QAS Insight Magazine - Summer 2017-18 edition

Summer 2017–18

NEW BRT turns heads at official launch

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Inside this edition Seattle ride along

Gladstone Station profile

Nepal achievement

Droperidol study

Summer 2017–18

Inside

BRIEFS

SCHOOLIES 2017

ON YA BIKE!

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4

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Paramedic registration: Countdown to implementation in late 2018

Recruitment and appointments ■ First appointments to inaugural National Board advertised (April 2017) ■ Health Ministers made appointments (October 2017) Timeline to date September 2015

Be engaged

Australian Health Ministers endorse National Registration April 2016

SEATTLE REPORT

Ministers support amendment to the National Law April 2017

■ The Board will develop and consult on registration standards, codes and guidelines

BOARD APPOINTED

HERVEY BAY FAREWELL

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■ When consultations are open for input, they will be shown on the Board website

Call for applications for inaugural Paramedicine Board of Australia

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Approval and decisions

■ National Board will submit recommended registration standards to Ministers for approval

May 2017 Applications closed

■ Accreditation arrangements will be decided by the Board

June 2017

■ List of approved programs will be decided by the Board

Consideration by the Queensland Parliament of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2017

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Registration open ► ► Log in to your AHPRA account and apply for registration and provide all requested documents (mid-2018)

July 2017 QAS Commissioner advised Queensland Parliamentary Committee on registration September 2017

Assess and decide

Bill passed by Queensland Parliament; legislation received Royal Assent

■ AHPRA will assess your application ■ The Board will decide if you meet the requirements for registration

October 2017

■ Paramedics will be advised of registration outcome

Members appointed to Paramedicine Board of Australia

Paramedics regulated under NRAS

2017 Apr

GLADSTONE PROFILE

May

Jun

Go-live in late 2018

2018 Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

NEWEST RECRUITS

SATURATED BABINDA

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42 FOR 42 CHALLENGE

QUIET ACHIEVER

KJM 2017 AWARDS

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QAS INSIGHT is published quarterly by the QAS Media Unit. GPO Box 1425, Brisbane QLD 4001.

Bill passed by Queensland Parliament

Paramedicine Board of Australia members appointed Legislation received Royal Assent

Summer 2017–18

Summer 2017-18 edition contributors: Jo Hales (editor), Matt Tesch (designer), Michael Augustus and Andrew Kos. Editorial and photograhic contributions are welcome and can be submitted to: Joanne.Hales@ambulance.qld.gov.au

Summer 2017–18

Front cover: Formation riding by the first BRT team on the Gold Coast.

Back cover: The Real Santa made a surprise visit to QAS staff in Brisbane.

Commissioner’s message

Commissioner 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 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.

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 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.

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.

The Commissioner received the QAS White Ribbon Accreditation Certificate from Mr Michael Kaufman, one of the co-founders of the White Ribbon Campaign.

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.

Russell Bowles QAS Commissioner

Summer 2017–18

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Briefs QAS Certified Agreement 2017 In 2017, through the Remuneration Inquiry and the enterprise bargaining negotiations, there has been a lot of reflection and discussion about where the Service has been to where it is now.

It has been over 12 years since the last opportunity for officers to vote on an Agreement and the recent ballot saw an unprecedented participation rate of over 84% of eligible voters with an overwhelming ‘Yes’ vote of 98.4%.

An aspect of the Agreement which will have a significant impact for officers and the Service is the new classification structure and associated wages.

The wage rates will bring QAS officers back into alignment with their peers from around the country and the classification structure recognises experience, recognises differences in responsibility and complexity and provides greater flexibility to meet the challenges of service delivery and demand into the future.

Executive Director, Corporate Services Michael Metcalfe asm recognised the positive outcome and what it delivers for the Service and officers. “This is a fantastic result for our employees and for the QAS. We now have a contemporary classification structure that will support our move to professional registration in 2018,’’ he said.

"It will also allow the QAS to develop service delivery solutions that help us meet demand pressures into the coming decade.

“I applaud the approach of our employee representatives during the negotiation and information stages of the enterprise bargaining process, and the interest and engagement of the broader employee group throughout the past 18 months.”

White Ribbon Accreditation

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Over the past 12 months the QAS has been undertaking the White Ribbon Accreditation Program which accredits workplaces that are taking active steps to prevent and respond to domestic and family violence, with a particular emphasis on violence against women.

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 results of our White Ribbon follow-up survey highlighted that staff within the QAS are now better able to recognise and identify different forms of domestic and family violence and feel better equipped to respond to staff members who may be affected.

Summer 2017–18

We also saw considerable increases in people’s confidence in calling out inappropriate behaviour such as sexist language and jokes in the QAS. Our work in addressing domestic and family violence does not stop now that we are an accredited organisation.

We have outlined our three-year plan to White Ribbon Australia for continuing our efforts in addressing domestic and family violence. Our White Ribbon Operational Plan has been designed to ensure that we continue to build on the positive work we have undertaken and commits us to these actions over the next three years.

This will ensure that we continue to take these positive steps towards the creation of a future free from Domestic and Family Violence.

Briefs

Award-winnng QAS Research A paper presented by CCP Lachlan Parker and co-authored by Dr Colin Page, Dr Steve Rashford, Dr Emma Bosley, Dr Kath Isorardi, Dr Fran Williamson and Dr Geoff Isbister has been awarded the Paramedics Australasia International Conference Best Paper Prize in Melbourne.

The paper titled ‘A prospective before and after study of droperidol for pre-hospital Acute Behavioural Disturbance’ was a prospective observational study conducted in south-east Queensland as part of a quality assurance monitoring process to compare the safety and effectiveness of midazolam and droperidol for the management of acute behavioural disturbance (ABD).

The study demonstrated that patients 16 years of age or older presenting with ABD and having a Sedation Assessment Tool score ≥+2, who were treated with droperidol (compared to midazolam) had a statistically significant:  Reduction in adverse event rate  Reduction in time to sedation  Reduction in prehospital and hospital

additional sedation requirements  Increased rate of successful sedation “The paper presents compelling evidence that validates the introduction of droperidol for the management of ABD by QAS paramedics,’’ said Lachlan Parker.

The full results will be released in the next edition of QAS INSIGHT.

3 QAS tops charity soccer match An emergency services charity soccer match that kicked off on the Sunshine Coast in November raised more than $4,000 to help a QAS paramedic’s son who is battling leukaemia.

QAS and QPS took to the field at Sunshine Coast Stadium to raise funds for six-year-old Albie Batty, who requires ongoing treatment. Albie is the son of Amie Kirkwood, a paramedic with more than 20 years’ service to the Sunshine Coast community. The funds will be used to help continue Albie’s life-saving treatment at Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital.

The charity match was part of an Emergency Services Open Day hosted by QAS and QPS and supported by Sunshine Coast Council, QFES, SES and Surf Life Saving Queensland. The event included a sausage sizzle, meet and greet with the local Sunshine Coast Emergency Services, an emergency service vehicle display, CPR awareness and other interactive displays.

And while the real goal of the day was to raise funds for Albie, it was also rewarding that the final score of the match was 6-5 in favour of QAS thanks to a charity-driven penalty shoot-out.

Summer 2017–18

Schoolies Week 2017 On November 18, 22,000 school leavers from around Queensland descended on Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast for Schoolies Week celebrations, with overall incident numbers showing an improvement on last year’s event.

Senior Operations Supervisor and Ambulance Commander for Schoolies 2017 Justin Payne said the schoolies were generally polite and accommodating to all requests from emergency services personnel.

“Although alcohol intoxication was a frequent presentation during the week, it was also pleasing to see the Schoolies looking out for each other,” he said. “Unfortunately, it seemed that illicit drug use was more prevalent than in previous years.”

Assistant Commissioner John Hammond agreed that Schoolies were generally well behaved this year. He said the majority of drug and alcohol intoxication incidents involving school leavers occurred in the Schoolies ‘hub’ – on the Esplanade and surrounds.

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■ Great response to the CPR tutorial on Day 1 of Schoolies.

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■ The QAS Schoolies team pauses for a group photo before revelries begin in earnest: congratulations everyone, for a great week!

“The numbers were down slightly from last year but seemed to follow similar patterns in terms of busy and quiet nights,’’ the AC said.

“The Bicycle Response Team (BRT) operated throughout the event this year for the first time and was received extremely well by both the schoolies and other agencies.”

Summer 2017–18

The majority of presentations to the Ambulance Treatment Centre (ATC) were to monitor the school-leavers for alcohol intoxication, as well as for minor trauma and soft tissue injuries.

The Queensland Health Mental Health tent was again a valuable asset to have within the ATC this year, as it is important that schoolies have ready access to this type of support.

Patient Assessent Count 2015

2016

2017

Day 1 Saturday

48

41

58

Day 2 Sunday

68

93

84

Day 3 Monday

83

98

78

Day 4 Tuesday

83

55

38

Day 5 Wednesday

96

81

90

Day 6 Thursday

70

78

108

Day 7 Friday

66

104

80

Daily average

73

79

77

TOTALS

514

550

536

Schoolies Week 2017

A look at Schoolies through the eyes of a ‘first-timer’ – by ACP2 Jack Fleming from Runaway Bay Station.

"When you think of Schoolies, you think of wild teenagers, underage drinking, loud music, fights, drama and a whole bunch of vomiting. The reality was a very well-managed affair, with only a few people getting a touch too rowdy and winding up in our care or in the custody of QPS. "The tent this year was smoothly run by QAS and Queensland Health hospital staff, with the Red Frogs walking plenty of sick schoolies back to their accommodation. QPS had a massive presence on the streets and SES members were part of our own roving CRASH crews. The coverage provided was exceptional, with many schoolies being looked after in the streets.

"My biggest surprise was the comparable lack of work for our transport crews on the first night. However, we did have work walk to us when a girl, while texting on her phone, faceplanted the ground in front of the ambulance.

After rolling over – abrasions and all – she continued to message her boyfriend. (Thankfully, she was fine.)

"For the most part, Schoolies was a happy-go-lucky celebration, quite a bit different to our usual busy weekends, but an experience I would repeat if given the opportunity!"

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Background

■ Jack Fleming in action at Schoolies Week 2017.

Summer 2017–18

On ya’ bike: new BRT rolls out on Gold Coast As QAS ramps up preparations for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games – GC2018 – there is a new team already weaving its way through the glitter strip’s high-rises and big crowds to assess and treat patients.

The smooth sound of nobbled tyres rolling along the Gold Coast’s pathways belies the urgency of the situation CCP Ricky Arnold and ACP2 Warren Herlt are about to face. It is 11:01am on a Monday and the pair has just been dispatched from the tourist strip’s iconic Cavil Mall.

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Utilising the bikeway along the Esplanade and Northcliffe Terrace, within three minutes the pair has reached Northcliffe Surf Club where a man has been pulled from the surf.

Fortunately, the male patient is conscious but has swallowed water so is assessed and eventually transported to Gold Coast University Hospital in a road unit. What is different about this incident is that it is the first for the new Bicycle Response Team (BRT).

Launched in November, the team works seven days a week between 10am and 8pm. They cover an area from Southport down to Mermaid Beach and are riding Merida Big7 hardtail mountain bikes with safety livery, lighting and a primary response kit that includes an automatic external defibrillator (AED), advanced airway kit and major/minor trauma kit.

First, though, they were put through a practical two-day training course with the Queensland Police Bike Squad, learning bike handling skills and maintenance.

For former elite cyclist and Coral Gardens ACP2 Jane McDonald the BRT was an opportunity too good to pass up.

The BRT was formed to bolster the QAS response to GC2018 – allowing paramedics to reach patients without having to negotiate traffic snarls, closed roads or pedestrian-only areas.

In particular, Festival Zones in place during GC2018 are expected to draw large crowds and the BRT adds to the suite of response options available.

