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Becoming a volunteer paramedic - Frequently Asked Questions

1 How do I become a Volunteer Ambulance Paramedic with Wellington Free Ambulance?

Wellington Free Ambulance provide a series of 10, 12(day) and 14 (night) hour rosters to meet the emergency demand on the ambulance service. Volunteers work alongside a career paramedic staff on a shift. If you can commit to a 10, 12 or 14 hour shift on successful completion of our volunteer recruitment process, we will assign you to a station and a team leader.

Applications can be submitted to the Resource Centre Manager. We will conduct a selection process to recruit volunteer staff to fill specific roster positions that are vacant from time to time.

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2 What skills and attributes do I need to have to become a Volunteer Ambulance Paramedic?

You need to be physically fit (as the job involves lifting), be able to relate to all kinds of people, and be an effective communicator. You must be trustworthy, honest and have integrity, as you are often entering people’s homes in times of a personal crisis. You will be exposed to the full range of ambulance work, experiencing sights, smells and sounds that you would not normally encounter in everyday life.

Most important is your high degree of people skills and acceptance of people from all backgrounds with the desire to help, but at the same time work independently. You will need to take direction, remain calm and controlled and have the maturity to deal with all kinds of emergency situations.

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3 What is included in the selection process?

We will select a short list of applicants from the curriculum vitae you submit with your application form. Those short-listed will be asked to attend an interview process, where we will ask you to articulate your background and explore opportunities with you.

If successful, you will need to undergo a medical assessment with our company recognised general practitioner (at our cost) to ensure you are able to work safely in the environment. There is uncontrolled lifting associated with this role. We will also require you to undergo a Police check as honesty is critical to us and our patients.

As a volunteer ambulance paramedic applicant, you are a valued client of ours and as such you will be treated with respect and confidentiality. All applications will be acknowledged in writing, and even if you are not successful we will advise you in writing.

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4 What happens if I am selected?

As we recruit volunteer ambulance paramedics to fill targeted roster positions, we will offer you a position as a volunteer paramedic with us and invite you to attend an induction course.

At the Induction, we will issue you with a uniform, safety gear, boots and explain to you how the service operates, what our expectations of you as a volunteer ambulance paramedic are and what you can expect in return for your time commitment to Wellington Free Ambulance. You will also be required to attend a Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Course, driver education/ assessment and some shifts as a third crew member 'observer' before being assigned to your own shift position.

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5 What commitment does WFA expect from me as a Volunteer Ambulance Paramedic?

While we provide the uniform, training, education and experience, we very much value the time, commitment and goodwill our volunteer ambulance officers provide in running our ambulance service for Wellingtonians.

We ask that volunteer ambulance officers commit to at least one mutually agreed shift per week.

As we rely on our volunteer ambulance paramedics to provide the full crewing of ambulances (especially at night), you will be rostered to your shift at the same time each week. We prefer that if you cannot attend your shift, you make arrangements with a another volunteer to cover it or at least advise the Resource Centre Manager well in advance so alternate arrangements can be made.

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6 Do Volunteer Ambulance Paramedics drive the ambulance?

Volunteer ambulance paramedics will be required to have a New Zealand driver’s license and will be required to complete a driver training programme. After driver assessments are completed, volunteers are expected to drive ambulances, with the exception of Priority one (lights and siren) responses unless signed off through our assessment process.

You will need to monitor your driving and working time as a volunteer, as this impacts on driving hours covered by legislation. This is all explained to you at the time of your induction.

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7 Can I volunteer as a non-emergency patient transport officer?

Wellington Free Ambulance operates four Monday to Friday non-emergency patient transport ambulances catering for inter-hospital transfers. It may be that you would like to volunteer as the second officer on one of these crews, where you become involved in transferring patients between hospitals. This is a very rewarding service that involves a great deal of people skills and interaction, with the opportunity to meet people during inter-hospital transfers.

8 For more information on becoming a Volunteer Ambulance Paramedic with WFA, contact:

The Resource Centre Manager, P O Box 601, Thorndon, Wellington

Telephone: (04) 498 0994

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Volunteer Ambulance Paramedics

As a modern ambulance service provider in greater Wellington, one of the more significant issues facing Wellington Free Ambulance is the degree of half (single) crewed emergency ambulances responding to everyday emergencies in the community.

One way to address this issue is to have trained and qualified volunteer ambulance paramedics working alongside of their career colleagues. Wellington Free Ambulance values the significant contribution volunteers provide to fully crew ambulances responding to emergencies.

While never working alone, volunteer paramedics undergo the same basic training as their career colleagues upon entering the ambulance service. Volunteer personnel commit to at least one twelve-hour shift per week.

As part of their ongoing professional development, volunteer paramedics have the opportunity to attend the National Certificate in Ambulance Patient Care and Transport (a nationally recognised NZQA qualification).

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