The Volunteer Ambulance Officers Association of Tasmania was formed in 1996, its aim being “To enhance pre-hospital patient care, by providing representation and support for the well being of Volunteer Ambulance Officers in Tasmania.” It represents all ambulance volunteers in Tasmania, regardless of their individual affiliation.
Concerned at the inequity in treatment between volunteer units in different areas of the State, Colin Dell (a volunteer on the Tasman Peninsula) convened the first meeting at Tarraleah, in March 1996. Less than a week after the Port Arthur tragedy - the horrific event of April 28th seeming to unite volunteers more strongly - more than 20 people met again at Tarraleah, adopted a Constitution and elected Office Bearers; the Association becoming Incorporated on June 6th 1996.
The Association has been well received by the Tasmanian Ambulance Service and is accepted as the voice for volunteers throughout the State; we have representatives on TAS committees and have been invited to participate in several projects that affect volunteers. Quarterly meetings are held in different parts of the State and we have sent members to represent us at various forums of particular interest to volunteers; as the first Association of VAO in Australia, our President attended an EMS Conference on the Gold Coast in 1997, and presented a paper on 'How to do it'.
We have our own website, which has attracted interest from over 50 countries and our quarterly newsletter "First Response" keeps all VAO up-to-date with a mix of useful information and fun articles.
Margaret Dennis
Secretary
[ Home | Introduction | Management Team | Advisory Group | Project Details | Survey | Links | VAO Locations | VAO History ]
Sponsored by the Commonwealth Government through the Emergency Management Australia Projects Program 2000/2001.
The Commonwealth, as a sponsor of this project, accepts no responsibility for the accuracy, currency, reliability or completeness of any information contained herein and recommends that users exercise their own skill and care with respect to its use.