Top

■ Training was rigorous and expertly conducted by experienced QPS officers.

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■ Media conference at the official launch, with BRT members and support vehicles behind.

Summer 2017–18

“It just seemed like a job that was made for me – to be able to combine riding whilst at work and be involved in a program in its infancy, that’s really nice,” Jane said.

“I love riding my bike – when I get to do it at work it’s even better.”

The team tested its big-event capabilities during Schoolies where members honed their local knowledge.

“Our hotel knowledge since Schoolies has lifted and continually improves everyday – we’re all getting really good at knowing where we’re going.

“We now know the arcades – we know where we need to get to and we can utilise those arcades, smaller side streets and the malls as well.”

New BRT rolls out

Averaging around six to seven cases a day varying from near drownings, chest pains, collapsed patients and cut feet, the team are riding anywhere from 20 to 60 kilometres in a shift.

“We’re riding hard, we’re really putting in, it adds a bit of excitement too,” Jane said.

“We get stopped for photos a lot, it’s really common for us to get flagged down,” Jane said.

“People come up to us and want to talk about the bikes and want to have a chat to us.”

“It’s a really motivated, enthusiastic crew that we’ve got – everyone is really keen to make it work.”

With GC2018 only months away, anticipation is building, so much so this former Australian representative might even consider coming out of retirement.

The team operates from a customised unit based on the Surfers Paradise beachfront and can be deployed to other areas if needed. Their visible presence has been well received by the general public.

“I have too much respect for the athletes, I don’t think this old duck will be any match for them at all … in saying that I did come third in an enduro race on the weekend, so I’ll give it a crack,” Jane laughed.

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Top

■ The inaugural ride along the esplanade at Surfers Paradise turned heads.

Above

■ BRT member Tara Hardy showing Assistant Commissioner Commonwealth Games Gerard Lawler some of their kit.

Left

■ The BRT including Ian Procter, Warren Herlt, Jane McDonald, Tara Hardy, Shane McEvoy and Ricky Arnold with Assistant Commissioner Commonwealth Games Gerard Lawler at Broadbeach Bowls Club.

Summer 2017–18

News from the Pacific Northwest Tony Hucker (aka ‘Aqua Man’) reports on his attendance at the Seattle Resuscitation Academy Program (October 9–12), his eye-opening ride along with one of the world’s premier paramedic teams (Medic One) and a surprising discovery about US coffee (not every brew needs 20 sugars for palatability).

Introduction The Resuscitation Academy (RA) has been running for a decade, hosted by Seattle and King County Medic One. Anne Doll is the Executive Director and pretty much the sole coordinator of the program. There is also strong leadership from Seattle and King County Medic One EMS Captains and Medical Directors.

Purpose of program Above

■ Map of the greater Seattle region showing the various paramedic units receiving training by the Medic One Foundation.

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To improve global cardiac arrest survival.

Two-day Resuscitation Academy Delivered on the grounds of the University of Washington, this two-day program brought together senior members of international ambulance services to improve survival from cardiac arrest.

Australia has had a strong representation at both 2017 resuscitation academy programs.

Australian attendance has been facilitated by the Council of Ambulance Authorities (CAA).

All Australian ambulance jurisdictions have now attended the Resuscitation Academy.

Summer 2017–18

It was a real thrill to meet Professor Mickey Eisenberg. If you are a keen reader of resuscitation science you will know his work.

Seattle has always had a strong international profile with its high cardiac arrest survival data. When you consider our data for return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and shockable rhythms, we compare quite favourably when you take into consideration our geography.

It was so encouraging to listen to the Seattle police AED first responder program. All patrol units have AEDs and actively respond if in close proximity to a cardiac arrest call.

One of the key mantras of the program is “it takes a system to save a victim.”

Seattle

Left

■ Paramedic class at the University of Washington’s Harborview Medical Center adjacent to downtown Seattle.

The Resuscitation Academy recommends the following 10 programs are required to provide the best overall system improvement to improve cardiac arrest survival:

1. Cardiac arrest registry

2. Telephone CPR

3. High performance CPR

4. Rapid dispatch

5. Measurement of professional Resuscitation (measuring CPR metrics etc)

6. First responder AED (police, fire etc)

7. CPR/AED training in schools 8. Smart technology (goodsam or pulse point etc)

Photo: Adobe Stock / Dschwen

9. Annual report

10. Culture of excellence The two-day Resuscitation Academy program was followed by a one day CPR Masterclass.

The first half of the day was completing the high-performance CPR training program.

The remainder of the day focused on delivering the program as an instructor.

Photo: Tony Hucker

Laerdal’s Q-CPR was utilised to monitor and improve the quality of our CPR. This is an excellent way of receiving CPR performance feedback, especially if you are practising alone.

A great idea for single officer stations.

Not to be outdone, our CPR master class is an excellent model too with some more emphasis on team work and improvement through our novel way of doing repetition drills.

I also had a ride along with Seattle Fire Medic Paramedics.

I have to say this was the highlight of the trip.

All up, I spent 20 hours in the field and had a ball. Their system is quite different in that Fire is the primary EMS agency and 80% of their work is EMS. All firefighters are basic (BLS) EMTs. Pretty much advanced first aid and defibrillation, nothing invasive. They provide first response to all 911 calls. Paramedics (CCP equivalent) are career firefighters, who after five years’ service can apply for paramedic training.

9 Background

■ A magnificent, pre-dawn panorama of the Seattle CBD and its famous Space Needle, looking south-east towards the equally distinctive shape of Mount Rainier in the distance.

More about paramedic training later.

Summer 2017–18

Right

■ Ladder Company response at a primary care centre, with the paramedic vehicle behind.

Photo: Tony Hucker

Seattle ride along

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The first patient we attended demonstrated how their system works. First response was the local engine company with four firefighter/ EMTs. The two paramedic crew I was riding with arrived soon after. Three FF/EMTs were inside looking after the elderly male patient who was unwell with rapid atrial fibrillation. One of the team was waiting outside to direct us to the patient and assist bringing in the gear and stretcher (Stryker electric). When we walked in all the vital signs had been completed minus BGL. I am used to working in a two-tiered system, but what struck me with their system was some of the best teamwork I have seen in action. I am sure it has something to do with having six people on scene. This is a standard approach.

We went to a family care centre (GP clinic) in one of Seattle’s leafy suburbs where there was a report of a young child having a seizure.

The child was fine and was referred to a private ambulance company that is contracted to Seattle Fire to provide transport for low acuity cases. American Medical Response (AMR) is one of the biggest private ambulance companies in the USA and has the Seattle contract. They provide a basic EMT service and a very fast response. Every time we referred, they were arriving as we were walking out.

The FF/EMTs stay with low acuity patients and provide the handover to AMR allowing the paramedics to clear early.

Interestingly, the first responding FF/EMTs to this case were a Ladder Company. Their response vehicle was a semi-trailer ladder fire truck with one FF/EMT sitting in a rear cabin steering the back wheels of the truck. This is a very popular role, referred to as “the tiller” – it is massive!

Summer 2017–18

We assessed a lady downtown who had overdosed. She collapsed on the street and got a spectacular response: two Engine Companies, a Ladder Company, paramedics and AMR. The Ladder Company did not stay, freeing up the street. To be fair, everyone cleared quickly and left the patient in the care of AMR. You can tell there is a very strong commitment to improving cardiac arrest outcomes. Their mantra is BLS owns CPR. The BLS response time target is six minutes and the ALS target is nine minutes. They get out of the station very fast and FF/EMTs drill to a very high level of performance. Paramedics back up and provide all the standard invasive care we are familiar with. The only differences I noted was the adult adrenaline dose is 0.5 mg and all cardiac arrests get intubated early. LMAs are only used after failed intubation at this point. I suspect this will change. One paramedic poked a bit of fun my way: “it’s because of you Aussies we have to now use a bougie to intubate.”

I did get to see a cardiac arrest managed.

The person power on scene was amazing – two engine companies, a supervisor (just passing by), paramedic crew, two paramedic students and me!

This is not normal. There are usually fewer on scene. The lieutenant from the first responding engine company supervised the quality of CPR. This role is not hands-on and stands back with a laptop monitoring and making notes. They time the two-minute change over to the second. Their attention to CPR performance was first class. The resuscitation was stopped early as family called with a ‘do not resuscitate’ order.

I have spoken about how their tiered system is quite different, being BLS and ALS, compared to the Australian model of ALS and ICP.

Seattle

Left

■ Representative Seattle paramedic ambulance.

Training and beyond

Overall, I had a great time. The Medic One team took me to the biggest Starbucks I have ever seen. It was amazing and, believe it or not, made excellent coffee – cappuccino, flat white etc. This was after days of drinking their brewed stuff – 20 sugars makes it okay, by the way.

Firefighter EMT training is provided by external agencies. It is a requirement that EMT training is completed by the time the recruit firefighter graduates. After five years' service firefighter/ EMTs can apply for paramedic training.

Paramedic training is an intensive 12-month program.

I was showing off the new QAS uniform during my ride alongs and I got a lot of attention.

On one case I was referred to as ‘aqua-man'!

As it turns out, the reflective markings on the lower legs of the trousers look like fish scales.

It is okay, I’ve been called worse!

Training is conducted at Harborview Medical Center, Seattle’s level one trauma centre.

Harborview is also the Medic One (Paramedic Program) headquarters and station for Medic One and 10 paramedic units. I loved this level of integration: Paramedic Station and training on the grounds of a tertiary level hospital – a one-stop shop!

A final word on their vehicles – no surprises, they are big! – and based on a Ford 450 or 550 chassis with a single centre-mounted stretcher.

Obviously, it is a very on-the-job program which gives it its strength. Being a medical control model where paramedics have to call in and get medical authority to provide most interventions, I thought their training may have a 'technician feel' to it.

Having sat in their classroom and talked to students (wearing waist-length white coats like medical students) and listened to the interaction between supervising paramedics, I was pleasantly surprised. They adopt a very evidence-based approach to their care and clearly develop a sound depth of knowledge.

I was very impressed.

Medic One Foundation  http://www.mediconefoundation.org/

Photo: Tony Hucker

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They were pretty standard but there is so much space. There is easy 360 degree access to the patient. Their new design is even bigger. They have had to move away from side-facing bench seats for obvious reasons, but disappointed they can now sit only four attendants in the back. They take two students at a time.

They still do crazy 24hr shifts: 24-on, 48-off then 24-on, 96-off. They love it!

I would encourage ride alongs wherever you can get them. Not only are they fascinating but also very motivating.

More information and links

Above

■ The ‘aqua-man’ himself, back on the job after his informative trip to the Pacific Northwest.

King County Medic One  http://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/emergency-medical-services/medic-one.aspx  https://www.facebook.com/KCMedic1/

Seattle Fire Department Medic One  https://www.seattle.gov/fire/medics/medicOne.htm Seattle & King County Emergency Medical Services System  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle_%26_King_County_Emergency_Medical_Services_System Harborview Medical Centre  http://www.uwmedicine.org/harborview Dr Mickey Eisenberg  https://em.uw.edu/faculty/mickey-eisenberg-md-mph-phd  https://publichealthinsider.com/2015/05/22/why-king-countys-ems-is-the-best-in-the-world-qa-with-mickey-eisenberg/  https://www.totalpolitics.com/articles/interview/heart-problem-interview-prof-mickey-eisenberg

Summer 2017–18

Photo: QAS Media

Paramedic registration: Countdown to implementation in late 2018

Recruitment and appointments ■ First appointments to inaugural National Board advertised (April 2017) ■ Health Ministers made appointments (October 2017) Timeline to date September 2015

Be engaged

Australian Health Ministers endorse National Registration

■ The Board will develop and consult on registration standards, codes and guidelines

April 2016 Ministers support amendment to the National Law

■ When consultations are open for input, they will be shown on the Board website

April 2017 Call for applications for inaugural Paramedicine Board of Australia

Approval and decisions ■ National Board will submit recommended registration standards to Ministers for approval

May 2017 Applications closed

■ Accreditation arrangements will be decided by the Board

June 2017

■ List of approved programs will be decided by the Board

Consideration by the Queensland Parliament of the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2017

12

Registration open ► ► Log in to your AHPRA account and apply for registration and provide all requested documents (mid-2018)

July 2017 QAS Commissioner advised Queensland Parliamentary Committee on registration September 2017

Assess and decide

Bill passed by Queensland Parliament; legislation received Royal Assent

■ AHPRA will assess your application ■ The Board will decide if you meet the requirements for registration

October 2017

■ Paramedics will be advised of registration outcome

Members appointed to Paramedicine Board of Australia

Paramedics regulated under NRAS

2017 Apr

May

Jun

Go-live in late 2018

2018 Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Bill passed by Queensland Parliament Legislation received Royal Assent

Paramedicine Board of Australia members appointed

Summer 2017–18

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Paramedic registrations update

Paramedicine Board of Australia The national regulation of paramedicine moves a step closer with the appointment of the first Paramedicine Board of Australia. Health Ministers made the announcement of the nine-person board at the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Health Council meeting held on October 19, 2017.

