Do you have a passion to work in the pre-hospital emergency care industry? Have you ever thought about becoming an Emergency Medical Dispatcher? This job could be the perfect way to launch you into the industry and give you the extra incentive to up-skill and become a private sector medic – or prepare you for university by studying the HLT51020 – Diploma of Emergency Health Care.
As an example of the types of jobs you can do, here’s an overview of a Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) ad for Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD).
EMD’s can also be known as Call taker, Assistant Control Centre Officers, Emergency Medical Dispatch Call Taker.
An Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) is an operational role within the QAS that works in collaboration with the Operation Centre team, and usually under the in-direct supervision of a Communications Team Leader.
EMDs who receive emergency calls, provide essential pre-arrival advice, and coordinate and dispatch QAS resources and patient transport movements.
To be a successful Emergency Medical Dispatch Support Officer (EMDSO), it goes without saying you should have superior communication skills and the ability to manage extreme situations with calmness and leadership. You must also have the ability to type 40wpm with 95% accuracy.
For the most part, on-the-job training is provided by the ambulance service itself. Emergency Medical Dispatchers typically complete a Certificate III and IV in Ambulance Communications (link opens the training.gov.au website) within 12 months of commencing employment with the service. Unlike other health care positions, you don’t necessarily need to gain qualification before you can apply.
“The Emergency Medical Dispatcher role is more than just answering Triple Zero (000) calls”
Certificate III and IV in Ambulance Communications overview;
For more information on the role and the Queensland recruitment process visit the Queensland Ambulance website.
If you’re from NSW, learn more about Control Centre Officers on the NSW Ambulance website and find out about EMD careers here.
In Victoria, emergency call centres are handled by ESTA. Find out more information about Emergency Medical Dispatchers on the ESTA website.
Information on Emergency medical dispatch support officers (EMDSOs) in South Australia.
Find Triple Zero Call Centre jobs on SEEK.
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With so many careers in health care, it really helps if you know which career initially appeals to you first. Create a paramedical career development plan with APC and get started on your health care career journey today.