Working as an operational volunteer
Operational volunteers help us give emergency care in places where we need more help. They usually work in rural, remote or isolated communities, including small towns, islands and mountain regions.
Volunteer roles
Our volunteer roles suit people who live less than 10 minutes drive from areas where we need help. We arrange all training, equipment and volunteer insurance cover.
Honorary ambulance officers
Our honorary ambulance officers give initial first aid to people who need emergency medical help. You’ll have advanced first aid training and may also train other people in your community. You might do more training if we need you to. You’ll usually help ambulance stations that only have one officer.
First responders
As a first responder, you’ll drive your own vehicle. You’ll give initial emergency medical care to patients in the local community while an ambulance is on its way. For example, you might splint a patient’s leg, or start CPR. You need first aid training to do this role. We’ll give you any other equipment you need.
Volunteer drivers
In this role, you'll drive our ambulance when it's not an emergency – when we don't need lights and sirens. Your help allows our paramedics to treat patients while they're on the way to hospital. You'll be helping at hospital stations, or in places where we only have one officer.
How to volunteer
To find out where we need operational volunteers, call your local QAS regional office or the Queensland Government on 13 74 68 (13 QGOV).
Who can volunteer
We value help from people of all skills and abilities. You should check that you’re eligible to volunteer and that you meet the criteria below.
You have first aid qualifications, or are willing to get them
If you don’t have a current first aid qualification, we can arrange your training and cover the cost.
Read more about first aid courses on the Queensland Government website.
You can drive a manual motor vehicle in Queensland
You’ll need a Queensland open manual driver licence to volunteer. If your licence only permits you to drive an automatic vehicle, you won’t be able to apply.
If you’re working as a first responder, your vehicle must be roadworthy and have comprehensive insurance.
You’re fit and healthy, and have all your vaccinations
You’ll need to see a GP for a medical check, and confirm you've been vaccinated for:
- diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough)
- hepatitis B
- measles, mumps, rubella
- varicella (chicken pox)
- influenza (annual vaccination)
- tuberculosis (TB), if you’ve lived in a country where TB is common.
Criminal history check
Before you start, we need permission to check your criminal history. You might still be able to volunteer if you have a criminal history. It will depend on what’s happened.