Paramedicine will be the 15th registered health profession in Australia and is the first profession to be regulated under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme since 2012.

Associate Professor Stephen Gough asm has been appointed as practitioner member from Queensland and National Board Chair; here is an insight into his views of the future.

What is the most exciting thing about the national registration of paramedics under the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme?

The decision to include paramedics under the National Registration Accreditation Scheme (NRAS) recognises the level of education, skills, competence and importance paramedic practice has within Australian communities.

Moving to a registered practitioner professional practice model assures the community that the paramedic healthcare provider meets national standards and is accountable for the services they deliver to the community.

Paramedics are ideally placed to take on complementary and evolving roles within the Australian healthcare system.

Registration contributes to ensuring quality, transparency and accountability in healthcare practise by healthcare professionals. 

What skills and experience do you bring to the Board?

What do you hope to achieve during your time with the Board?

Associate Professor Stephen Gough asm

I have a passion for the Stephen is currently the QAS The big challenge is to development of the paramedic Assistant Commissioner, Capability have everything in place to profession and health service and Development and is a career allow for the registration paramedic and senior executive delivery models, innovation who has worked in the ambulance of paramedics by late 2018. and change, particularly in the and health sectors for almost four Amongst other things, enhancement of the provision decades. mandatory standards for the of health services to rural He has worked in four ambulance profession need to be approved Australians. In my role as a services across the states and by the COAG Health Council, health leader, my experience territories. He holds a range of paramedics need to get all the has included: policy, planning, tertiary credentials as well as adjunct appointments at four requisite information to AHPRA resourcing; clinical practice Australian universities and has to provide for the processing of redesign, clinical workforce been clinically qualified at both their registration applications, education and training, advanced life-support and as well as publishing organisational redesign, intensive-care levels. information for paramedics leadership and health service conecatum re comnis del et maximincimi, Fuga. Itatecusam fugit, ut quam faccusdandam regarding their continuing governance, management quidipsa sequides sendicitet officilla exeruptas adionse etur moluptium quaeptatur, omnimi, professionalut development capability and development, aut laboriam omnit, veraest, que ea ditIt will beautemque eum es parum everion sequatet ofrequirements. organisational changeet and the sus (CPD) a busy but exciting development of professional venduci llestium nima viti bea endisim usti- year, but ficias ratem hillorum que re omnis et maximus, I am confident that the practice standards. quunt id maximai orpore, optaspitiam quam et aectam harit as explictur? Tiorrum quo magniminaugural members of the modi ut ab inimin cus, si id maximin parum vomoprivilege blaborisofea samet raes alibust estotate I have pos had the Board are up to the challenge. representing ambulance lorest, quistint ut volorit et mint hit, apid quae dolupta eperum quam et ex et invelent, que services and the paramedic Where do you think the laborest ercimporum quas re maiorem eaque ius. paramedicine profession will profession nationally in various velentur? Ape voles mos demquo omnis ipsam, be inlicto threeque years and what roles including as the Soloreptas utSecretary labo. Tur a debit dolorat inveria nost et ratint fugiam quuntem dolorro et do you think this means for of the Council of Ambulance urionsequi tem quuntia volla que veles ipsam, protection of the public? mossintiis eum rae veriasi tectaquis ea serchil Authorities (CAA), Executive a doluptat asimpel lorestem hic tem libea Board Member of the Australian laborem. Ita dolorat pre dolor sitis di recto ex The paramedic profession has dolorpo repuda corum eumet ut aut as vent National Rural Health Alliance, seen monumental change in eturem asim sit quis ut ullaut parcil iliqui seoccusam, occum fugitibus,practise secum over hil maionse Chair of CAA National recent decades quam facepratem voluptur, cuptaqui nis nobit Ambulance Education nderum ea ea in conecto volor autem qui debis set and now a comprehensive persped utes mi, sam eum nonseque ressinte Committee, of the dunt et arum a dit Director a volorumqui hic tetechnologies sundiof skills and to velecto incil molorem eos sundam descienia CAA Paramedic Education provide world classres service to cab idit et is atecepuda comnitati andestis Programs Accreditation con pellabo restisquos eum sum landa Australian communities.

The si cumquamus re, apidus del intur mi, est lit Scheme (PEPAS) and several next three years will present quae pa dellanitat volupta equally erione exciting velit omniat ministerial committee changes appointments. dolliam, aut aliquia sed eum ium fuga.

Imiliquof the alongside regulation

13

asinciis con cus a quaecusaprofession custrumquam and thesust, registration

What is the Board working on of paramedics. Paramedics optiosant et veri tenim re, omnihiliquam as right now?

closelymaios with their quam nempore, omni optiswill autwork hil expel health practitioner colleagues The Paramedicine Board voloris doluptat etur mosamet, siti arcil is dis in evolving roles to meet the of Australia is releasing a etum resti asincipsum faciis volupta tiatio quo increasing demand for health set of mandatory standards blam erem atecabo reptatur as que rem estem services, seeking innovation for paramedics from midnewderesto pathways in providing December 2017 for public inullitiusand quisinum restibus autet bestquas quality consultation.

This isant a chance restiaerum quat quasped et healthcare. reria sin to have your say.

et la prate nientio. Occabori dolorate etusae nonserum coriorpos ium et ipsam, Contact the Board dolupta at paramedicine@ahpra.gov.au quae rernatius rest atemporerem ipsa pa volum

by February 9, 2018. atur aut ut veria sapedip sapide quas cum sus, volupti ssumquatur?

Pudae nulloresci volut aut dunt doluptatione conempel in re et alibustissit invenec tasperi Additional information is available at: For enquiries about registration, email: ahpra.gov.au/Registration/Regulation-of-paramedics.aspx Registration.update@ambulance.qld.gov.au

Summer 2017–18

Employee engagement in practice In 2017, QAS embarked on a campaign to engage with a broad range of our employees via face-to-face employee forums. These were designed to engage staff at all levels of the QAS to shape and design the future of the workforce and hear issues affecting all employees.

The employee engagement forums came from a desire by the QAS Executive to further understand the general themes that have arisen from consecutive Working for Queensland Staff Survey results and have explored issues such as workplace flexibility, workplace bullying, red tape, organisational fairness, workload and health and reward and recognition.

The employee forums produced some very meaningful conversations and insights into the issues facing our workforce. Participants at the forums were challenged to raise issues and suggest innovative and practical workforce solutions. As a result of the forums, the QAS has commenced implementing some key changes required in response to the issues raised.

In total, there were four employee forums held throughout 2017, with one specifically dedicated to issues faced by our graduate paramedics as a direct result of feedback received from the first two forums.

To coordinate these actions, the QAS has established an Implementation Group which will be responsible for refining the suggestions from each of the four forums and develop them into meaningful actions and initiatives. This group includes staff from across the QAS and will be sponsored by Michael Metcalfe, Executive Director, Corporate Services.

The timing of the first employee forum, close to International Women’s Day, also provided the QAS with a unique opportunity to bring approximately 100 women together from across the Service.

Action has already commenced to resolve some of the issues raised at the forum, as outlined in the table on the opposite page.

Department of Health

Queensland Ambulance Service

14

Overall, approximately 400 employees from across the Workplace Health and Safety state participated in our employee forums this year.

Know your commi to WHS

These activities are the first steps QAS has taken to begin

Statement of Commitment to address some of the many issues raised at the workforce

The 2017 employee forums have enabled all members of the QAS Executive to engage personally with aAbroad range of operational and corporate employees from all LASNs and classification levels and hear first-hand issues that are affecting them.

Patients first

forums. Due to the complex nature of some of the other issues raised at the forumsmarks the Implementation Group,Month and will reflec October National Safe Work in conjunction with the QAS Executive, will be working sharing safety knowledge and experience benefits with to further develop the actions to address them.

There is no better time to familiarise yourself with QAS’ of Commitment to Workplace Health and Safety.

core value of the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) is the health, safety and well-being of ourselves, our patients and others. The ability to care for our patients relies directly on our own safety and this shall be a key underpinning factor supporting the provision of quality ambulance and patient care services.

To achieve this we will:

» Comply with all relevant legislative requirements including standards and codes of practice.

Health and safety

» Take all reasonable care for the health and safety of ourselves, our colleagues at work and our patients. » Make managers and supervisors responsible for implementing this policy as an integral part of their accountabilities.

» Promote systems that will minimise harm through the identification of hazards, effective and timely investigation of incidents and the appropriate control of risks.

Ideas into action

» Ensure every person is fit for duty and is able to deliver our services in a professional, safe and competent manner.

» Provide early intervention following a workplace injury or illness to optimise recovery and promote an early and safe return to work. » Seek continuous improvement in our safety systems through consultation, technology, work practices and health and safety performance.

Know your your commitment commitment Know

Unleash potential

» Monitor and review QAS standards to enable best practice in all that we do.

This is our commitment to you.

Department of Health

Queensland Ambulance Service

Be courageous

Statement of Commitment A Patients first

core value of the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) is the health, safety and well-being of ourselves, our patients and others. The ability to care for our patients relies directly on our own safety and this shall be a key underpinning factor supporting the provision of quality ambulance and patient care services.

To achieve this we will: » Comply with all relevant legislative requirements including standards and codes of practice.

Health and safety

» Take all reasonable care for the health and safety of ourselves, our colleagues at work and our patients. » Make managers and supervisors responsible for implementing this policy as an integral part of their accountabilities. » Promote systems that will minimise harm through the identification of hazards, effective and timely investigation of incidents and the appropriate control of risks.

Ideas into action

» Ensure every person is fit for duty and is able to deliver our services in a professional, safe and competent manner. » Provide early intervention following a workplace injury or illness to optimise recovery and promote an early and safe return to work. » Seek continuous improvement in our safety systems through consultation, technology, work practices and health and safety performance.

Unleash potential

» Monitor and review QAS standards to enable best practice in all that we do.

to WHS Russell Bowles ASM Commissioner Queensland Ambulance Service

Workplace Health and Safety

to WHS Date effective: 01 September 2017

Empower people

694QAS

Review date: 01 September 2020

Read it on the QAS Portal at:

http://bit.ly/2xwUe16

October marks National Safe Work Month and will reflect the theme – sharing safety knowledge and experience benefits with everyone.

October 2017 marked Nationalyourself Safe Work Month reflected There is no better time to familiarise with QAS’s newand Statement of Commitment to Workplace and Safety. the theme ‘sharing safetyHealth knowledge and experience benefits

everyone.’

Executive appointments confirmed

This is our commitment to you.

