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

*You may be eligible to receive relocation expenses if you complete induction, and you meet all the criteria for relocation expenses.

Working as an Experienced Emergency Medical Dispatcher

If you have attained a minimum of Certificate III in Ambulance Communications or the equivalent, and you can demonstrate 2 years of continuous service, within the past 2 years, you may be eligible to apply through our experienced Emergency Medical Dispatcher pathway.

Take your Emergency Medical Dispatcher career to the next level in the sunshine state.

  • Earn more for your skills and experience
  • Work and live in sunny Queensland
  • Your training may be fast-tracked based on your current qualifications and skills.

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.

Workplace benefits

As an employee of the Queensland Ambulance Service, you’ll have access to a range of workplace benefits relating to remuneration and superannuation, salary packaging, flexible work, training and development, health and wellbeing, and relocation expenses. Visit our Workplace Benefits page for more information.

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 eligible for the role. You’ll need to show evidence 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 have relevant experience within the past 2 years

You can demonstrate 2 years of continuous service, within the past 2 years, as a qualified emergency medical call-taker, dispatcher or equivalent.

If you are not yet qualified, you can apply or express your interest via our Entry-level emergency medical dispatcher pathway.

You have relevant qualifications

You have a Certificate III in Ambulance Communications (Call-taking) or equivalent.

Certificate IV in Ambulance Communications (Dispatch) or equivalent is highly desirable but not essential.

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.

We don’t sponsor overseas workers and can’t give you advice about visas. You can learn more about working in Australia on the Department of Home Affairs website.

You have first aid qualifications

You must have the following current first aid qualifications.

  • Provide first Aid (HLTAID011)
  • Provide cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (HLTAID009).

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 support you to get the following qualifications by assessing your prior experience and providing additional training where you need it.

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

After you apply

If you meet the initial requirements for the role listed in the role description and your application is deemed suitable, we will invite you to an interview. We usually check your references, qualifications and criminal history. You will also undertake aptitude or psychometric tests, and a medical assessment.

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

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