Our People
While our Paramedic officers are the front line of the Ambulance Service, the QAS Northern Region employs people from a range of backgrounds to perform a range of roles.
Our paramedic officers have a minimum qualification of Associate Diploma of Applied Science (Ambulance), although many have chosen to pursue further training to upgrade their skills. Changes in clinical levels in the past ten years has led to several levels of paramedic officer, such as Student Paramedic, Advanced Care Paramedic and Intensive Care Paramedic. It has also led to requirement for long standing officers to embrace professional development activities to upgrade their skills. Permanent officers are sometimes assisted by volunteer (Honorary) officers, who have received basic ambulance training to the level of Certificate Level 4.
The QAS Northern Region also employs Patient Transport Officers at Townsville, Kirwan and Bowen Stations. The role of these officers is to provide a transport service for patients requiring non-urgent transport, for example from their residence or nursing home to hospital or doctor for pre-booked appointment. This service provides a valuable service for those unable to attend treatments in any other way, for example, through requirement for specialised transport such as a stretcher or requirement for oxygen in transit.
The Communications Centre staff are the voices on the phone when a caller requests and ambulance. They are trained in the use of communications equipment and in the computer equipment now used in ambulance communications. They follow set protocols in questioning and managing calls, so that calls for assistance can be prioritised and allocated to appropriate resources in a timely manner.
The operational sections of the region are run by managers who have experience in a range of operational matters and management. They regularly meet to discuss issues of operational and management concern, and are constantly on call to ensure they are aware of any situations requiring further action in the region. They are also the QAS Northern Region representatives on a range of local and State committees and working groups, such as QEMS, Indigenous Working Group, and the Local Counter Disaster Committee. In these groups they provide their experience and knowledge of QAS operational abilities and resources to provide input to planning and development.
The Region’s Community Services Unit, located at QAS’ Townsville Station in Hugh Street, has a baby capsule fitting and child restraint checking service, and also offers professional First Aid Training in Senior First Aid, Senior First Aid Recertification, CPR, CPR Recertification, Advanced First Aid, Occupational First Aid, and Advanced Resuscitation Techniques. Bookings can be made by phoning 1300 369 003.
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