To be eligible to be on a LAC you must be 18 years of age or over and reside or work in the area served by the LAC.
A Committee consists of a President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer and between one and five other members.
You can nominate to be on a Committee by either filling out a nomination form which is included in Biennial General Meeting advertisings, or you can nominate from the floor of the meeting.
Committees meet a minimum of six times a year.
Regional Conferences
Regional Conferences are held annually, and are convened by the Regional Assistant Commissioner and are attended by LAC members. The number of LAC members to attend a Regional Conference is determined by each Committee.
One member from each LAC will be a voting delegate at Regional Conferences.
Regional Conferences will elect delegates to represent the Region on the Commissioner's Local Ambulance Committee Advisory Committee (previously Reference Group), which has state wide representation.
Want more information?
LACs provide an opportunity for individuals and community organisations to participate in the promotion, enhancement and expansion of ambulance services in their area and assist in achieving the highest practicable levels of patient care.
The goal of the QAS is to provide the highest achievable level of quality pre-hospital patient care and specialised patient transport in Queensland.
Community organisations or individuals wanting to know more about the role of LACs and the part they could play can find a list of LACs in their Region with contact details by going to the Regions section of this website, contacting their local Ambulance station, or call the QAS Policy Officer (LAC) on (07) 3247 8287.
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