SA Firefighter

Seems like Management have hushed Today Tonight up as it displays a poor image to the public about our so called u beaut ambulance service now government run.
If SA Health had left the independant country services the way they were instead of forcing them to merge with "SA Ambulance" by revoking their Emergency Ambulance Licence until they did merge. SAAS like St John Ambulance took over a lot of District Council run ambulance services that have in some case done a diservice to rural SA.

This has also helped me guys.

My only problem is I can't afford to leave the state to study (have my job, great work colleagues, family, friends) and my income is vital to my mum and I when it comes to everyday expenses.

Despite the fact that FUs degree doesn't seem to be that happy atm, I feel its probably the most appropriate.

Also, despite my shortcomings with Strath, I have applied to work at Goolwa as a volly. Interesting to see that Goolwa does more jobs than a metro station!

I can sympathise with you over Strath. Back in 91 - 92, I did my Ambulance training with that Station in the first few month there I helped with a lot of field duties as the other students were still doing recruit training so had to wait for them to commence the EC&T level 3 Course. I copped crap from a member when I commenced my course as I was an outsider. If you are from out of town you are out of the clique at this station.

There will always be SAAS volunteer stations in rural SA. And by the way your founding members could have gone rural to maintain your skills instead.

Quote from: wjw on November 25, 2010, 12:50:25 PM

Quote from: Blackfoot on November 23, 2010, 08:47:29 AM

There is another way of upskilling but does not involve SAAS. Many advanced courses are run in Adelaide on a yearly or twice yearly basis. For example:

Pre Hospital Trauma Life Support
International Trauma Life Support
Advanced Cardiac Life Support
Assessment and Treatment of Trauma
and all of the courses run by the Australian College of Emergency Nursing

All of these are accessible to SAAS (and other) volunteers who wish to upskill. Of course with our generous government you will need to pay out of your own pocket. Also SAAS clinical hierarchy will probably not recognise them with their NIH (not invented here) attitude.

Good luck chaps.

Some of these courses are instructed by  members of volunteer first responder group who have acquired instructor certification in PHTLS and ITLS when the course come to Adelaide.

no..it's about quality control.

SAAS (yes there will be those who disagree) needs to ensure that there is a consistent approach to the level of education (be what it may!) that is delivered to it's staff across the board. 

Just because a course is taught under an RTO provider  - doesn't mean it's up to scratch....just so long as the boxes are ticked on the RTO paperwork!

and WJW - if the first responder group you usually refer to on this forum is the one providing the course...then I will pass thanks!

The group that I was refering to started in the 90s and they are not an RTO certified organisation. The 2 instructors got the ITLS through Queensland Health and AREMT one has MEd and the other nothing.

Could you imagine a vollie doing 1 shift per week or fortnight? This course being paid by SAAS/government who would like a turn around on their investment of around $20000+ per volly, they would expect a big return on their investment. Therefore it aint going to happen especially with SAAS management and the AEA. 

Hi all,
In my opinion, the term paramedic should be registered and on the AHPRA (Australian Health Professional Registry Authority) register so that it excludes groups like the one here. With the minimum of Diploma Paramedical Science etc. It would clamp down on persons and groups using the name and confusing the public. 

On the public transport bus yesterday, a lady was getting off with a 'EMS Medi Taxi' shirt on. The writing was on the rear.

So maybe the ambulance word has being removed.

Either way, they have been going for 20 years which is a long time for volunteering.

If the poloshirt was a navy blue with star of life it is EMT ambulance mob. they do run around with the red and blues and some members are cowboys and should be closed down in my opinion.

why didn't they stay with the sth australian manufacturer (Mastacraft?) instead of going overseas?

Back to the EMS in Adelaide, I saw a short talk one of their members did on an introduction to the EMS. They are currently housed at "The Elms" at Glenside Hospital. (Co-located with the Lofty Fire Tower CFS brigade I believe)
They Operate solely on donations, which amounts to about $7000 a year (thats to pay for everything - fuel costs, property rental, medication, vehicle replacement etc).  
AFAIK they are the only other registered ambulance service in SA (Other than SAAS). They are responded as others have said, by doctors, hospitals and wellfair centres. (SAAS charge $600? flat rate for treatment).
If I remember rightly, they try to keep a 24 hour service, but lack of volunteers is making it hard / impossible to do that.
There you go... they have now got rid of the 3 Longreach Ambulances and managed to get funding for 2 ex ASV Volkswagen T5 Transporter ambulances that were only used for driver training in Rural Victoria and a 4wd Mitsubishi Express they intend to use for motocross 

If you read the Health Care Act 2009 properly, they will be issued with a temporary Restricted Non-Emergency Ambulance Licence which may be review 6 - 12 monthly (I think). The closest to a diploma I have is from the Ambulance Service in NT and that is equivalent to Cert 4 BEC. All I had to do was complete another 12 Modules to get the Diploma.

been revoked