The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) is the state emergency ambulance and patient transport provider in
Queensland
Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...
,
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
. QAS is part of the
Queensland Government
The Queensland Government is the state government of Queensland, Australia, a Parliament, parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Government is formed by the party or coalition that has gained a majority in the Queensland Legislative Assembly, ...
under the
Queensland Health
Queensland Health is the public health system in Queensland, Australia, comprising sixteen statutory Hospital and Health Services (HHS), the Department of Health and Queensland Ambulance Service. Each HHS provides health services to its local ...
portfolio and is one of the largest ambulance services in the world.
[About QAS](_blank)
. Department of Community Safety. Retrieved on 9 November 2011.
QAS provides emergency response services, pre-hospital patient care, specialised transport services, coordination of aero-medical services and inter-hospital transfers to all of Queensland, accounting around 4.7 million people spread over .
[Queensland Ambulance Service performance report 2009](_blank)
. Department of Emergency Services. Retrieved on 9 November 2011.
Over 4500
FTE staff are employed by QAS, around 87% of whom are
front-line staff. QAS operates out of 290 response locations across the state, and handled over 946,000 cases and 737,803 triple zero calls in 2015/16.
History
Ambulance services in Queensland first began in 1892. Military medic Seymour Warrian held the first meeting of the City Ambulance Transport Brigade on 12 September of that year. Queensland's first
ambulance station operated out of the
Brisbane Newspaper Company
''The Courier-Mail'' is an Australian newspaper published in Brisbane. Owned by News Corp Australia, it is published daily from Monday to Saturday in Tabloid (newspaper format), tabloid format. Its editorial offices are located at Bowen Hills, Q ...
building; the first officers possessed a stretcher, but no vehicle, and so transported patients on foot.
[Queensland Ambulance Service History and Heritage](_blank)
. Department of Community Safety. Retrieved on 9 November 2011. A year after the establishment of the Brisbane centre, another was established in
Charters Towers
Charters Towers is a rural town in the Charters Towers Region, Queensland, Australia. It is by road south-west from Townsville on the Flinders Highway. During the last quarter of the 19th century, the town boomed as the rich gold deposits und ...
in north Queensland, eventually growing to over 90 community controlled ambulance centres.
The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) as currently known was formed on 1 July 1991 from the amalgamation of 96 individual Queensland ambulance service transport brigades (QATB). While QAS originally operated under the banner of the Department of Emergency Services, in 2009 the Queensland Government restructured the organisational hierarchy and appointed new ministers. It became part of the Department of Community Safety, along with the
Queensland Fire and Rescue Service
The Queensland Fire Department (QFD) is the primary provider of fire services in Queensland, Australia. The QFD was established on the 1st of July, 2024, and has committed to a refocus on firefighting operations after the organisational chang ...
,
Emergency Management Queensland and Department of Corrective Services.
As a result of the Keelty Review of Police and Community Safety in Queensland, the QAS transitioned into the Queensland Department of Health as of 1 October 2013, retaining its separate identity, rank structure and commissioner.
Structure and operations
Support
The QAS was initially divided into six operational regions across Queensland, until the Northern Region was split to form 'Far Northern Region'. This model reflected a similar structure in the then Queensland Fire and Rescue Authority. In 2012, the QAS Structural Reform Report, a comprehensive review of QAS operations, lead to a restructure of operations, and a decentralisation of control to local networks. Instead of large regions, the service would be divided into fifteen geographical local ambulance service networks (LASNs) aligning with Queensland health and hospital service networks. A sixteenth network was established as state operations centres, with the existing seven communications centres to become operations centres, reporting directly to a central assistant commissioner. The LASNs vary in size according to population and stations, and are categorised from Category 1 (largest) to Category 5 (smallest). The categorisation simply reflects their size and gives a foundation for staffing allocation and command structure.
