It’s dedicated Emergency Medical Dispatch Support Officers like Alex and Kate who are the voices on the other end of the phone when South Australians call for help during a medical emergency.
Alex joined the SA Ambulance Service three years ago after previously serving in the Australian Army, attracted by the opportunity to help others.
“Many people who call triple zero are experiencing the worst moment of their life,” Alex said.
“To be able to assist them is a privilege and it’s so special to be a calming and reassuring voice for them.”
The SAAS Emergency Operations Centre, located in Eastwood, takes emergency calls from right across the state.
Kate started in the job about six months ago after searching for a role that allowed her to balance work and family life.
“You never know what the next call is going to be about and generally, no two calls are ever quite the same,” Kate said.
SAAS is currently recruiting for Emergency Medical Dispatch Support Officers like Kate and Alex, to answer emergency calls and coordinate non-emergency ambulance bookings.
While the job often involves having challenging conversations with people in the midst of a stressful situation, it can also be unashamedly rewarding.
For Alex, one of his recent rewards was helping someone deliver their baby.
“One of the really special things about this role is being given the opportunity to be able to provide first aid instructions and ways of assisting people until the ambulance does arrive,” he said.
“This can be in a variety of different ways, but one of the special ones I’ve had recently was being able to assist a woman with the delivery of her baby.”
Alex said aside from providing a lot of reassurance, he had to give medical advice to assist with a safe delivery for both the mother and her baby.
“I was very proud of them – especially as first-time parents – and I was very happy to help them deliver a lovely baby boy,” he said.
SAAS is also supported by more than 1200 volunteers across 80 locations across regional South Australia. In March, a volunteer recruitment campaign – Answer the Call – was launched to attract volunteers to local teams.
Operations Manager Jarred Gilbert encouraged the state’s regional residents to consider how they may contribute.
“SAAS volunteers help their communities in times of need, working with other likeminded individuals to answer the call when needed,” Mr Gilbert said.
“Becoming a volunteer can open up doors professionally, help you meet new people and gives you a sense of pride in helping your community.”
For more information about a career with SAAS or how to become a volunteer. visit the SA Ambulance Service website.