It is important for everyone to familiarise yourself with the

Be courageous

Russell Bowles ASM Commissioner Queensland Ambulance Service Date effective: 01 September 2017 Empower people

694QAS

Review date: 01 September 2020

The permanent appointment of Dee Taylor-Dutton as Deputy Commissioner, QAS’sPlanning new of Commitment to Workplace Health Director, Read itStatement onand the QAS Portal at: and Michael Service Performance, Metcalfe as Executive Corporate Services, were announced by Commissioner Russell Bowles in http://bit.ly/2xwUe16 and Safety. early October.

“These two highly respected officers have more than four decades of combined experience in the delivery of ambulance services and I’m very pleased to confirm their permanent appointments to these key executive roles,” the Commissioner said.

Executive appointments confirmed

The permanent appointment of Dee Taylor-Dutton as Deputy Commissioner, Summer 2017–18 Service Planning and Performance, and Michael Metcalfe as Executive Director, Corporate Services, were announced by Commissioner Russell Bowles in

Employee forums update

Issue raised

Description

Action taken

Communication of policy and procedures

Addressing the gap in information and communication, particularly human resources procedures, guides, information and other resources that are available across a range of topics.

HR News articles are now being sent to all employees in QAS to ensure that everyone receives important updates and information first hand and at the time of release.

Employee recognition process

Employees having to apply for their own recognition of service medals.

A more appropriate process driven by the QAS to better recognise service and achievements is being implemented.

Workforce flexibility

Employees reported concerns with shift overruns, and achieving work-life balance via flexible shift arrangements.

As an initial step, the QAS has revised its QAS HR Procedure – Flexible Work Arrangements.

Further work will occur in this area and will be a key issue of review for the Implementation Group.

Single-day Accrued Time (AT) access

Employees reported inconsistencies across LASNs in relation to the accessing of single day Accrued Time (AT) leave.

As an immediate measure, the Commissioner issued a directive advising all LASNs that access to single day AT leave is available, subject to operational requirements being met.

Health and wellbeing

Employees wanted more information, support and resources to help better manage health and wellbeing and to manage the impacts of shift work.

Updated and new resources, including links and information about the ‘get healthy’ program, are now available on the QAS portal via the QHEPS website. Further work has begun in this area and will be progressed through a joint union and management Fitness for Duty Working Group.

Complaints management

Employees commented on the complexities of the complaints management process, particularly that many employees do not understand the process and how it is managed; additionally, there were concerns about complaints not being managed appropriately.

The Commissioner issued a specific communiqué to all employees regarding the Complaints Management procedure and how to access procedures to lodge a complaint.

Recognition of employees acting in higher roles

Employees were concerned about the lack of recognition of staff acting in higher positions, in particular the inability of the employee acting to wear the epaulettes for the higher position during the period of higher duties.

In June 2017, the Commissioner issued a communiqué advising operational staff that they can wear the rank of an acting position while acting in a higher position, effective immediately.

Employees raised concerns regarding the consistency and transparency in decision making related to compassionate transfers.

A review of the process was undertaken and compassionate transfer requests have now been centralised for Paramedic, Patient Transport Officer (PTO) and Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) roles. Information can be found on the Human Resources page on the QAS portal.

Compassionate transfers

Employee engagement forums will continue in 2018 on the back of their success this year and there will be further opportunities for participation from employees in these forums. In the meantime, employees are welcome to submit their views, ideas or suggestions to: QAS.Commissioner@ambulance.qld.gov.au

Summer 2017–18

15

2017

Selected highlights Following the detailed summary of this year’s achievements and events which appeared in the Spring edition of INSIGHT, here is a selection of some of the highlights of 2017.

Baby born at Whitsunday Ambulance Station

New station announced for expanding community

QAS achieves Australian first with launch of dual-capability seats

In October, the Government announced that a new $4 million ambulance station would be built at Yarrabilba to meet the demand of the growing community.

In October the first dual-capability seats for both adults and children aged one and up were rolled out and are now in more than 100 ambulances across the state.

QAS Commissioner Russell Bowles said the new station would support coverage in the Logan area and contribute to improving response times across the region.

16

A beautiful story followed the devastation caused by Tropical Cyclone Debbie with a baby girl born at around 4.20am on March 29 at the Whitsunday Ambulance Station.

“We’re planning for Yarrabilba to be a 24-hour station, initially supporting a staff of 17,’’ Mr Bowles said.

All new and replacement QAS ambulances are being fitted with the dual-capability seat. The seat is incorporated into the rear-facing chair often utilised by patient escorts and patient care officers in critical emergencies.

Baby Billianna was delivered by Mum Suzanne with the support of Dad Tim and assistance from Graduate Paramedic Pamela Price, ACP Peter Gleeson, CCP Anthony Fletcher, Doctor Melissa McCann and midwife Demelza Griffin.

“It will be designed and built using the latest techniques and staff operating out of it will have access to state of-the-art facilities including rest-study areas, patient care and equipment storage, amenities and a break out space. Importantly it will also allow for future expansion.”

It ensures that a child who needs to accompany a sick parent can now do so quickly and safely without the delay in waiting for another guardian or carer to arrive on scene. It also serves a purpose for young sitting patients.

The seats were suggested by a paramedic who had seen similar seats utilised by other emergency medical services overseas.

QAS deployment for Rockhampton flood In April, QAS set up a tactical medical centre at the Rockhampton evacuation centre staffed by paramedics deployed from areas across Queensland along with local staff.

With medical equipment, beds, and a casualty room housed in our tactical support caravan, the QAS was well prepared to provide medical assistance to the community during the flood event.

Summer 2017–18

2017

DepartmentA title look/back section over/ 2017 topic

Selected highlights QAS and first responders multi-casualty joint training exercise at Tully …

In October, QAS joined with other emergency services and community organisations at Tully to prepare and build capability to respond to multi-casualty incidents.

The joint training exercise mimicked a major traffic crash in the Tully Gorge involving a car and a bus, and tested the effectiveness of how emergency services would expect to respond to a multi-casualty incident.

QAS Officer-in-Charge of Mission Beach Station Adrian House said the objective was to create a realistic scenario to provide real time training to professional emergency services crews.

“We had five crews responding to this mock incident and our paramedics needed to assess, triage and treat 11 patients before transporting them to hospital,” Mr House said.

“This is a rural setting which has a different set of requirements to other urban areas so this sort of training provides the opportunity to fine-tune our response and our interactions with other agencies to ensure the best outcomes for our patients.

“Rafting is very popular in the Tully Gorge and a scenario like this would not be out of the ordinary, “ he said.

“Our region is set to host the 2019 IRF World Rafting Championships, which will bring up to 700 athletes and thousands of spectators to the area, so planning and training is vital in the lead up to this major international event.”

… and on the Gold Coast Another training exercise, on the Gold Coast in August, involved QAS teaming up with Gold Coast Health to prepare and build capability to respond to multi-casualty incidents.

The ‘Trauma on the Green’ joint training exercise at the Gold Coast University Hospital was to test the effectiveness of how QAS and Gold Coast Health would expect to respond to a multi-casualty incident.

Griffith University School of Paramedicine students acted as patients during the training exercise which was developed following a review into the 2016 Ravenshoe explosion.

QAS Assistant Commissioner John Hammond said a multi-casualty incident would typically include a major traffic crash, an explosion or a chemical spill.

17

“Our training exercise mimicked a major traffic crash involving multiple vehicles and patients,” Mr Hammond said.

“We had four crews responding to this mock incident and our paramedics needed to assess, triage and treat 17 patients before transporting them to the emergency department via stretchers.”

A debrief was held following the exercise to evaluate and review the execution of processes, procedures and operations.

Summer 2017–18

Global good wishes for Hervey Bay farewell Paramedic Graeme Cooper and PTO Danielle Kellan were transporting a patient to the local hospital's palliative care unit when she said she wished she could be at the beach again … a little diversion (or two) to give her that special last opportunity brought comforting closure, sweet tears and worldwide support.

In a post on the QAS Facebook page on November 22, we said that 'this story told to us by Helen Donaldson, the Officer-in-Charge of Hervey Bay, is too good not to share' … and little did we appreciate the magnitude of the impact of that story at the time.

That initial post noted that a crew was:

18

"transporting a patient to the palliative care unit of the local hospital and the patient expressed that she just wished she could be at the beach again.

"Above and beyond, the crew took a small diversion to the awesome beach at Hervey Bay to give the patient this opportunity – tears were shed and the patient felt very happy.

"Sometimes it is not the drugs, nor training nor skills – sometimes all you need is empathy to make a difference."

And there, with congratulations to the great work of Danielle and Graeme – "the Service is very proud of you" – it might have ended … except that it did not, and this truly heartwarming story went viral around the world to an astonishing degree.

Within 24 hours, the story had been picked up by not only Queensland media outlets such as The Fraser Coast Chronicle, The Courier-Mail and The Brisbane Times, but also had received national coverage through the ABC and SBS, News.com.au and many more media organisations.

Within 36 hours of the Facebook post, the global impact of Danielle's and Graeme's kindness was becoming vividly apparent: the story had been broadcast by Fox News and the BBC and had been reported by a range of mastheads, from The Daily Telegraph and The Daily Express to The New York Post and the Huffington Times.

"It was basically going to be her last journey back to her house where she was going to pass away," said Graeme.

"She was saying how she moved to Hervey Bay with her husband on the spur of the moment and they've been here ever since.

"She said she loved the esplanade and the beach and we said, 'well, do you want us to take you down by the esplanade and pop you out of the truck and give you a look at the ocean?'

"She was just ecstatic. If you're sensitive to your surroundings and what's going on and you can seize a small window of opportunity, take it."

By 2.30pm on November 24, the QAS Facebook post had been shared more than 6,500 times, liked by 22,000 people and attracted more than 1,600 comments.

Two weeks later, as this edition of INSIGHT closed for print at 6.00pm on December 4, the shares had almost quadrupled (24,000), likes had more than doubled (47,000) and comments more than tripled to 5,100 – and the ripples are a long way from ending, as an online search will reveal.

Summer 2017–18

The picture has since been shared to many other news sites and viewed tens of millions of times globally, and counting.

"You may have already seen the picture," wrote Caroline Overington in her column in The Weekend Australian in its November 25-26 edition.

"The photograph went viral for a million reasons, starting with the kindness of the paramedics in such circumstances. There was also their willingness to break protocol and take a little time out of their day for somebody else.

"Human beings are capable of such grace and tenderness. We don't celebrate it often enough."

The story had been 'reported worldwide, making headlines in Britain, Wales, Scotland, England, Germany, Canada and across the United States,' noted SBS. Graeme said that he and Danielle ended up taking the patient to the beach twice – and he made sure he picked 'a really good spot' too.

"We actually got called to bring her back to the hospital … and we said, 'how about that beach run again?' and she said, 'oh, could we?' and we said, 'absolutely'.

“We popped her up on the hill where she could see the pier and Fraser Island and right through to Point Burrum and she was ecstatic with it all,” he said.

Hervey Bay farewell

“I thought, 'if all these rocks weren’t here I’d get down to my jocks and take you into the ocean' ... and I would have ... but the next best thing was 'I can get some ocean and bring it to her' …"

Graeme said he used the woman's vomit bag to scoop up some water and bring it to her, so she could put her arm in.

Danielle, who took this photo, said she was privileged to be able to accommodate the woman's request.

"I said to the patient, 'what are you thinking?' and she was looking out towards Fraser Island and she said, 'I'm at peace, everything's right'."

"She actually tasted the salt water.

I can't describe the feeling, when you're in these situations with people – it's just very humbling to have these experiences."

19

Summer 2017–18

Station profile: Gladstone Gladstone paramedics respond to incidents from the steep sides of a ship to the summit of Mount Larcom – OIC Leia Spencer said one of the highlights of working in the region is the variety of callouts.

Gladstone has Queensland’s largest multicommodity port – the fifth largest in Australia.

There are also several large industries located in and around the Gladstone area.