Local ambulance service networks
Category 1 (General Manager – Assistant Commissioner)
* Metro North
* Metro South
Category 2 (General Manager – Assistant Commissioner)
* Cairns
* Darling Downs
* Gold Coast
* Sunshine Coast
* Townsville
Category 3 (Director – Chief Superintendent)
* Central Queensland
Category 4 (Director – Chief Superintendent)
* Mackay
* West Moreton
* Wide Bay
Category 5 (Executive Manager – Superintendent)
* Cape York and Torres Strait
* Central West
* North West
* South West
State Operations – Assistant Commissioner
* Seven Operations Centres (Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton, Maroochydore, Toowoomba, Brisbane, Southport)
Headquarters
There are five key central office commands that divisions report to:
* Office of the Commissioner
* Office of the Deputy Commissioner State LASN Operations
* Office of the Deputy Commissioner Service Planning and Performance
* Office of the Deputy Commissioner Corporate Services
* Office of the Medical Director
These commands, plus some additional senior staff, form the Central Office Senior Executive (COSE), which in turn report to the QAS Board of Management (BoM).
Clinical operations
Following a redesign in 2014, the overall clinical governance of the service is ensured by the director of clinical quality and patient safety, currently filled by Chief Superintendent Tony Hucker ASM. The office ensures that patient care services provided by officers of the Queensland Ambulance Service are delivered at a consistently high standard, and that current clinical research is included within contemporary practice. The office also responsible for QAS Policy on Staff Health and Wellbeing and setting medical priorities for ambulance resource dispatch. There are a small number of medical officers, with the team led by Medical Director Dr Stephen Rashford ASM FACEM, who also holds the rank of deputy commissioner.
Ambulance operations of the Queensland Ambulance Service are performed predominantly by its own operational staff. QAS operational staff include student paramedics, advanced care paramedics (ACPs), critical care paramedics (formerly known as intensive care paramedics), patient transport officers (PTOs) and emergency medical dispatchers (EMDs).
In some of Queensland's rural areas, QAS first responders provide emergency care until the arrival of paramedics, while in remote areas first responders may also work as volunteer drivers or operate ground transport vehicles (such as the Torres Strait). In some areas, non-QAS staff operate the QAS ambulances as unpaid volunteers, or as QHealth nurses as part of a hospital-based ambulance station, for example in Morven and Thargomindah.
Advanced care paramedics possess either a Diploma of Paramedical Science (Ambulance), a Bachelor of Paramedical Science, or equivalent qualifications.
[Paramedic 3](_blank)
. Department of Community Safety. Retrieved on 9 November 2011. In addition to this, critical care paramedics possess a graduate diploma in intensive care paramedic practice, or very commonly a master's degree in emergency health.
[Paramedic 4 (Intensive Care)](_blank)
. Department of Community Safety. Retrieved on 9 November 2011. ACPs and CCPs attend medical, surgical and trauma emergencies. Patient transport officers possess a Certificate III in non-emergency patient transport or equivalent, and provide non-emergency patient transport services. Emergency medical dispatchers have completed a Certificate III in ambulance communications (call taking) and a Certificate IV in ambulance communications (dispatch) or equivalent. EMDs receive emergency calls and direct ambulance services to the emergency, and advise callers in performing first aid until the ambulance arrives on scene.
ACPs are competent in many emergency medical skills, including airway management (
oropharyngeal
The pharynx (: pharynges) is the part of the throat behind the mouth and nasal cavity, and above the esophagus and trachea (the tubes going down to the stomach and the lungs respectively). It is found in vertebrates and invertebrates, though its ...
and
nasopharyngeal airway
In medicine, a nasopharyngeal airway (NPA), nasal trumpet (because of its flared end), or nose hose, is a type of ''airway adjunct'', a tube that is designed to be inserted through the nasal passage down into the posterior pharynx to secure an ...
, oropharyngeal suctioning,
laryngoscopy
Laryngoscopy () is endoscopy of the larynx, a part of the throat. It is a medical procedure that is used to obtain a view, for example, of the vocal folds and the glottis. Laryngoscopy may be performed to facilitate tracheal intubation during ge ...
and Magill's forceps,
laryngeal mask airway
A laryngeal mask airway (LMA), also known as laryngeal mask, is a medical device that keeps a patient's airway open during anaesthesia or while they are unconscious. It is a type of supraglottic airway device. They are most commonly used by a ...
