The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) has over 1,600 volunteers across the State, providing support in a variety of roles.
There are two main types of QAS volunteers: The Operational Volunteers are ‘honorary’ ambulance officers, first responders and volunteer drivers. The Community Volunteers are non-operational and include CPR Awareness Program volunteers and Local Ambulance Committees (LACs).
LACs provide a direct link between the QAS and the community. There are approximately 150 active committees in Queensland, boasting more than 1,300 volunteers…nine of whom are right here in Tieri!
What is the Tieri Local Ambulance Committee (LAC)?
It is a voluntary-run committee, focused on fundraising to support the great people of Tieri and the QAS officers and station needs. A variety of functions, including raising awareness of ambulance services through community engagement activities; and fundraising to enhance QAS services such as funding further education or research opportunities for operational staff. Most of the work we do is to raise awareness of ambulance services. We also hold fundraising events and activities to help raise money to enhance QAS services. The type of fundraising work we do includes trivia nights, meat raffles, ham wheels, the Under 8’s Day at Tieri State School, an Emergency Services day, charity golf events, and lots more.
We also work with QAS staff to deliver Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) training. It’s easy to learn and, done effectively, if CPR is carried out in the first few minutes after a cardiac arrest, it can greatly improve the chances of the patient’s survival.
Do you need to have any formal medical training to be part of the LAC?
No – You can join as a LAC volunteer to contribute to the work of the committee generally, such as undertaking community engagement activities and delivering CPR Awareness sessions, or you can join as a LAC volunteer specifically to be trained to deliver vitally important CPR Awareness sessions in your community.
How can people get involved with – or support – Tieri’s LAC?
You can look us up on our Facebook page (Tieri LAC), come and see us at our local events, visit www.ambulance.qld.gov.au/volunteerrecruitment.html or call current President of the LAC, Anthony Hurst on 0421 917 655.
