Queensland Ambulance Service’s (QAS) Operational Support Officer Rhonda Connors loves her job and the team she works in – which is lucky – last month she celebrated 17 years with the service, working with “the best team’, the Frontline Services Group (FSG).
During her time in FSG, Rhonda has provided high-level technical support to our frontline teams, helping them navigate technical issues with the systems they use, for example, Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs), Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD), eARFs, and radio, to name just a few of these many acronyms.
“I love my job’s variety and its opportunities, but most of all the team I work with – they are family,” Rhonda said.
And talking about family, Rhonda and her partner Pete and his three older children welcomed Tamzyn, the pair’s “miracle baby” in 2023, who Rhonda now describes as a typical precocious toddler.
“Tamzyn brings a light into our lives that makes everything worth it and my absolute favourite thing in the world is to make her giggle,” said Rhonda.
But on 28 January this year, Rhonda “was thrown a curve ball” with a cancer diagnosis.
“Pete was very much involved along the way, as I’d shared my initial inklings with him, kept him very much abreast of the steps I was taking and he was with me when I received my official diagnosis,” Rhonda said.
“It took a couple of days to process the news before I FaceTimed my family with the news, as they live interstate.
“Surprisingly, that’s been the hardest part of this journey so far and they reacted as you would expect – with lots of tears.
“It’s really, really difficult to deliver such news remotely when all you want to do is give everyone a great big hug.”
Rhonda began chemotherapy in February and managed to make the most of her parents’ visits in between juggling treatments around Cyclone Alfred.
“Cancer treatment has very much affected my work, social, and home life, but I am so blessed to work with the incredible team that I do, to have amazing friends and an amazing team who’ve offered to help out where they can, and to have the most amazing partner who steps up whenever needed, this all makes everything that much easier,” Rhonda said.
“I’ve gone from working four compressed days a week, to working from home five days, only three hours on a treatment day to start with, but now I don’t work at all those days.”
Rhonda said FSG’s flexible work hours meant she could take breaks when she needed during her workday, but sometimes she’s had to have days or weeks off at a time which has also included a couple of hospital stays.
Rhonda said while she was fortunate to have had a fair amount of sick leave up her sleeve before her diagnosis, she has certainly burnt through it since.
“By the time I finish chemo, have surgery, radiation, and recover, I think I will have well and truly depleted my sick leave,” she said.
Rhonda’s changed workdays (from four to five) have also increased her toddler’s daycare needs and fees, at a time when the cost of living is already high and on top of her medical treatment.
“I always knew QAS Legacy Scheme was a wonderful charitable organisation that helps so many deserving people in their time of need - I just didn’t expect to be one of them."
QAS Legacy Scheme is an independent charity which has provided more than $600,000 in grants to QAS staff and their families during tough times since 2015.
QAS Legacy currently supports 10 children from eight QAS families and another 16 children have graduated from the scheme, with three of those going on to study paramedicine.
The charity has also provided many grants to member and non-member QAS workers experiencing difficult times, either due to illness or natural disasters.
The QAS Legacy Scheme is predominantly funded through fortnightly tax-deductible payroll contributions from current staff.
Other funding comes from bequests and tax-free donations, often from retired employees, Local Ambulance Committees (LACs), or members of the public expressing appreciation for work done by ambulance staff in the community.
Fundraising events, like Bridge to Brisbane which was including QAS Legacy for the first time this year would also ensure the charity not only continued to support QAS staff and their families in need but would also expand its support to promote QAS employees’ health and wellbeing.
“I first became aware of the QAS Legacy Scheme in 2015, and began donating to it regularly from 2018, after a chat with QAS Legacy Scheme’s Secretary Mindy Thomas when I learnt a lot more about the charity, its wonderful work and the assistance it provides,” Rhonda said.
“QAS Legacy Scheme has provided me with two grants of $1,500 each so far,” Rhonda said.
“Childcare costs have increased since I began my treatment, then there’s scan costs, procedure costs, consultancy costs, surgical costs, down to hospital parking and medication costs, and those grants have eased the financial burden our family is experiencing.
“While the financial contribution is so very much appreciated, also wonderful is the fact that a very special, beautiful person saw my need, and petitioned QAS Legacy for this grant on my behalf, that’s what makes me tear up every time I think about it - I am just so blessed!"
Click to join QAS Legacy Scheme | Click to join Tean QAS Bridge 2 Brisbane