,
intermittent positive pressure ventilation
Intermittency is a behavior of dynamical systems: regular alternation of phases of apparently periodic and chaotic dynamics.
Intermittent or intermittency may also refer to:
*Intermittent river or stream, the one that ceases to flow every year or ...
), cardiac management (cardiac monitoring – basic
ECG
Electrocardiography is the process of producing an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), a recording of the heart's electrical activity through repeated cardiac cycles.
It is an electrogram of the heart which is a graph of voltage versus time of ...
interpretation and 12-lead ECG,
manual defibrillation
Manual may refer to:
Instructions
* User guide
* Owner's manual
* Instruction manual (gaming)
* Online help
*Procedures manual
*Handbook
Other uses
* Manual (music), a keyboard, as for an organ
* Manual (band)
* Manual transmission
* Manual, a ...
), drug/fluid administration (
intramuscular injection
Intramuscular injection, often abbreviated IM, is the medical injection, injection of a substance into a muscle. In medicine, it is one of several methods for parenteral, parenteral administration of medications. Intramuscular injection may be ...
,
intravenous cannulation,
fluid replacement
Fluid replacement or fluid resuscitation is the medical practice of replenishing bodily fluid lost through sweating, bleeding, fluid shifts or other pathologic processes. Fluids can be replaced with oral rehydration therapy (drinking), intravenous ...
), and the administration of basic and advanced drugs (
aspirin
Aspirin () is the genericized trademark for acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to reduce pain, fever, and inflammation, and as an antithrombotic. Specific inflammatory conditions that aspirin is ...
,
glucose
Glucose is a sugar with the Chemical formula#Molecular formula, molecular formula , which is often abbreviated as Glc. It is overall the most abundant monosaccharide, a subcategory of carbohydrates. It is mainly made by plants and most algae d ...
,
glyceryl trinitrate
Nitroglycerin (NG) (alternative spelling nitroglycerine), also known as trinitroglycerol (TNG), nitro, glyceryl trinitrate (GTN), or 1,2,3-trinitroxypropane, is a dense, colorless or pale yellow, oily, explosive liquid most commonly produced by ...
,
adrenaline
Adrenaline, also known as epinephrine, is a hormone and medication which is involved in regulating visceral functions (e.g., respiration). It appears as a white microcrystalline granule. Adrenaline is normally produced by the adrenal glands a ...
,
morphine
Morphine, formerly also called morphia, is an opiate that is found naturally in opium, a dark brown resin produced by drying the latex of opium poppies (''Papaver somniferum''). It is mainly used as an analgesic (pain medication). There are ...
,
fentanyl
Fentanyl is a highly potent synthetic piperidine opioid primarily used as an analgesic (pain medication). It is 30 to 50 times more Potency (pharmacology), potent than heroin and 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. Its primary Medici ...
, etc.).
Critical care paramedics typically respond when an advanced level of clinical practice is required. In some areas, they will respond as a single officer in units known as 'pods'(priority only dispatch). CCP pods operate around the state, focused on metropolitan, major regional centers, or where a rescue helicopter is located. These ambulances are not equipped to transport patients, but contain much of the same equipment as a regular ambulance, as well as advanced equipment. CCPs are competent in all ACP procedures, as well as advanced emergency medical skills, such as
endotracheal intubation
Tracheal intubation, usually simply referred to as intubation, is the placement of a flexible plastic tube into the trachea (windpipe) to maintain an open airway or to serve as a conduit through which to administer certain drugs. It is frequently ...
,
synchronised cardioversion,
transcutaneous cardiac pacing, continuous positive airway pressure ventilation
CPAP, decompression of
tension pneumothorax
A pneumothorax is collection of air in the pleural space between the lung and the chest wall. Symptoms typically include sudden onset of sharp, one-sided chest pain and shortness of breath. In a minority of cases, a one-way valve is formed b ...
, extra-jugular venous cannulation, procedural sedation (
midazolam
Midazolam, sold under the brand name Versed among others, is a benzodiazepine medication used for anesthesia, premedication before surgical anesthesia, and procedural sedation, and to treat psychomotor agitation, severe agitation. It induces ...
