Re-published 19th February, 2024
Are you passionate about helping others through the delivery of high-quality medical care? If you’re based in South Australia, then working for SA Ambulance Service (SAAS) in a emergency or non-emergency role could be of interest to you.
Keep reading to learn all about SAAS, the services they offer and how to volunteer or gain employment with the organisation.
About SA Ambulance Service
SAAS serves as South Australia’s primary provider of emergency ambulance transportation, clinical care, and patient transport services. They are committed to ensuring South Australian communities receive high-quality emergency pre-hospital medical assistance, non-emergency transportation, as well as rescue and retrieval services across the state.
With a committed team of more than 2700 career and volunteer staff, SAAS is the principal provider of ambulance services in South Australia comprising:*
- Out-of-hospital emergency medical care and transport
- A non-emergency ambulance transport service
- Emergency and major events management
- Rescue services in collaboration with other emergency services – e.g. water rescue, cliff rescue, confined space rescue
- SAAS MedSTAR Emergency Medical Retrieval
Other services offered
In addition to the above services provided, SAAS assists South Australian communities with a broad range of support. Some types of additional support include, but are not limited to, the following:
Emergency services
- Providing exceptional clinical care and organising referral, transportation, and retrieval services for urgent and time-sensitive patients.
- Receiving triple zero (000) calls, conducting patient triage, and dispatching ambulances and specialised resources to emergency situations.
- Administering pre-hospital emergency and urgent care, including treatment and transportation as necessary.
Trauma services
- Provision of aeromedical and medical retrieval services.
- Oversight of State Rescue Helicopter Services, facilitated through the SAAS Emergency Operations Centre (EOC).
- Administration of the Royal Flying Doctor Services (RFDS) contract.
Other services
- Organising the Patient Transport Service (PTS) to ensure the secure transfer of patients between hospital and home, home and hospital, and nursing home to nursing home.
- Overseeing Call Direct, a round-the-clock personal monitoring emergency service.
- Delivering in-house, nationally accredited training to SAAS staff as a RTO.
*Source: SA Ambulance Services, 2024.
Image source: SA Ambulance Services
Volunteer with SA Ambulance Service
With 1200+ volunteers across the state with over 70 teams, SAAS volunteers provide support within their communities assisting with professional emergency ambulance and patient transfer services.
What does volunteering involve?
To be a SAAS volunteer, you need to commit to 30 hours a month. As part of your duties, you will attend emergency and non-emergency ambulance calls amongst other responsibilities.
All volunteers need to undertake regular training and have the opportunity to be part of an ongoing roster. Availability varies across each team with multiple locations available to volunteer in regional South Australia.
How do I apply?
You can learn all about the application process here.
Once you’ve submitted your application, you will hear from a local Team Leader who will give you more information about your local team. Alternatively, you can contact the Volunteer Support Unit if you have questions on 1300 175 584 or [email protected]
SA Ambulance Service Careers
SA Ambulance Service has a total workforce of more than 2600 people in a range of different areas. Ambulance staff cover front line positions such as paramedics, emergency operations centre staff and patient transport, to behind the scenes support roles in communications engineering, maintenance, customer service, corporate communications and administration.
If you’re looking to making a positive difference in your local South Australian community, check out SAAS current vacancies here.
Why work for SAAS?
If you’re interested in this career pathway, there are many benefits to working for SAAS including;
- Giving back to your community
- Continuous learning and professional development
- Access to support programs
- Enjoy being part of the public sector workforce
To stay updated with all employment opportunities, please visit the SA Health Careers website.
How do I get started?
To be able to work as a paramedic for SAAS, you will need to obtain a university degree first and follow the required registration and certification process. You can learn all about university pathways and what’s involved here.
Alternatively, many students choose to study the HLT51020 – Diploma of Emergency Health Care before attending university. Why? There are many reasons why students choose this pathway – from getting quality hands-on experience before you even apply for university, to giving yourself the chance to work in the industry before becoming a paramedic and not having to worry about your past grades such as your ATAR; the list goes on!
Simply the button below to kickstart the application process with APC today and one of our friendly Course Advisors will be in touch to help support you, and answer any questions you may have.
*Thanks to SA Ambulance Service for the information provided on this page.
