Peer support officers
Our peer support officers know what ambulance work is like.
They’re trained fellow staff members who are here to:
- listen and talk to you
- help you process your experiences, especially after a traumatic case
- help you find more support when you need it.
What you talk about is confidential, and each officer follows a strict code of conduct.
We have a list of peer support officers who you can call at any time on the QAS staff intranet.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander support
Our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peer support officers have extra cultural training. You can contact them for advice and support specific to their culture.
They’ll have a symbol of the Aboriginal flag and the Torres Strait Islander flag next to their name in our list of peer support officers.
LGBTIQA+ support
We have peer support officers who identify as LGBTIQA+ people. They understand that sex, gender and sexuality issues can be complex.
Some of the issues they can help you or your family with include:
- finding your identity and sense of self
- coming out
- having a family
- home or social issues
- reactions to a child or family member coming out.
They'll have a rainbow triangle symbol next to their name in our list of peer support officers.
You can contact them directly or call our LGBTIQA+ peer support line on 07 3830 5888.
Chaplaincy support
Our peer chaplains give emotional, social and spiritual support to people of all faiths and beliefs. They’re people of faith who are trained to support you in a way that suits your needs and values.
They'll have a cross symbol next to their name in our list of peer support officers.
You can contact them directly or call Chaplain Clark Magele on 07 3635 3400.
Become a peer support officer
We encourage all Queensland Ambulance Service staff to support their colleagues.
Find out how you can become a peer support officer on our staff intranet.
What is peer support
Find out how peer support officers can help you process a traumatic experience.
Peer Support Officers, or PSOs as they are known, are all QAS employees that understand the nature of ambulance work very well. They volunteer and undergo substantial training in supporting others.
One of the main ways you might receive support from a peer support officer is after you've experienced an ambulance case that has the potential to be a psychologically traumatic event.
In that instance, the PSO will make contact with you 1 or 2 days after the event, usually by phone, and just touch base with you. They will ask you how the job went and how you're going.
This is a confidential conversation, which is an opportunity for you to share your story of the event, what you found challenging, and what went well for you.
What is wonderful about this process is that you also have the opportunity to feel fully heard, to share your experience, and to remember and notice your strength and resilience.
The PSO supports you in creating a healthy memory of the event that may be about human suffering and is also about your courage, humanity, and ability to help people during times of crisis.
It is important to know that if you do experience distress or other symptoms, that this is normal and most often temporary.
If you require further support, a PSO can talk to you about your options. Having the right support by a caring person who understands helps. This is peer support.