Ambulance volunteers making the Strait safer

Torres Strait locals are being recruited as First Responders — the first line of emergency care in their remote communities.

Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) is training the volunteers in basic life support so they can respond to community medical or accident emergencies.

Their role is to render first aid until advanced medical care arrives.  They respond to incidents from car accidents to helicopter medivacs.

It's a vital role in an area as large and as remote as Torres Strait.

QAS paramedic Deidree Whap is now working as the field officer in charge of the Strait’s First Responder volunteer training, and is very positive about the role played by her charges.

"They are definitely doing a good job," she said.

First Responder groups have been set up on Mabuiag, Hammond, Moa (St Pauls), Yam, and Coconut Islands with Badu and Warraber Islands to follow.

Deidree says she begins the recruitment process with a visit to gauge each community’s interest in joining the scheme.

"We try to do some education and then I ask for interest.  We have to educate them that it’s voluntary," she said.

Deidree says the voluntary nature of the scheme attracts people who value their communities. And, once in the scheme, they tend to stay.

That's where Deidree's background comes in handy.  She's a Torres Strait girl who grew up next door to Thursday Island's ambulance station.

"Being local, it helps a lot," she said.

"(In me,) they get the understanding of the language and I can break (the training) down for them."

"I’m trying to put forward it’s me that’s coming out to train them; it’s their own person doing it."

Training is spread over 12 months. Deidree focuses on one island at a time, giving volunteers the basic training to get them operational. She comes back as often as possible to up-skill and recertify the volunteers.

She contacts every group each Monday — just to "have a chat to them and ask them how they're going".

A local girl

Deidree joined the QAS 21 years ago and has worked as a paramedic in Cairns, Bamaga and Thursday Island.

"I just joined because the opportunity came up. I had great people in the service who helped me get to where I am today.

"My main goal was (always) to come back to my home.I wanted to be a role model, to encourage (other Torres Strait Islanders) to join the QAS."

Deidree took on the First Responders volunteer training role last July.

"It is a different job to working on the ambulance, but a job where I can help our communities in a different way by training and supporting First Responders to help in an emergency in their community," she said.

"I really enjoy training my people," she said.

More information on becoming an ambulance first responder.