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QAS Home > About QAS > Regions > Far Northern Region

Far Northern Region

The Far Northern Region stretches from Cardwell Shire in the south east to the Torres Strait Island Communities in the north and the Gulf of Carpentaria in the west and includes the major city of Cairns and associated agricultural and tourist areas.  The region is 289,159 square kilometres.  The population of approximately 230,000 is concentrated in the south east coast and ranges and is sparsely scattered in remote communities throughout the rest of the region.  The region as a whole is at risk from cyclones, fire and flooding.

The Far Northern Region is serviced from 26 permanent, 3 hospital based ambulance stations and Field Officers located in remote indigenous communities of Kowanyama, Coen, Cooktown and Horn Island.  22 Queensland Ambulance Service Stations are located within 200kms of Cairns and the remaining stations are located at Weipa, Bamaga, Cooktown and Thursday Island. The balance of the area is serviced by health clinics, First Responder Groups, QAS Field Officers and evacuations are performed by helicopters and fixed wing aircraft.

Ambulance service delivery strategies have been developed and are being implemented for remote and island communities including the significant number of Aboriginal communities.  The region is unique amongst Australian ambulance services as it shares a border with another nation.  The region is faced with complex service delivery challenges associated with sharing a border with Papua Nuigini

The following are the long-term challenges facing the Far Northern Region.


Community Services Unit

The Far Northern Region Community Services Unit is located at the Cairns Ambulance Station. Anderson Street.  The unit coordinates first aid courses, community awareness programs, injury prevention marketing and promotions and liaison with the region’s Local Ambulance Committees.  To access first aid course information please call 1300 369 003 or go to http://www.ambulance.qld.gov.au/communityservices/learnfirstaid.asp


Contact Details

The Regional Office is located at:

Floor 4
State Government Building
36 Shields Street
Cairns Qld 4870

PO Box 920
Cairns Qld 4870

Ph:     07 4039 8761
Fax:    07 4041 1959


Local Ambulance Committees

The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) is a community based, client focused organisation. Since 1991 Local Ambulance Committees (LACs) were formed to ensure the ambulance service stays in touch with the people it serves. LACs are made up of volunteer members who provide feedback to the Far Northern Region on its performance and on community issues relating to ambulance services in the region. LACs manage funds that they raise locally and ensure those funds remain in the community and benefit the local ambulance service.

Twenty-three LACs are located throughout the region. Your LAC would welcome your interest. To find your local LAC, please download the List of Far Northern Region LACs. Please note that Adobe Reader, downloadable for free, is required to view this document. The document is in PDF format and is 33Kb in size, taking an estimated 4 seconds to download using a 56.6k modem.


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