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Your role as an emergency medical dispatcher
As an emergency medical dispatcher (EMD), you’ll coordinate ambulance services for people across Queensland.
This includes:
- taking phone calls from people who ring Triple Zero (000) in a medical emergency
- sending out ambulances and paramedics
- giving instructions over the phone
- booking non-urgent medical transport for patients.
We have full time, part time and casual roles, and you may work different shifts as part of a team.
How your role is different from a paramedic
An emergency medical dispatcher is the person you talk to when calling Triple Zero (000) in a medical emergency. Paramedics are health professionals who attend to patients and provide medical care.
What your day might look like
In this role, you’ll work for the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) in one of our operations centres. You’ll spend a large part of your day answering emergency calls from people who need an ambulance.
You’ll work out how serious the emergency is, decide on the best way to help, and send out ambulances and emergency resources.
A big part of your job is supporting people who have called Triple Zero (000) for an ambulance. You may need to give them life saving medical instructions, such as how to control bleeding, do CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation), or provide other first aid. You’ll listen carefully and help them stay calm under pressure.
You'll follow set scripts during calls to help you gather the right information, assess and prioritise needs, and give the right advice. You’ll use our computer and communication systems to make notes about the call, log incidents, and coordinate our ambulance crews and emergency response.
Many Queenslanders need help getting to and from hospitals and health clinics for non-urgent care. You’ll book ambulance transport for them, including any medical devices or support they need during the trip, such as a wheelchair or breathing support.
You’ll also work with police, fire and other services to keep your community safe and coordinate emergency responses during:
- major traffic accidents or water rescues
- floods, storms, bushfires and natural disasters
- building fires, chemical spills and radiation incidents
- violence, safety threats, or mental health emergencies.
Qualifications
You need your first aid certificate (HLTAID011 Provide first aid) to start work as an entry level EMD, including a current CPR unit, Provide cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (HLTAID009).
We’ll also pay for the following courses when you start with us, which you'll complete full time over 12 to 18 months.
- Certificate III in Ambulance Communications (Call-taking)
- Certificate IV in Ambulance Communications (Dispatch)
Learn more about becoming an entry level EMD on the QAS website.
Pay and benefits
Your pay rate and benefits will depend on your role and your pay point. In your first year you’ll start at emergency medical dispatcher level 1, pay point 1.
We also offer:
- regular wage increases
- a superannuation rate of 12.75%
- several types of leave, with 17.5% annual leave loading
- flexible working arrangements and a supportive workplace with free counselling and peer support
- salary packaging
- on the job paid training.
If you're moving to start a new job with us, you may be able to get help with moving and travel costs.
Learn more about working for the Queensland Ambulance Service
Regional opportunities
We have operations centres in Southeast Queensland and in the following regional cities.
- Toowoomba
- Rockhampton
- Townsville
- Cairns
Professional growth
We’ll help you grow your professional skills through:
- orientation programs and transition support for new staff
- workplace learning and coaching
- training and research programs and grants
- study leave and financial help for approved courses.
Career paths
Getting experience as an EMD or doing more training can lead to other roles.
- Senior emergency medical dispatcher
- Communications educator or mentor
- Operations centre supervisor or manager
- Professional development officer
If you plan to do more study, ask your training provider if your past studies can count towards a higher qualification.