,
ketamine
Ketamine is a cyclohexanone-derived general anesthetic and NMDA receptor antagonist with analgesic and hallucinogenic properties, used medically for anesthesia, depression, and pain management. Ketamine exists as its S- (esketamine) a ...
, and
droperidol
Droperidol (Inapsine, Droleptan, Dridol, Xomolix, Innovar fentanyl.html" ;"title="ombination with fentanyl">ombination with fentanyl is an antidopaminergic medication, drug used as an antiemetic (that is, to prevent or treat nausea) and as an ...
.), pre-hospital thrombolysis (
tenecteplase), pre-hospital direct referral to primary
PCI
PCI may refer to:
Business and economics
* Payment card industry, businesses associated with debit, credit, and other payment cards
** Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, a set of security requirements for credit card processors
* Prov ...
,
intraosseous access, as well as the administration of advanced drugs (
atropine
Atropine is a tropane alkaloid and anticholinergic medication used to treat certain types of nerve agent and pesticide poisonings as well as some types of slow heart rate, and to decrease saliva production during surgery. It is typically give ...
,
heparin
Heparin, also known as unfractionated heparin (UFH), is a medication and naturally occurring glycosaminoglycan. Heparin is a blood anticoagulant that increases the activity of antithrombin. It is used in the treatment of myocardial infarction, ...
,
ketamine
Ketamine is a cyclohexanone-derived general anesthetic and NMDA receptor antagonist with analgesic and hallucinogenic properties, used medically for anesthesia, depression, and pain management. Ketamine exists as its S- (esketamine) a ...
,
benztropine
Benzatropine ( INN), known as benztropine in the United States and Japan, is a medication used to treat movement disorders like parkinsonism and dystonia, as well as extrapyramidal side effects of antipsychotics, including akathisia. It is ...
,
magnesium
Magnesium is a chemical element; it has Symbol (chemistry), symbol Mg and atomic number 12. It is a shiny gray metal having a low density, low melting point and high chemical reactivity. Like the other alkaline earth metals (group 2 ...
, etc.). In addition to standard CCP skills, officers on the High Acute Response Unit (HARU) perform general anaesthesia via
Rapid Sequence Induction, with the additional use of
rocuronium
Rocuronium bromide (brand names Zemuron, Esmeron) is an aminosteroid non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocker or muscle relaxant used in modern anaesthesia to facilitate tracheal intubation by providing skeletal muscle relaxation for surgery o ...
and
propofol
Propofol is the active component of an intravenous anesthetic formulation used for induction and maintenance of general anesthesia. It is chemically termed 2,6-diisopropylphenol. The formulation was approved under the brand name Diprivan. Nu ...
, transfuse packed red blood cells, perform chest thoracostomy, and carry some additional pharmacology specific to major trauma such as
TXA. As of 2018, there are HARU units located at Brisbane and the Gold Coast
Vehicles

The most common metropolitan ambulance are the Mercedes Benz Sprinters. In rural areas, due to the need for extra traction or rough roads, 4x4 vehicles are common,
based upon a Toyota Landcruiser Cab Chassis (1+1 modular 4x4s) or Toyota Landcruiser Troopcarrier. QAS has also trialed a
Mercedes-Benz G-Class
The Mercedes-Benz G-Class, colloquially known as the G-Wagon or G-Wagen (as an abbreviation of Geländewagen), is a four-wheel drive luxury SUV manufactured by Magna Steyr (formerly Steyr-Daimler-Puch) in Graz, Styria, Austria, and sold by Mercede ...
as a 4x4 ambulance. All 4x4s carry one stretcher patient in addition to the normal equipment found on a typical Mercedes Sprinter. These vehicles (Mercedes Sprinters) are used by both advanced care paramedics (ACPs) and patient transport officers. The acute vehicles carry one stretcher and the patient transport vehicles Mercedes Sprinters carry two. Toyota Hiace PTO vehicles with twin stretchers are also in use around the State, along with a variety of other transport vehicles including wheel-chair vehicles. Additionally, two stretcher Mercedes 519 acute ambulances operate around the state by ACP and CCPs, particularly in regional and rural areas.
