A NEW face has joined the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) in Mount Isa this week to oversee all stations in North West Queensland.
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Jessika Brind has just been appointed as the new permanent QAS North West Local Ambulance Service Network Superintendent, taking over the top role from Evan Kaddatz who transferred to Wide Bay earlier in the year.
The Mount Isa based position manages seven ambulance stations including Mount Isa, Cloncurry, Julia Creek, Doomadgee, Normanton, Karumba and Mornington Island, and is responsible for the QAS clinic based responses at Boulia, Burketown, Dajarra and Camooweal.
Mrs Brind started her career with QAS in Brisbane in 2005 as a call taker/coordinator in Aeromedical before becoming an Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) at the former Operations Centre at Spring Hill.
Mrs Brind transferred to Townsville in 2007 as an EMD and commenced her student paramedic training in 2008, where she was awarded dux at the final panel graduation ceremony in 2010. She worked as an Advanced Care Paramedic in Townsville, Mount Isa and Julia Creek before being appointed as Officer-in-Charge at Julia Creek in 2011.
Since then Mrs Brind relieved in many other roles within QAS and started a family with her husband Sam, who is also a paramedic.
First week in her new role, Mrs Brind said she was feeling excited about becoming involved in the Mount Isa community.
“I have been in the area for a long time so I am familiar with the geography and the staff which has made the transition a bit easier,” she said.
“Opportunities encouraged me to come to the North West. The North West is a great place to live if you’re adventurous and enjoy camping and four-wheel-driving.”
Mrs Brind said a challenge in her role was to encourage other paramedics to go out west.
“There is a great work-life balance out here compared to metropolitan areas,” she said.
“Trying to attract people to the area for staffing is a big thing, so we want to make it as attractive place as possible for people to come long term.
“Most people want to stay in the south east corner but I think as paramedics becomes more competitive hopefully that will encourage people to look further afield for opportunities.”
Mrs Brind along with her husband and two children hope to stay in Mount Isa and service the North West for a minimum of five years.