QAS INSIGHT | Summer 2017-18 edition

Commissioner’s message

Commissioner

The QAS is one step closer to national registration with the passing of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law and Other Legislation Amendment Bill in September. I would also like to congratulate Mr Stephen Gough, Assistant Commissioner, Capability and Development who was appointed as the practitioner member from Queensland and National Board Chair on the inaugural Paramedicine Board of Australia in October. Meanwhile, it was with great delight that the QAS was announced a White Ribbon accredited workplace on November 23. We take a zero tolerance approach to acts of violence and the accreditation will help up spread awareness of the impacts of family and domestic violence and bring an end to these acts.

Christmas is a time to be with family and friends, however many of our staff will be working over the festive season to ensure we continue to deliver the best possible care for patients who require our services. I would just like to say a special thank you to staff who will be away from their loved ones during the festive season. The sacrifices you make to keep the community safe do not go unnoticed and I commend you on your dedication. I would also like to extend a warm-hearted thank you to your family members for their support and understanding that we need staff to serve the community during this time. Looking back on 2017, it has been an extremely busy year for the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) with many milestone achievements and celebrations, including the 125th anniversary of ambulance services in Queensland. The 125th anniversary was placed in the spotlight at station open days across the state and also at a large visual display at the Ekka which was visited by thousands of people. The effort that went into highlighting our proud history of ambulance services in Queensland at these events is testament to the enthusiasm and loyalty of the staff we have here at QAS. I would also like to point out the achievements of our dedicated volunteers who contributed greatly to the success of the ambulance station open days and the Ekka display. This year approximately 400 staff attended four face-to-face employee summits. The summits were held to address issues affecting employees, with the aim of shaping and designing the future of our workforce. We have taken all of your comments on board and will continue to work through the issues raised at the summits in the coming months. There are more staff consultations scheduled for 2018 and I would encourage anyone interested in taking part to register an expression of interest when timings are announced. The Commissioner’s Achievement Awards and Remembrance Service in September was another highlight this year and gave me the opportunity to personally congratulate officers who received awards for their outstanding work.

Left ■ On November 23, the QAS received its report from White Ribbon Australia advising our successful completion of the program. As such, the QAS is now proudly a White Ribbon accredited workplace. The Commissioner received the QAS White Ribbon Accreditation Certificate from Mr Michael Kaufman, one of the co-founders of the White Ribbon Campaign.

1

Along with the milestone achievements in 2017, there were also many challenges facing us this year, including the record demand for our services in August with 76,000 Triple Zero (000) calls received as a result of the winter flu season. Despite the unprecedented demand, I am happy to say that we were able to respond to our most critical patients within our patient timeframes. Lastly, I would like to thank all of you for your exceptional hard work and ongoing commitment to patient care over the year. The professionalism and first class treatment you have displayed is outstanding and I commend you on your continued commitment as we advance through the exciting and challenging evolution of our profession. Please stay safe and enjoy the festive season.

In addition, the recent ballot for the QAS Enterprise Bargaining Agreement saw

unpreceded participation from employees and an overwhelming ‘Yes’ vote. We have also made huge advances in regards to national registration for paramedics this year.

Russell Bowles QAS Commissioner

Summer 2017–18