Critical care paramedics (formerly known as ICPs) and station OIC's now often drive Isuzu MUX's (formerly using Hyundai Santa Fe's and Subaru Foresters). These vehicles cannot carry patients, however they carry much of the same equipment as the Sprinters, as well as specialised equipment, with their sole purpose serving as fast response vehicles. Local Area Referral Unit or Low Acuity Response Unit (LARU) vehicles, generally
Volkswagen Transporters or
Hyundai iLoads, carry medical equipment for minor injuries such as broken arms, strains and sprains. They are unable to transport patients, and are not fitted with lights or sirens.

A station's officer in charge (OIC) or area supervisors often use dual-cab Utes, serving a similar purpose to other fast response vehicles.
Previously, the QAS used Ford F-series truck (Ford F-250 and F-350) until Ford stopped importing these in 2008. The last Ford ambulance in use by the QAS was decommissioned in 2021.
Fixed Wing Retrieval Operations
Fixed wing aeromedical retrieval in Queensland is provided by the
Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland Section) and
RACQ Lifeflight (formerly Careflight). This is
done in conjunction with Queensland Ambulance and Queensland Health.
Rotary Wing Retrieval Operations
Helicopter retrieval incorporates both pre-hospital rescue and interhospital transfer services across Queensland and has done so since 1979.
Queensland Health
Queensland Health is the public health system in Queensland, Australia, comprising sixteen statutory Hospital and Health Services (HHS), the Department of Health and Queensland Ambulance Service. Each HHS provides health services to its local ...
contracts six medical rescue providers to provide emergency air rescue and air transfer services. Each contractor is designated a region of Queensland and has the option of providing more than one helicopter to their region.
Each helicopter is typically staffed with:
* 1 × pilot
* 1 × aircrewman
* 1 × rescue crewman (rescue swimmer)
* 1 × QAS critical care paramedic
* 1 × Queensland Health Department-contracted doctor
(Crew mix can vary from base to base and between differing tasks such as SAR, neonatal transfer, doctor/nurse model on IFT helicopter, etc.). Helicopters staffed with both a QAS Critical Care Paramedic AND Flight Doctor also have the option to respond to incidents via road in the CCP's response vehicle if necessary.
Helicopters operate from Brisbane, Townsville and Cairns (Rescue 500, 521, 510 (3
AW139's and 2
Bell 412
The Bell 412 is a utility helicopter of the Huey family manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It is a development of the Bell 212, with the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor. It is a twin-turbine helicopter that has been ...
's which are provided by Air Services Public Safety Business Agency (Queensland Government Air Rescue QGAir while a contracted government rescue helicopter operates from Thursday Island (Rescue 700) called Torres Strait & NPA Rescue (Bell 412). The remainder of the helicopter rescue services are divided into Community Rescue Services (a contract between the community and PSBA), and independent/commercial models that provide part (Roma) community hours in addition to their commercial obligations, or complete community hours (Mt ISA).
RACQ is a major sponsor of helicopter rescue in Queensland, continuing as the major naming sponsor of RACQ CQ Rescue out of Mackay (Rescue 422 and Rescue 412, 2
Bell 412
The Bell 412 is a utility helicopter of the Huey family manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It is a development of the Bell 212, with the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor. It is a twin-turbine helicopter that has been ...
's) and RACQ Capricorn Helicopter Rescue out of Rockhampton (Rescue 300
Bell 412
The Bell 412 is a utility helicopter of the Huey family manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It is a development of the Bell 212, with the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor. It is a twin-turbine helicopter that has been ...
).
LifeFlight Australia
LifeFlight Australia is an aeromedical organisation headquartered in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Until July 2016, it was known as CareFlight, but was renamed to avoid confusion with the CareFlight organisation headquartered in New South Wa ...
operates community helicopter rescue services at:
* Brisbane (1
AW139)
* Bundaberg (1
Bell 412
The Bell 412 is a utility helicopter of the Huey family manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It is a development of the Bell 212, with the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor. It is a twin-turbine helicopter that has been ...