A normal working day can result in the Gladstone team attending incidents on ships in the harbour, responding to high speed road traffic crashes on the nearby Bruce Highway and climbing neighbouring Mount Larcom and silos on rural and remote properties when a patient requires QAS assistance.

Above

■ Gladstone OIC Leia Spencer.

20

Leia said the Port of Gladstone has eight main wharf centres comprising 20 wharves, with 70 per cent of those used for coal.

“As Gladstone is the world’s fourth largest coal exporting terminal, the vessels coming to the port are extremely large and sit off the coast awaiting loading and unloading times,’’ Leia said.

“When someone requires our assistance due to a medical incident on a ship, or if someone goes overboard, we mostly head out on the water with Volunteer Marine Rescue.”

While it is interesting work, Leia said the task of attending to patients on ships can make even the simplest jobs become quite challenging.

Summer 2017–18

Sometimes, they are exposed to choppy conditions on the way to the vessel and if they have to climb up and down the large ships ‘it can be very physically demanding’ as the ships’ sides are so high.

“As the ships are coming from all over the world, generally those on board do not speak English – so we are often confronted with a language barrier,’’ Leia said.

“Some of the ships also come from locations where there are high levels of infectious disease, such as tuberculosis, so we have to be extra vigilant when dealing with international medical issues.

“In addition, if a patient requires transport to the mainland, crews need to take into account immigration, so we routinely liaise with Australian Border Force and Customs.”

Leia said a recent ‘challenging’ job included a call out to a massive ship out in the harbour for a crew member experiencing abdominal pain and fever.

“After climbing to the top of the ship and finally finding and speaking to the captain – the only person on board who spoke some broken English – my partner and I then assessed the patient, placed him on a stretcher and attempted to get him off the ship through tiny holes they had for doors.’’

Station profile: Gladstone

The Gladstone crew often responds to high speed incidents on the highway.

One incident included a serious three-vehicle crash on the Bruce Highway where there were eight patient transports, five of whom were critical. The patients were transported to hospital via road or helicopter.

“After assessing the patient and giving him pain relief he was lowered down from the top level in a basket stretcher by QFES.”

Photo: Adobe Stock / John Casey

Leia said her crew is also kept fit attending incidents on farming properties at rural and industrial areas around Gladstone.

“At one incident, we had to climb up a large silo located on one of the industrial areas, with lots of steps and metal ramps to assess a patient who had a fractured leg and a head injury. We were out of breath by the time we got up there,’’ Leia laughed.

■ Navigating the tricky confines of one of Gladstone’s busy wharves is all in a day’s work.

Left

■ The range of heavy industry around Gladstone means that multi-agency HAZMAT exercises are regular events.

Then there are the callouts to injured climbers who require the services of QAS at Mount Larcom.

“If someone is injured and we need to walk to the top of the mountain to treat them, it involves a very steep ascent,’’ Leia said.

“At times when we are assisting a patient down the mountain, we need to sit on our haunches and slide down.”

Above

Apart from the variety of jobs they respond to, Leia said another highlight of working at Gladstone station is being surrounded by her staff who are ‘my teal family’.

“I love working here, the staff are so enthusiastic and fun,” she said. “It is really nice being surrounded by such an amazing crew. As a CCP I also enjoy getting to go out and work with them on jobs too.”

Leia said Gladstone station currently has 32 paramedics in various stages of their careers.

“Our crew is quite social and we will go out and have a coffee or a barbecue with the LAC when possible. We all get along and everyone has a lot of respect for one another.”

Summer 2017–18

21

Station profile: Gladstone’s centenary Gladstone Ambulance Station is celebrating its centenary this year.

The first branch centre was established in 1917 at Goondoon Street, with Walter Daniel appointed the Superintendent of Gladstone.

Today’s Gladstone Station was built in 1967 on Glenlyon Road and it was relaunched after a $1.6 million internal refurbishment, redesign and plant room extension on May 28, 2015.

Above

■ Gladstone’s first Superintendent, Walter Daniel, served in that role for almost 20 years.

Right

Work involved a complete internal refurbishment and redesign to deliver safer and more functional work areas, including: a dedicated training room, study area, improved storage for patient care supplies, a new kitchen and day room facilities.

The plant room roof was also extended to provide improved protection for ambulances and a new wash down bay was added.

The improvements have delivered a more modern facility that is better suited to the needs of the paramedics.

Gladstone’s first four Supers Walter Daniel  1917–1935 Walter Daniel commenced in 1892 aged 22 and was a foundation member of the City Ambulance Transport Brigade. He was appointed to the permanent staff at Brisbane in 1894. Promoted to Superintendent at Rockhampton on August 26, 1901, he established ambulance services in Central Queensland. After a year in Brisbane, in 1917 he was appointed the first Superintendent at Gladstone. He received his 40-year Certificate of Service, later passing away aged 68.

William Coase  1935–1953 Bill was first appointed to the Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade Gladstone Centre Committee in 1918 and acted as Treasurer from 1921 to 1926. He was appointed to the permanent staff as an ambulance officer in 1926 and became Superintendent in 1935. He retired in 1953 after 36 years.

William Jeffrey  1953–1976

■ Later premises, more modern vehicles – the Gladstone crew prepares for Australia Day.

This Bill commenced as an Honorary Ambulance Officer at Miriam Vale in 1927. He was appointed to the permanent staff as Superintendent at Winton in 1933. He transferred to Gladstone as Superintendent in 1953 and remained in the position until 1976.

22

Thomas Butler  1976–1982 Below

■ Gladstone’s first fleet, with Superintendent Daniel standing by the Dodge on the right; on the left, carrying the stretcher, are Honorary Bearers Dan ‘Iodine’ Jackson, Gerry ‘Aspro’ O’Briend, Peter Hutchinson and Driver Bearer Bill Coase, who became Gladstone’s Superintendent from 1935 until 1953.

Thanks to Mick Davis at Wynnum Ambulance Museum for this background.

Summer 2017–18

Tom Butler began as an Honorary Ambulance Officer at Charleville in 1947. He was appointed the permanent staff at Miles in 1948 and then transferred to Charleville and Dalby. Tom was promoted to Superintendent at Miriam Vale in 1959 and then moved to Gladstone as the Deputy Superintendent in 1966. Appointed Superintendent at Gladstone in 1976, he passed away in 1982.

Station profile: Gladstone

GLADSTONE: FAST FACTS Location Gladstone Ambulance Station is the second largest in Central Queensland, serving communities north to Mount Larcom, south to Boyne Island and west to Calliope.

LASN The station is one of 24 located in the Central Queensland LASN which covers 110,000 square kilometres and is managed by Chief Superintendent Steven Coombs.

Complement OIC: CCP Leia Spencer since April 6, 2015.

One Critical Care Paramedic, 26 Advanced Care Paramedics (21 full time, four part time, one casual), one Paramedic and five Graduate Paramedics.

No volunteers presently attached, but there is an Honorary Ambulance Officer located at Mount Larcom.

Vehicles The station has two dual-stretcher Mercedes Sprinter vehicles, three single-stretcher Mercedes Sprinters, one Mercedes Patient Transport vehicle, and one Ford Ranger emergency response vehicle, which are used to respond mostly to medical and trauma-related cases.

Statistics Last financial year, Gladstone paramedics attended 8,829 cases.

23 Above

■ Leia and some her ‘teal family’ getting into the festive spirit.

Background

■ Gladstone Ambulance Station then and now; the Goondoon Street Centre (left) was built in the 1920s and used until 1967.

Summer 2017–18

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1. Give your bills a makeover By spending some time getting across your household bills, you may be able to identify some ways to save in the New Year.

24

Make a list of all your regular bills and what you’ve paid over the past 12 months. Now you have a base to make comparisons and potentially negotiate a better deal with your current supplier or elsewhere.

You can do the research yourself, or use an online comparison service to find the best deals for your needs.

You can also invest some time into researching: • getting a better deal on your mobile phone by bundling it with other services like internet and streaming services

Buying property is a popular investment strategy however it’s important to remember it’s not the only choice. There are some simple ways to invest with less money than you might think. Getting financial advice is an excellent place to start to understand what kind of risk is right for you, and what type of investment suits your needs.

You may want to consider making voluntary contributions to your superannuation, either via salary sacrifice or extra deposits. You can make some tax savings and get the benefit of compound interest on your savings – the more you invest now, the more you have later in life.

Beginner investors can try a new range of financial apps that link to your bank account.

They automatically round up amounts from everyday purchases to into diversified investment portfolios. You choose how much to round up by, and the level of risk you want in your investments.

3. Get smart about money matters You don’t have to read the financial media every day to get smarter about money. You can start with researching trusted financial blogs and websites (like QBANK).

• options to consolidate credit card debt on a balance transfer to reduce monthly interest

Websites and apps can be a wealth of information on all kinds of smart money management which could help you save in the New Year.

• if you’re paying for the right extras in your private health insurance.

If you’d like more information contact QBANK at info@qbank.com.au or call 13 77 28.

You need to make the time, but the payoff could be well worth it.

We wish everyone at QAS a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year.

The Christmas Season can be stressful but help is only a phone call away: Priority One (QAS staff & families) 1800 805 980

Lifeline 13 11 14

Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636

SANE Australia helpline 1800 18 7263

Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467

Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800

Summer 2017–18

IPP and CALDPP recruits

New recruits earn their stripes The Indigenous Paramedic Program and Culturally And Linguistically Diverse Paramedics Program saw 13 cadets from around the state presented with epaulettes at a ceremony at Kedron’s Emergency Services Complex.

Principal Consultant Cultural Capability Trish Murray congratulated the cadets and said they demonstrated competency in their clinical care, skills and knowledge.

Eight cadets were presented their Silver Caduceus epaulettes and five cadets were presented their First Stripe epaulettes.

Following the epaulette ceremony, the cadets took part in four separate simulated multi-casualty scenarios at the Whyte Island training facility with the assistance of Queensland Fire and Emergency Services.

“The Whyte Island event was very successful and everyone had a fantastic time,’’ Trish said.

“The scenarios the cadets experienced allowed them to put their skills and knowledge to the test under a high pressure environment with trainers and educators watching on.”

Trish said 2018 was set to be another milestone year for the IPP and CALD programs due to a new education partnership commencing between QAS and Central Queensland University.

“This partnership will assist our officers who inspire to become an ACP2 with an education program that aids progression to the bachelor of paramedic science,” she said.

Above

■ Executive Director Corporate Services Michael Metcalfe with cadet Tareta Siakisni from Woodridge Station Metro South – who received his Silver caduceus and will be in the first group to undertake the new CQU education pathway next year – and Deputy Commissioner, State LASN Operations Craig Emery and Deputy Commissioner – Executive Director, Service Planning and Performance Dee Taylor-Dutton.

Below

■ Rear, left to right: Clem Beatson, Danielle Williams, Dwayne Simpson, Marigold Tauvao, Selina Hughes, Sharon Ursinus and Gerald Wotton; in front: Tareta Siakisni, Shannon Turner, Montana Anderson, Rebecca Teece, Kieta Lenoy and Daraleen Edmund.

Summer 2017–18

25

THANK YOU :) I would like to give a big shout out to the Everyone has different levels of success. For me, success two ambulance officers (Lindsay Neilan and I would young can never be achieved unless you have the desire to like to mention the two Just want to say a big thank you to the ladies Milan Kumar) who came to my home today men (Tim Turvey and Luke Harrison) initiate it. The amazing work and commitment from staff (Corinne Wilkes, Kate Olive and Candice for my two-year-old son – who is great who attended my sister at Bunya that continuously results in appreciation letters we receive Boileau) that came to my house this Commissioner’s thanks at morning keeping me grey – and had his first ride Mountains last Saturday morning from members of the public, makes me constantly aware of (Julycame 19) for my little girl and the dispatch guy due to a neck trauma. to hospital (August 5).

