Job openings

We’re now hiring Emergency Medical Dispatchers (EMDs) in the following locations.

24/7 Operations Centres

  • Far North Operations Centre – Cairns
  • North Operations Centre – Townsville
  • Central Operations Centre – Rockhampton
  • South West Operations Centre – Toowoomba
  • Brisbane Operations Centre – Brisbane
  • South East Operations Centre – Coomera
  • North Coast Operations Centre – Maroochydore

Standard hours Operations Centre (6 am – 10 pm)

  • SEQ Patient Transport Services Operations Centre – Spring Hill

Apply now

Working as an Entry-level Emergency Medical Dispatcher

Our Emergency Medical Dispatchers (EMDs) are the first point of contact for people who need ambulance services.

Our EMDs:

  • take emergency calls from people who ring Triple Zero (000)
  • send out ambulances and staff to help patients
  • give advice and support before an ambulance arrives
  • record call details as they happen
  • arrange non-urgent patient transport.

Our Entry-level EMDs gain real workplace skills while also gaining nationally recognised qualifications.

Read the role description [PDF 395.66 KB] to learn more about the work you’ll do as an EMD.

My most memorable call
Duration: 2:26

Recorded call:
EMD: "Ambulance. What's the town or suburb of the emergency?"

EMD Elaina:
My most memorable call is definitely when I delivered a baby on New Year's Eve and I actually got to meet that baby and the family...

Recorded call:
EMD: "What is the emergency?"
Caller: "My wife's going to labor."
EMD: "Get into the most comfortable position. Have a deep breath between those contractions."

EMD Elaina: Heads presenting, heads out, shoulders out. Freaking out. I'm trying to read the instructions, but also trying to keep up with what he's saying.

It was the most memorable part of my career.

I've delivered four other babies since then. You can think about, oh wow, I had a part of this person's journey, this person's life, and I will always remember it.

EMD Bel: The most rewarding call, it was actually Christmas Day a few years ago, a young man called me, and I'll never forget, he said to me, I just saved my dad's life. And I said, Mate, you absolutely did. Merry Christmas.

Not only did that young man save his dad's life and give him a chance to continue to be a dad, but I played a part in that.

Like what a privilege.

At the time you might think, that's such a negative thing. But the positive of helping someone and being able to talk them through a traumatic situation like that, the lasting emotion is, I'm so proud.

EMD Ethan: Sometimes I think the most memorable calls are not necessarily the most traumatic, but it's really the calls that people are most thankful for.

One of the calls that I had it was a mother and she was calling for her toddler who'd had a fall. The child themselves wasn't dramatically injured and he had a laceration to his head.

Just to be able to provide that reassurance, once we could bring that bleeding under control, the amount of calm and just you could feel it sweep over the phone, how much calmer she was. And just the thankfulness, the relief. That relief is what sticks with you

I love being an EMD.

EMD Ethan taking a call:
"All right. Thank you for that. And just a few quick questions for me."

EMD Elaina: This job is so unique. There is nothing else like it. There is no adrenaline rush like this job. This probably will be where I will be forever.

EMD Bel: You get to talk to people on the worst day of their life, and it is such a privilege

So you need to be genuinely passionate about helping those people.

EMD Ethan: EMD is not just a job. It is a career.

How to apply

You can apply online when we advertise roles by filling in our Emergency Medical Dispatcher application form.

Read our information guide [PDF 2822.28 KB] and applicant information kit [PDF 354.57 KB] to learn more.

Apply now

Who can apply

Before you apply, check you’re suited to the role. You don’t need experience, but you need to show us that you meet the following criteria in your application.

You work well under stress

You must be able to:

  • communicate well in stressful situations, with empathy, calmness and leadership
  • type 40 words per minute with 95% accuracy
  • record incident details quickly and accurately, using electronic systems and programs
  • work 12 hour day and night shifts on weekdays, weekends and public holidays, on a 4 day rotating roster.

You can legally work in Australia

You must be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, or a New Zealand citizen to apply. You can also apply if you have a valid permanent work visa.

You’re fit and healthy

Check that you meet our medical standards for Emergency Medical Dispatchers [PDF 145.08 KB] before you apply.

You’re willing to do more training

We’ll pay for you to do these courses as part of your employment.

  • Certificate III in Ambulance Communications (Call-taking)
  • Certificate IV in Ambulance Communications (Dispatch)

Please read the Emergency Medical Dispatcher Course for information about the training you will receive.

After you apply

We’ll meet you for an interview if your application is successful. We usually check your references, qualifications and criminal history. You might also do aptitude or psychometric tests.

Learn more about our working for us.

Contact us

To find out more about the role and tour one of our Operation Centres, express your interest to attend an Open Night to hear about upcoming events at your nearest Operation Centre.

For more information email our recruitment team at QAS.Recruitment@ambulance.qld.gov.au.

Last updated: May 2026

Back to top