)
* Sunshine Coast (1
Bell 412
The Bell 412 is a utility helicopter of the Huey family manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It is a development of the Bell 212, with the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor. It is a twin-turbine helicopter that has been ...
)
* Toowoomba (1
Bell 412
The Bell 412 is a utility helicopter of the Huey family manufactured by Bell Helicopter. It is a development of the Bell 212, with the major difference being the composite four-blade main rotor. It is a twin-turbine helicopter that has been ...
& 1
AW139)
* Mount Isa (1
BK-117)
LifeFlight Australia
LifeFlight Australia is an aeromedical organisation headquartered in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Until July 2016, it was known as CareFlight, but was renamed to avoid confusion with the CareFlight organisation headquartered in New South Wa ...
also operates commercial contract helicopters at Surat Gas Aero-Medical Service out of Roma and Toowoomba, which can be tasked to provide community assistance if available. LifeFlight also has an inter-facility (hospital transfer)
AW139 based at
Archerfield that is primarily for the transfer of critically ill patients between hospitals in Southern Queensland and Northern New South Wales.
Additionally LifeFlight provide doctors for all rescue helicopters, and most
Royal Flying Doctor Service
The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), commonly known as the Flying Doctor, is an aeromedical retrieval service in Australia and the largest of its kind in the world. It is a non-profit organisation that provides urgent and emergency medica ...
planes (except Mount Isa).
Funding
From 2003, the service was funded by the Community Ambulance Cover scheme, a levy added to all customers of
electricity retailer
Electricity retailing is the final sale of electricity from electricity generation, generation to the end-use consumer. This is the fourth major step in the electricity delivery process, which also includes electricity generation, generation, elec ...
s in Queensland.
In 2009, the amount payable was a flat fee just above $100 annually. This amount and collection method is designed to provide a reliable flow of income to the service.
The Community Ambulance Cover scheme
. Queensland Treasury. Retrieved on 9 November 2011.
On 1 July 2011, the levy was abolished, with funding now directly provided by the Queensland Government.
Ranks
Within the Queensland Ambulance Service, operational ranks refer more to the scope of practice that they are legally able to perform, rather than a chain of command hierarchy. With the exception of the medical officer role, any rank higher than Critical Care Paramedic no longer has additional skills, and therefore does follow a chain of command hierarchy.
Medical officers have the ability to give legal permission for paramedics to perform medical procedures that are not performed normally under Queensland Ambulance Service practice guidelines.
The ranks feature from lowest to highest.
Support
* Patient transport officer – One silver bar over 'PTO'
* Emergency medical dispatcher – One silver lightning bolt with the words Ambulance Communications
* Senior emergency medical dispatcher – One silver lightning bolt with the words Senior Ambulance Communications
Paramedic
* Paramedic – Silver Caduceus
The caduceus (☤; ; , ) is the staff carried by Hermes in Greek mythology and consequently by Hermes Trismegistus in Greco-Egyptian mythology. The same staff was borne by other heralds like Iris (mythology), Iris, the messenger of Hera. The s ...
. In rare usage in rural areas.
* Graduate advanced care paramedic – Red Caduceus
The caduceus (☤; ; , ) is the staff carried by Hermes in Greek mythology and consequently by Hermes Trismegistus in Greco-Egyptian mythology. The same staff was borne by other heralds like Iris (mythology), Iris, the messenger of Hera. The s ...
.
* Advanced care paramedic level one – Red Caduceus
The caduceus (☤; ; , ) is the staff carried by Hermes in Greek mythology and consequently by Hermes Trismegistus in Greco-Egyptian mythology. The same staff was borne by other heralds like Iris (mythology), Iris, the messenger of Hera. The s ...
over one red bar.
* Advanced care paramedic level two – Red Caduceus
The caduceus (☤; ; , ) is the staff carried by Hermes in Greek mythology and consequently by Hermes Trismegistus in Greco-Egyptian mythology. The same staff was borne by other heralds like Iris (mythology), Iris, the messenger of Hera. The s ...
over two red bars.