These young men As we saw recently what accomplishments we with havethe made as an organisation. from Kingaroy. I realise they(Jamaine were Prieditis) who helped meIstay two officers from Hervey Bay, justvery wanted to say a massive thank you ‘just with doing their jobs’, but tocalm. those appreciation goes long way.ofWe They do an amazing job and as I really This month has seena an influx thank you letters, they were fantastic with my little boy. received international recognition of us who were standing by appreciated not beingthem being so fantastic.

304from letters received this year to date and 609 letters and the simple act of kindness.

I was so concerned with my son and they able to do anything constructive, emails of thanks sent to staff members. snuck out before I could say thank you. it was a huge comfort to know that In addition to the world wide Kristie, Morningside recognition of enough the two officers, my sister was in such capable hands.

Alexis, Mount Coolum I cannot thank you for all your hard work.

I am pleased to advise that

They arrived, rapidly assessed the situation, stabilised her as best they could and in what was probably a very this as an opportunity to offer my to send a quick thank you to the short time, though it felt likeI want forever, congratulations and my sincerest they were on their way to the hospital paramedics (Chantal Greaney and Melissa thanks for all your hard work in Kingaroy. As it turned out,Dajic) it was who assessed my son and took him (August 8), for the second and dedication.

Today thought best to airlift her to Princess to hospital on Wednesday night (July 12).in It as many months, I needed time I would like to take the time to express our thanks Russell Bowles asm Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane. She tocall call was the first time I have ever had to the[Triple Zero] for assistance. to various QASCommissioner officers for their attendance QAS arrived in Brisbane before her husband My husband, who has advanced in doing so and assistance at our unplanned home birth and son got back to Bunya. ambulance and I was quite nervousParkinson’s disease and unsealed

we have received Russell Bowles ASM 427 letters of appreciation this year, with 866 staff QAS Commissioner acknowledged.

I would like to use

– worried I was overreacting and wasting the in his neck, had fallen and fractures We are so thankful and grateful that

on 4/9/2017. I commend the Triple Zero officer

time. The two ladies who (Julie Ricardo) for her efficiency and ability they to hadattended pain in his hip. were able to attend thisparamedics situation our home were so calm and reassuring. reassure us that help was on the way and clear so promptly and we simply would like YourThey officers Marni (Sweedman) and to say ‘thankyou so very much’! quickly assessed my son and took Michael us to Lady (Farnham) were professional instructions in the meantime. Tammy (Olsson)

efficient but also very ‘human’, son with arrived on scene approximately 5 minutes We will be forever grateful. Cilento, all the while distracting myand

26

reassuring and comforting to us both.

Urraween following the birth of our son Woody and I Diane, would

Wiggles videos and calming a nervous and

like to commend her professionalism, calm in

panicked mum. Thank you for such excellent

the situation and ability to treat me as a fellow

service and care!!! I don't believe this service

being rather than just a patient. She was caring,

gets the recognition it deserves for all the work

compassionate and efficient. I appreciate Tammy

your paramedics do.

I am extremely grateful for your service.

Dell, West Caloundra

Just wanted to share pictures of our baby girl’s first birthday yesterday Amanda, Wellington Point Hospital. I believe Arto (Hirsimaki) and another (November 9) after her dramatic, officer (Andrew Rach) assisted with my transfer roadside arrival last year! arranging for our transfer through to Hervey Bay

from Hunters Hut through to Hervey Bay and

A big thanks to Chris (Hurlock)

I found Arto to be very attentive to my needs

Just want to give a shout out to the LARU andofficer Dave (Wright) for taking who attended my home on Monday me (August to Townsville Hospital on

at this time considering I was having much difficulty. I hope our message can reach the individual officers involved. Thank you to QAS for

21). His name was Steve (Kliese) and we are

the important work you do I know we certainly

in the Ipswich area. He was prompt, caring,

October 20 after I fractured my wrist chasing Tess the dog back compassionate, empathetic, funny and the list needed the service on this day! Our little man into the yard after the gate blew goes on. He had me reassured within minutes.

Woody is doing great settling in at home with his open and I head dived into to the If my thanks could be passed to his OIC that older sister Anna, feeding and sleeping well.

Surprisingly – or maybe not – she was concrete drive. would be appreciated.

Darren and Kate, Lakeside

36 QAS Insight

SPRING 2017

QAS_Insight_Magazine_SPRING_2017_DRAFT3.indd 36

my first baby to hate car rides. lol.

Yesterday we went back to the bus Des,took Silkstone stop she was born beside and another photo one year on. Sadly, my husband Mark is away for work so he couldn’t be there.

We still tear up every time we think about her incredible arrival and are just grateful that she was born safely that day with the help of the QAS. The paramedics who turned up Peter (Harry) and Jarryd (Wallin), along with (Gregory Lavis) and (Todd Benjamin) were so lovely! Eve is the sweetest little girl whom we simply adore and we can’t imagine our lives without her in it!

Thank you again from the bottom of our hearts QAS for the wonderful work you do! Xx Jennifer, Bray Park

Summer 2017–18

That was Tess’s chance to chase the cat over the road after seven years of wanting it so bad, however, she missed out. It was the cat’s lucky day not mine or the dog’s. It was a good trip to the 11/10/17 8:43 pm hospital with humour.

Thanks once again!

Christine, Rasmussen

Thank you

I’d like to write a sincere thankyou to the ambulance officers who came to my aid in September on the Gold Coast.

The paramedics were Kelly (Ward) and Rebekah (Munn) and there was also a lovely student, but unfortunately, I cannot recall her name. I would just like to thank them for their professional attention and for their wonderful bedside manner.

I was so relieved to see them when I could finally open my eyes past the pain I was experiencing at the time. Nothing short of ‘Angels in Green’ as far as I’m concerned.

It was my first ambulance experience in my 53 years of life, and hopefully my last.

I am truly grateful to them for making me feel so comfortable after agreeing to let my husband call for assistance on the night.

I couldn’t breathe properly and I was in a great deal of pain. They were all just amazing.

Getting in touch Messages collated on these pages are derived from a range of QAS contact points, including: via Facebook facebook.com/qldambulanceservice by email QAS.Media@ambulance.qld.gov.au by post QAS Media Unit, GPO Box 1425 Brisbane QLD 4001

I’ll always remember feeling so safe with them, I was clearly in very good hands.

They eventually took me to the hospital after administering pain relief and checking me over for absolutely everything. My sincerest thanks yet again.

Truly grateful for their excellent service.

Lyn, Willowvale To the paramedic at Proston station called Jonesy (Nolan Jones) who looked after me on June 1 after I was bitten by an eastern brown snake.

All is going OK thanks to your skilful and compassionate attention in transporting me to the Kingaroy Hospital.

I would also like to say thanks to the crew who later airlifted me to Toowoomba Hospital.

Gail, Moore Park Beach

27

Thankyou Mitch (Ware), Brendan (Schultz), Corey (Wakefield) and Ben (Darling-Filby) for making Mia and myself feel so safe and confident on our Sunday afternoon and evening journeys.

Mia had surgery that night at St Andrew’s and is recovering really well.

We feel very grateful to have had such great guys to help us out on such a tough afternoon. I know many situations they attend are a lot more testing or fulfilling but it meant the world to us.

Please find attached a thank you card from Mia. Nicola, Cornubia

Summer 2017–18

OIC Justin Cairns writes that the Far North Queensland town is awash with more than rainfall records – thanks to the efforts of LAC volunteers and a generous legacy offer.

About four years ago an executor of the estate of the late Ida Prandolini came to me and asked if the Babinda LAC could do with some extra funds.

With the funding we sourced three machines to be supported by the local businesses that house them: the Babinda SPAR supermarket, the Babinda Bowls Club and Bramston Beach Café.

That only leaves us to quibble with Tully for being Australia’s most saturated town in rainfall. Each year Babinda, Tully and Innisfail fight it out for the golden gumboot and title of ‘wettest town’.

The staff at each business were trained and every year since then they get a refresher on CPR and AED operation.

■ Sienna and Charlotte Cairns practising.

28

I thanked her for the kind offer of a donation and suggested we could place some AED machines around the town and surrounding area – as it is well documented that out of hospital cardiac arrest survival increases greatly with early defibrillation and CPR. The estate’s executors were delighted that the funds would be put to such good use in the local community.

Our LAC also got on board with this idea and supported our efforts wherever possible.

■ QFES Bear Prince with Mel Elledge.

■ Members of SPAR with their AED.

A fourth AED was added 18 months later and is based at Cootharinga, a not-for-profit organisation that helps people of all different abilities.

With four AEDs in a catchment area of 3,000 people, I imagine Babinda would be Queensland’s – or maybe Australia’s – most AED-saturated town. CPR awareness has been a great asset to Queenslanders. When I was a Cadet in younger days, Bert Toogood and Richie Oliveri did similar programs but they did not have the structure of today and the only AED around was a pre-cordial thump!

Babinda is officially recognised by the Bureau of Meteorology as the wettest town with Tully second and Innisfail third. Our average annual rainfall is about four metres with nearby Mount Bellenden Ker averaging 7,950mm per annum and Mount Bartle Frere behind us an unofficial 9,000mm.

Tully to its credit built the ‘Golden Gumboot’ and did tourism wonders.

Babinda always talked about building a Big Umbrella but it costs a lot of money to do these things – Tully’s Gumboot stands 7,900mm high to correspond with the amount of rain received in the year it won the contest! For the record Babinda was last year named the wettest town in Australia. Again.

■ Standing, left to right: Dante Baldi, Brian James, OIC Justin Cairns, Jodi McMurry, Selena McMurry and paramedic Peter Carnsew ■ Seated, left to right: Mel Elledge, paramedic Stephen Willmott and Beryl Ball ■ Absent: LAC members Holly Goriss, Fred Lizzio, Yvonne O’Leary and Mark Chalmers All photos on this page via Justin Cairns unless noted

Summer 2017–18

Photo: Frances76 at the English language Wikipedia

Babinda is saturated … and with AEDs too

HARU report

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29

Pinnacle of achievement … and memories “I am so delighted at having exceeded the $10,000 target for legacy,’’ Rhys said.

“However, raising the money is a bonus, the real honour for me is being able to keep the memories of Alan and Zac in the spotlight so that we can continue to remember the great work they did and the wonderful impressions they made on so many lives.’’

■ Rhys and his co-climbers unfurl the commemorative banner.

It was a bittersweet feeling for ACP2 Rhys Greedy when he took on Nepal’s mighty Mera Peak on October 29 for his latest QAS fundraising effort.

Rhys, who was climbing his fourth mountain in as many years, came extremely close to reaching the 6,476 metre summit on day eight, but was forced to turn back after he developed frostbite on his big right toe.

30

“As a personal challenge I had substantially cut down my itinerary so that I could reach the summit on day eight, but I had to turn around because if I had kept going, I would have lost my toe. I could feel it freezing,” he said.

The 29-year-old cancer survivor has dedicated his life to raising funds and awareness of the disease since being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2009.

“I made it above 6,200 metres elevation. I was less than 300 metres from the summit … it would have been about another 1.5 hours of walking,’’ Rhys said.

And while Rhys did not quite achieve what he had set out to do in Nepal, he was ecstatic to exceed his fundraising goals for 2017, which was to raise $10,000 for QAS Legacy.

“It doesn’t sound like much but when you are up there experiencing treacherous conditions it may as well have been miles away.”

The Nepal trip pushed Rhys’s efforts for legacy in 2017 up to $11,500, with the money being donated to the families of two paramedics – Alan Price and Zac Leto– who tragically died while still employed by QAS.

Rhys, who undertook nine months of intense training – in between his shifts at Chermside Ambulance Station – to climb Nepal’s highest trekking mountain, said it was devastating not to make it to the summit as he had been feeling so strong apart from the frostbite.

Summer 2017–18

The Nepal trip capped off what was a milestone year for Rhys who was named the face of the Cancer Council’s Queensland Relay for Life in 2017.

