- Frontline ambulance staff are reaping the benefits of a major refurbishment to the Rockhampton Ambulance Station and Operations Centre as paramedics begin conducting their life-saving work from state-of-the-art facilities.
- A $7.7 million refurbishment to the Rockhampton Ambulance Station and Operations Centre has provided more than 100 Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) workers with a refreshed, state-of-the-art base to call home.
- The extensive upgrades completed over the past year and a half provide additional and improved training rooms, rest and study spaces, amenities and storage areas.
- The upgraded Rockhampton Ambulance Station is operational now, and Operations Centre staff will move into their new space in late April 2023.
The major infrastructure upgrade was undertaken to address growing community demand and to refurbish the original facility, built in 1983.
The Rockhampton Ambulance Station services an area including South Rockhampton and approximately half of North Rockhampton and backs up services to Emu Park, Keppel Sands and Gracemere.
The Rockhampton Operations Centre receives Triple Zero (000) calls and coordinates ambulances for a large swathe of the state, including the Central Queensland, Central West, and Mackay Districts.
Quotes attributable to Minister Yvette D'Ath:
"Our Queensland Ambulance Service staff play a critical role for local communities.
"We are supporting our frontline staff, and the Rockhampton community, by delivering this $7.7 million upgrade to both the Rockhampton Ambulance Station and the Operations Centre where Triple 0 calls are coordinated from.
"The Palaszczuk Government is committed to meeting the needs of our frontline staff to ensure their focus is on providing the best level of care to our communities."
Quotes attributable to QAS Central Region Assistant Commissioner Robbie Medlin:
"The refurbishments provide staff with modern, functional amenities while delivering space for the growing operational, education and support teams to be based at the premises.
"The designs allow for emerging technology services into the future, training facilities and offices for clinical education staff, as well as a reconfiguration of spaces within the existing ambulance station to improve functionality.
"I highly commend all of our Rockhampton personnel for maintaining their high level of professionalism while responding to the Rockhampton community from alternate accommodation as these works were completed."
Quotes attributable to Barry O'Rourke, Member for Rockhampton:
"Our Queensland Ambulance Service staff here in Rocky are incredible.
"Whether it is a paramedic responding to an emergency, an Emergency Medical Dispatcher giving CPR instructions over the phone or a Patient Transport Officer returning a patient home following surgery at hospital, we are lucky to have such dedicated staff caring for our community.
"I am really pleased to see our $7.7 million investment come to fruition.
"We have seen a massive investment from the Palaszczuk Government in supporting our Queensland Ambulance Service here in Rocky with these upgrades, additional frontline staff, the appointment of an Assistant Commissioner position to the Central Queensland region, and the delivery of the mental health co-responder program here too."
Quotes attributable to Brittany Lauga, Member for Keppel:
"I'm proud to be a part of the Palaszczuk Government because we continue to invest in the health services and infrastructure that our community needs.
"This $7.7 million project is a welcome addition to support our local Queensland Ambulance Service staff.
"We value our staff and want to make sure that they have the best facilities to do their jobs."