* Senior advanced care paramedic – Red Caduceus
The caduceus (☤; ; , ) is the staff carried by Hermes in Greek mythology and consequently by Hermes Trismegistus in Greco-Egyptian mythology. The same staff was borne by other heralds like Iris (mythology), Iris, the messenger of Hera. The s ...
over the words 'Senior Paramedic'
* Critical care paramedic – One gold Caduceus
The caduceus (☤; ; , ) is the staff carried by Hermes in Greek mythology and consequently by Hermes Trismegistus in Greco-Egyptian mythology. The same staff was borne by other heralds like Iris (mythology), Iris, the messenger of Hera. The s ...
(formerly intensive care paramedic)
* Senior critical care paramedic – One gold Caduceus
The caduceus (☤; ; , ) is the staff carried by Hermes in Greek mythology and consequently by Hermes Trismegistus in Greco-Egyptian mythology. The same staff was borne by other heralds like Iris (mythology), Iris, the messenger of Hera. The s ...
with the words 'Senior Paramedic' (formerly intensive care paramedic)
* Medical Officer – One gold Caduceus
The caduceus (☤; ; , ) is the staff carried by Hermes in Greek mythology and consequently by Hermes Trismegistus in Greco-Egyptian mythology. The same staff was borne by other heralds like Iris (mythology), Iris, the messenger of Hera. The s ...
with the words 'Medical Officer' (specially appointed emergency
An emergency is an urgent, unexpected, and usually dangerous situation that poses an immediate risk to health, life, property, or environment and requires immediate action. Most emergencies require urgent intervention to prevent a worsening ...
& retrieval doctors who work in the High Acuity Response Unit)
Classified officers
* Supervisors – Two pips; they act as: officer-in-charge, clinical educator, clinical support officer, and operations centre supervisor.
* Team leader – Inspector – Three pips; they act as: senior operations supervisor, clinical deployment supervisor, senior educator and some specialist roles.
* Chief Inspector – A single crown; they act as; clinical managers; workforce planning managers.
* Superintendent – One pip under a single crown; they act as: executive managers
* Chief superintendent – Two pips under a single crown; they act as: directors and directors- operations
* Assistant Commissioner – Caduceus
The caduceus (☤; ; , ) is the staff carried by Hermes in Greek mythology and consequently by Hermes Trismegistus in Greco-Egyptian mythology. The same staff was borne by other heralds like Iris (mythology), Iris, the messenger of Hera. The s ...
surrounded by a gold wreath with a red background; they act as: regional executives, general managers and key executive positions.
* Deputy Commissioner – Caduceus
The caduceus (☤; ; , ) is the staff carried by Hermes in Greek mythology and consequently by Hermes Trismegistus in Greco-Egyptian mythology. The same staff was borne by other heralds like Iris (mythology), Iris, the messenger of Hera. The s ...
surrounded by a gold wreath with a red background under a single gold pip. They act as: executive directors, and the rank of the medical director.
* Commissioner – Caduceus
The caduceus (☤; ; , ) is the staff carried by Hermes in Greek mythology and consequently by Hermes Trismegistus in Greco-Egyptian mythology. The same staff was borne by other heralds like Iris (mythology), Iris, the messenger of Hera. The s ...
surrounded by a gold wreath with a red background under a single gold crown
Notable people
* Don Featherstone, ambulance officer, Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade, Toowoomba
See also
* New South Wales Ambulance
* Health in Australia
Australia is a high income country, and this is reflected in the good status of health of the population overall. In 2011, Australia ranked 2nd on the United Nations Development Programme's Human Development Index, indicating the level of developm ...
* Paramedics in Australia
References
External links
Official website
Official Facebook Page
Queensland Ambulance Service Oral History
State Library of Queensland
State Library of Queensland (State Library) is the state public reference and research library of Queensland, Australia, operated by the Government of Queensland, state government. The Library is governed by the Library Board of Queensland, whi ...
{{Authority control
Ambulance services in Australia
Emergency services in Queensland
Ambulance
An ambulance is a medically-equipped vehicle used to transport patients to treatment facilities, such as hospitals. Typically, out-of-hospital medical care is provided to the patient during the transport. Ambulances are used to respond to ...
1991 establishments in Australia