Rhys, who also celebrated being cancer-free for eight years in October, said when he undertook the relay later that month, he was overcome with emotion.

“Undertaking the first lap with other survivors was a really emotional experience for me,’’ he said.

“Not only was I reflecting on my own personal battle with cancer, I was also remembering my own family and friends who had died from cancer.”

It seems that there is no holding Rhys down: he is planning his next ‘bucket list’ trek – to Ecuador in 2018, where he will be attempting five volcano summits in 16 days.

Priority One: Peer Support Officers

Peer Support Officers PSOs are ambulance paramedics, PTS officers and EMDs who volunteer to be of assistance to their colleagues in helping to make acceptable meaning of the more stressful effects of ambulance work as well as other work and life stressors. PSOs undergo a rigorous selection and training process and agree to work from a position of good will, value individual human rights and the autonomy of individuals. PSOs are bound to adhere to written responsibilities, the principles of confidentiality and ethical practice, all stipulated in the Peer Support Officer Code of Conduct.

What a PSO does ► A PSO will make contact with ambulance personnel after a workplace incident that has, on face value, a reasonable potential of being an acutely stressful experience for those involved (e.g. traumatic death of a child).

Most times a PSO will be advised by the Communications Centre that such an incident has occurred, but it is important to know that often, an event that is difficult for a paramedic/ EMD is one wherein there is a personal identification with the suffering of others in some individual way.

In this type of situation, a PSO or others in the QAS may not be aware that this has been a critical event.

For this reason, staff are encouraged to be proactive in contacting a PSO or counsellor, when they find a case has impacted upon them.

A PSO is not ...

Where do I find help?

► A PSO will provide psychological support to QAS personnel, and as needed to their dependant family members usually by listening to issues, allowing for emotional ‘off loading’ and possibly asking a few questions to assist in clarifying matters.

 an advocate or

► Where needed, a PSO may encourage and facilitate referral to a mental health professional, but staff can self-refer to any of the professional counsellors available through the Priority One program.

the workplace. Mediation is a specific skill for which PSOs are not trained.

► A PSO will actively promote and disseminate information to personnel about the services available through the Priority One Program. ► A PSO will understand and be attentive to the principles of confidentiality in respect to information given to them by individuals who seek their assistance.

spokesperson for you or others, in industrial, legal, managerial or other matters.

24-hour telephone counselling  1800 805 980

 a counsellor and nor does a

QAS Priority One Manager  0419 707 397

 a mediator of matters in

QAS Staff Counsellors  0408 191 215 or 0417 079 679 or 0409 056 983

PSO replace the important role of a mental health professional.

 to be drawn into

investigative or disciplinary interviews to act as a witness or be allied to any one stance, position or perspective.

A PSO may take on a supportive role around such matters, usually by facilitating defusing for individual personnel, as needed, after such interviews have taken place.

QAS Priority One State Office  3635 3333 LGBTIQ+ support service  3830 5888 Chaplaincy service  3835 9923 Local Priority One Peer Support Officers or Counsellors  See list in each QAS Station or on QASPortal

This should only occur at the request of the person requiring support.

► A PSO will recognise the limitations of their support role, and always seek advice/ assistance from a nominated mental health care professional whenever matters are unclear.

INTERESTED? HOW TO BECOME A PSO ► Submit a PSO Application form to the Priority One office – this can be found on the QAS Portal at: https://qas.psba.qld.gov.au/priorityone/peer/Pages/Application-and-Selection-Process.aspx ► Referee checks are conducted. ► Invitation to attend an interview with a staff counsellor and external psychologist in your regional area. ► If successful at interview, applicant then asked to attend a six-day training course. ► If successful at the end of this training course, offer to become a PSO. For more information about this process please contact the Priority One office or speak to a local PSO in your area.

Summer 2017–18

31

42 not out: Afghan veteran finds new purpose Tom Kelsey has gone from one frontline to another and, while he loves his emergency services role, the ex-soldier-turned paramedic is determined to help keep the memory alive of former military comrades who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

The 29-year-old, who served three tours in the 2/14th Light Horse Regiment, is now channelling his energy into raising funds for the not-for-profit organisation 42 for 42, which aims to build a memorial for the 41 Australian soldiers who died during the Afghanistan war between 2001–2014.

Founded by Sean Mulqueen, a good mate who was an explosives expert in Afghanistan, the charity is more than half-way to achieving the $100,000 needed to build the memorial next to Suncorp Stadium after staging its second annual 42 for 42 Challenge fundraiser in November.

32

The fundraiser ran for 42 hours and involved teams of volunteers taking it in turns to walk around the concourse of Suncorp Stadium, with each team carrying a combined weight of 42kg in backpacks. Each hour of the challenge represented one of the Australian soldiers killed in the Afghanistan war.

Above

■ Promotional poster for the 2017 42 for 42 event on November 10–12.

Right

■ Tom Kelsey has exchanged the ASLAV armoured reconnaisance vehicle of his deployment to Afghanistan for a QAS ambulance but continues to embody the spirit of his former unit’s motto “Forward” in his new role.

Summer 2017–18

The extra hour honoured those who were wounded or psychologically damaged.

Tom said he was delighted with the response to this year’s challenge, which grew from a single person event to 30 sponsored teams, including a team with QAS staff.

“It was so heartwarming seeing everyone have so much enthusiasm, no matter what time of the day or night they were walking around the concourse of the stadium,’’ he said. “All of the participants displayed so much strength and determination and it was wonderful seeing everyone supporting and encouraging one another.”

Tom was in the army for five years and was deployed to Afghanistan, Iraq and the Solomon Islands. He was inspired to join the army by his hero, his late grandfather, Robert Kelsey, a WWII soldier captured by the Japanese in the fall of Singapore and made a POW, “working in appalling conditions on the Burma railway.”

42 for 42

Left

■ An artist’s impression of the proposed memorial to the fallen service personnel.

Below left

■ Sean Mulqueen led the 2016 challenge at Suncorp Stadium with his backpack weighing 42 commemorative kilograms.

Below

■ Media call before the event with Sean taking questions.

“That trip to Afghanistan was really bad. We lost 10 blokes in three months, but at the same time I knew when I was over there that I wanted to move into a medical career where I could help people.

“The turning point for me was when we were sending off two of my mates at a ramp ceremony. Just as their coffins were being placed on the plane, a helicopter landed with another Australian solider who had been shot and killed.”

Thankfully, Robert made it home alive and Tom, who was extremely close to his late grandfather, is reminded daily of his ‘hero’ whose image is tattooed on his right shoulder.

While Tom was overseas, the combat first aid trained officer said he encountered many casualties – both civilian and military. “In Afghanistan, I saw a lot of trauma but that was where I also discovered that I had a knack for treating people,” he said.

Photo: Adobe Stock / Michalkintl

His last trip to Afghanistan had a huge impact on him and it was when he decided that he wanted to pursue paramedicine.

Tom said he hasn’t looked back since joining QAS in 2011 after returning home from Afghanistan.

“The main reason I chose to become a paramedic is because it has a huge sense of purpose and real meaning,’’ he said.

“This role is so important and I love being able to help people.”

As if his paramedic and charity commitments aren’t time consuming enough, Tom is busy studying for his masters at university so he can apply to become a CCP. He is also renovating the home he shares with his paramedic wife Beth, who is based at Eatons Hill Station.

33 Background

■ School is out for these kids in the Afghan countryside, the barren beauty of this image evoking a little of the community capacity-building and peacekeeping efforts by Australian forces in Uruzgan and other provinces – but a horrific fate may be only one footstep away for the photographer …

The inaugural 42 for 42 Challenge in 2016 raised $30,000, half of which was donated to Legacy.

Summer 2017–18

Quiet Achiever’s Story: Neil Hobbs For 40 years Neil Hobbs has been attending to people in their time of need – but in January 2016 the veteran paramedic found himself experiencing his own medical emergency: one that almost claimed his life.

“I had acute pulmonary oedema. There were no previous symptoms, I just went to bed around midnight and five minutes later I was struggling to breathe,’’ Neil said.

Above

■ Prophetic words indeed in this 1990 newspaper clipping.

Above right

■ Vintage ID card from 21 years ago – at the halfway mark of Neil’s QAS career.

Right

■ When it all began: Neil’s initial qualification in October 1977.

34

“When I started getting the crackles in my lungs, I knew I was in trouble but I also knew that if I panicked it could get worse, so I made myself stay calm.”

As Neil’s lungs were beginning to fill with fluid, his wife Joanne called Triple Zero (000). Despite being in distress, Neil can now laugh as he recalls how he ‘kept taking the phone off his wife to explain medical terms to the Emergency Medical Dispatcher …’

Amazingly, when the crew responded to the call, it was a former student Neil had mentored who was one of the first paramedics on scene.

“I just kept on apologising to her … At the same time it was very rewarding to know that I was in such good hands,” he laughed.

Neil was given aspirin, glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) and Continuous Positive Airways Pressure (CPAP) and, by the time the ambulance arrived at Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH), he was starting to talk in sentences and was improving.

Above

■ February 7, 1983: Stage 1 course (Neil in centre).

Below

■ March 31, 1989: Coronary Care course (Neil 2nd left, back row).

“Experiencing my own medical emergency has made me even more aware of how patients might be feeling when they come into our care,’’ he said. “Now I find myself explaining things much more simply and I am very direct with them. I appreciate how stressful it can be when you are facing a life and death situation.’’

But this was just the beginning of his medical ordeal. He spent three months waiting for the doctors at the PAH to let him have a quadruple bypass. The reason for the lengthy wait was because there were concerns he would not survive the operation.

Fast forward almost two years and Neil, an ACP2 at Wynnum Station, said he is well on the road to recovery and making the most of every day.

“I’m back on the road – mostly as a third officer – but in 2018 I am hoping to be back to normal duties.”

Neil said his near-death experience has changed the way he cares for his patients.

Summer 2017–18

The former driving instructor, who derives great joy from making people laugh with his funny jokes and sense of humour, is celebrating a four-decade paramedical career which has seen many changes to industry practices.

Neil signed up to be a Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade (QATB) officer after hearing a radio advertisement and thinking he ‘could do with a less stressful job …’

He started his career with QATB on October 31, 1977 after ‘having gone through the rigorous ordeal’ of achieving his first aid and home nursing certificates.

“It took me a whole month to do that and I had to get to Medallion level with my First Aid in 12 months; I really felt the pressure to achieve that level,” he said.

Quiet Achiever’s Story

“On joining, we had two weeks of in-service training where we learned the advanced skills of bandaging, splinting and CPR, plus how to use use oxygen and entonox – which were the only drugs we had at that time. ‘’After completing our training, we were deemed qualified to go and treat patients. Our vehicles were a bit of a mix: Holdens, Fords and a few Dodges, all with canvas litter-style stretchers and very basic equipment.”

The shifts were a mix of one and two-officer lines. Neil said he was fortunate to start the job on a two-officer line with a partner who had been in the QATB for a few years.

“One of our first jobs was a Code 1 through city peak hour traffic to a pedestrian who had been hit by a car,’’ he said. “I am glad the patient was fine as I was a nervous wreck by the time we arrived on scene.”

In the early days, Neil said, there was not much in the way of equipment or interventions but, ‘just as it is now, our patients were always our priority’ and received the best treatment possible. He said the biggest changes he has seen in his career are advances in equipment and the way patient care is delivered.

“The way we look after and treat our patients has vastly changed: at the start of my career we were not even allowed to have a stethoscope in our possession,” he remembered.

“As well, no longer do we have to transport our asthmatic, diabetic and chest pain patients Code 1 to hospitals because they are too serious for us to treat; we can stabilise our trauma and cardiac patients on scene.”

Neil has served in many different areas in the south-east, including Toogoolawah, Lowood, Boonah, Tamborine and Canungra.

There have been many memorable incidents Neil has witnessed in his career, including being one of the first crews on scene at the tragic Boondall bus crash in 1994 which claimed the lives of 12 people and injured dozens.

Above left

■ First responders: Neil at the scene of the bus crash at Boondall in October 1994 which killed 12 and injured 39 people.

Above

■ Triage of a different kind: stray garden gnome in need of care at Toogoolawah on January 9, 2002.

The bus, which had been carrying about 50 passengers, had been travelling along the Gateway Motorway, when it crashed and rolled.

35

“We were the second or third unit on scene and my partner and I stayed there the entire time.

Our role included assessing the severity of the patients’ injuries and deciding who needed immediate transport,’’ Neil said.

“It was very chaotic with lots of activity, but it was organised chaos as the area had been set up properly for categorising patients.”

A lighter incident involved a ‘gnome-napping’ at Toogoolawah which made the local paper when one of a number of stolen gnomes that were turning up around the town, was placed at the ambulance station with a note requesting that it be given first aid.

Below

■ Neil at the wheel of a vintage QATB vehicle at the George Street Festival in 1990.

(If any reader knows the identity of the officer standing on the running-board please get in touch!)

“Throughout my career I have witnessed tragedies and miracles, I have seen mostly the best in people, with occasionally the worst,” Neil said.“I have seen people with major injuries or illnesses taking it in their stride and I have seen people with minor problems collapse in a heap, but one thing I will say is that I hope in some way I have helped them all and made their recovery quicker and easier.”

All photos courtesy of Neil Hobbs; thanks for the great archive!

Summer 2017–18

KJM’s living legacy gives on KJM Foundation The KJ McPherson Education and Research Foundation (KJM Foundation) is a not-for-profit entity dedicated to improving patient care by providing research and professional development opportunities for uniformed personnel.

The Foundation is named for Kenneth James (Jim) McPherson, a Queensland Ambulance officer who lost his life in an aerial ambulance crash in Bundaberg in 1987.

Jim McPherson was well known for his compassion and respect for patients and for his commitment to the development of clinical skills.

QAS personnel and paramedic students undertaking research and development projects aimed at improving patient care across the state have been awarded more than $34,000 in grants.

The grant recipients were announced at the annual KJ McPherson Education and Research Foundation Patron’s Day symposium and presentation ceremony at Brisbane City Hall on November 22, attended by more than 160 QAS staff from across the State.

Commissioner Russell Bowles congratulated the recipients on their awards and said they were fantastic ambassadors for the QAS. “I commend the recipients of these awards for their hard work and enthusiasm,” he said.

“They are following in the footsteps of Jim McPherson, who embodied all of the best qualities of the QAS and demonstrated a strong commitment to training, education and research. The KJM Foundation complements the existing research capacity of QAS,’’ he said.

36

Above

■ ACP Lisa Davenport receives the Patron's Research Grant award.

Right

■ The KJM Foundation Patron's Day symposium in Brisbane City Hall.

Summer 2017–18

“The generous support of the Foundation and its sponsors encourages QAS paramedics to identify innovations that can help advance the profession and integrated health care which will contribute directly to improved outcomes for our patients.”

Since 1988, a total of $357,455 has been awarded to 176 grant recipients.

Some of the innovations that have contributed to better patient care include thrombolytics to dissolve clots for heart attack victims and research to validate rapid response vehicles.

Theme of the 2017 symposium was Integrated Healthcare: 125 years of the Queensland Ambulance Service – Then Now, and Beyond.

Speakers included KJM Foundation Patron Major General Professor John Pearn ao, Lady Cilento Children’s Hospital Emergency Department Director Jason Acworth, QAS Commissioner Russell Bowles asm, Deputy Commissioner Service Planning and Performance Dee Taylor-Dutton and Medical Director Stephen Rashford.

KJM Foundation 2017 grants

KJ McPherson Education and Research Foundation Grant Recipients 2017 Grant

Recipient/s

Patron’s Research Grant sponsored by Physio Control ($15,000)

► Lisa Davenport – ACP Kirwan Ambulance Station, Townsville LASN

Dr Peter Stephenson Overseas Study Grant sponsored by Dr Peter Stephenson ($5,500)

► David Krygger – ACP2, LARU Mudgeeraba Ambulance Station, Gold Coast LASN

Bundaberg LAC State Operations Grant sponsored by Bundaberg Local Ambulance Committee ($5,000)

► Kimberley Sheather – Operations Centre Supervisor Toowoomba Operations Centre

QAS Research & Development Grant sponsored by Spectrum Data Systems International ($3,000)

► Mary-Anne Head – Acting Senior Clinical Educator Clinical Education Unit, Gold Coast LASN

Paramedics Australasia Professional Development Grant sponsored by Paramedics Australasia ($2,000)

► Barrie Barker – Acting Clinical Support Officer, Clinical Education Unit, Metro North LASN

QAS Professional Development Grant sponsored by Laerdal ($1,000)

► Peter Warrener – Assistant Commissioner Metro South LASN

United Voice Graduate of the Year Grant sponsored by United Voice ($1,000)

► Luke Morton – South West LASN Best Paper ($600) ► Gillian Howard, Central Queensland University “Treatment of Agitated Patients: Olanzapine”

Paramedics Australasia Scientific Student Grants sponsored by Paramedics Australasia

Runner-up Best Paper ($400) ► Myah Isgrove, Griffith University “Frequency of Self-Care Use by Paramedic Students Following Clinical Placement” Best Poster ($600) ► Gillian Howard, Central Queensland University “Olanzapine” Runner-up Best Poster ($400) ► Zoe Leadley, Central Queensland University “N-Acetylcysteine”

All the grant winners together with members of the QAS Executive and KJM Foundation representatives.

Summer 2017–18

37

Happenings The Wide Bay QAS team recently joined with teams from the QPS, SES, QFES, Queensland Health, Central Queensland University Bundaberg and medical students from The University of Queensland in a major event exercise – a significant railway crash – which was aimed at pre-hospital operations.

The highly realistic simulation saw more than 40 patients triaged, treated and transported as a test of multiagency command and control practices.

This was the first of several major exercises that Wide Bay QAS plans to undertake in the coming months.

Some sterling service indeed by LAC members who were honoured at Wowan on October 28.

At left, Stan Briggs, who has clocked-up no less than 35 years, is presented with his award by EMO Warren Kellett.

On the right, Janelle Boto displays her 10-year award following Warren’s presentation.

Congratulations to Janelle and Warren and thanks to all our dedicated LAC supporters!

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Hands-on demonstrations at Surfers Paradise for October's Restart-a-Heart Day engaged members of the community and GC2018 mascot Borobi.

Centenary Station Open Day celebrations with staff and LAC members.

Unrelated except by the highly distinguished reasons for their gathering are these two groups.

On the left, South Johnstone LAC members on October 4 celebrated the centenary of the station’s operation.

At right, on October 24, OIC Millaa Millaa Dahleen Nugent marked 30 years with QAS in the company of LAC members and Assistant Commissioner Michelle Baxter.

Summer 2017–18

Happenings: pictorial round-up

The Mission Beach Ambulance Station Open Day on October 2 was a doubly significant day as it marked the 20th anniversary of the station’s official opening.

In a great response from such a small community, several dozen locals, many of them children (and a small carpet python which may have been attracted by the mouthwatering BBQ!), turned up for a look.

Present OIC Adrian House stands with Bob McIlroy in front of the opening day plaque.

Bob was instrumental in establishing the station and was the inaugural OIC of Tully and Mission Beach.

He is currently the President of the Tully/Mission Beach LAC and is still heavily involved with QAS.

Members of the Kelman family reunited on October 11 with QAS staff who assisted in the birth of Lola – paramedics Damon Knuppel and Sam Banim, and EMD Shannon Sullens.

39 Doggone it – CPR awareness is for everyone as Border Collie Rudie shows, giving OIC Gavin Leader paws for thought on September 14 at Macleay Island Station’s Open Day.

All smiles in the preparations for Mount Isa Station’s Open Day on November 18 are Casey Horne, Matilda Barwick and Melissa Cheshire.

On October 31 at the QAS Museum in Wynnum, 10 retired QAS officers undertook their recertification course under the tutelage of Des Kurz.

Summer 2017–18

Appointments and farewells Notes Reflects activities during the period from September 1 to November 30, 2017

40

Years of Service

NAME

Position Title

Division / Location

Lynette Rihia

Patient Transport Officer

29

Metro South LASN

John Tunchon

Paramedic

26

Metro South LASN

Gary Gillies

CAD Operations Manager, Operational Support Unit

24

Service Planning and Performance

Neil Weston

Emergency Medical Dispatcher

23

Queensland Emergency Management System Coordination Centre

Peta Abell

Paramedic

23

Central Queensland LASN

Robert Watt

Honorary Ambulance Officer

17

Wide Bay LASN

Raymond (Paul) Chapman

Officer-in-Charge

14

South West LASN

Paola De Tina

Senior Educator, Communications, QASEC

13

Service Planning and Performance

Mark Hevey

Senior Educator, QASEC

13

Service Planning and Performance

Jennifer Kennedy

Professional Development Officer

13

Maroochydore Operations Centre

Robert O'Donoghue

Patient Transport Officer

11

Townsville LASN

Marty Smyth

Director, Service Planning and Performance

10

Service Planning and Performance

Brian Pink

Senior Clinical Educator, QASEC

10

Service Planning and Performance

Movers and shakers Notes Appointments made during the period August 1 – December 1, 2017

NAME

Position Title

Appointed date

Location

Nigel Fordyce

Senior Operations Supervisor

4/09/17

Kedron Park

Lydia Dawson

Manager Procurement and Contract Management

30/10/17

Kedron Park

Elizabeth Scott

Business Support Officer

9/10/17

Toowoomba

Matthew Verrenkamp

Senior HR Officer/Health & Safety Advisor

16/11/17

Kedron Park

Innes Askew

Clinical Equipment Officer

14/08/17

Geebung

Tracey Shaw

Manager Equipment

30/10/17

Geebung

Michelle Molyneux

Clinical Equipment Officer

14/08/17

Geebung

Commissioner Russell Bowles announced the appointments of Stephen Zsombok as Assistant Commissioner, Darling Downs LASN and Tim Eva as Assistant Commissioner, Sunshine Coast LASN.

Tim has a career in ambulance of over 29 years in two jurisdictions and a QAS career spanning more than 21 years. He commenced as an Intensive Care Paramedic in 1996 and has held a number of operational and managerial roles.

Stephen’s QAS career spans more than 24 years and he commenced as a Honorary and Temporary Ambulance Officer in 1993. He has held operational and managerial roles, most recently as Director HRIS and Senior User Business Representative.

His most recent role was Director Operations, Metro North LASN. Tim has also undertaken the role of Assistant Commissioner, Metro North LASN on occasions.

Summer 2017–18

Department title / section / topic

Award winning bank for those who serve Queensland.

O TION F THE ITU TOMER-OWN Y E

D

2017 RY

At QBANK, we know if your job is to look after Queensland, our job is to look after you.

13 77 28 | qbank.com.au Summer 2017–18

G

VE

E

QBANK’s Canstar award rating shows our commitment to bettering the everyday banking services provided to those who serve Queensland with Police, Ambulance and Firefighters at the heart of the business.

US

R EA

C

Customer Owned Institution of the Year — Everyday Banking

INS T

i

D A Y B A NK

IN

Santa’s visit

ii

Brisbane staff were surprised by an unexpected guest who dropped in to spread some early Christmas cheer and good wishes to all QAS staff and volunteers for a safe and happy festive season.

Top ■ Santa posed for a group photo with the RSQ crew.

Centre ■ Shannon Sullens gave The Real Santa an informative briefing on the vital work of the EMDs and the technology used.

■ Before taking his leave, The Real Santa paused to bust a few moves with Christopher Rendall-Day and others.

Summer 2017–18

2752QAS

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