History of the ACT Ambulance Service

Following Federation in 1901, it was decided to build the national capital of Australia in the pastoral lands that have since become Canberra. Construction commenced in 1915, and this also saw the first Canberran ambulance.

At that time, the "Ambulance Service" (in reality, a single converted vehicle) was owned and operated by the Federal government.

Canberra's first ambulance

The writing on the side of this T-model Ford states the vehicle is the "Government Ambulance" . The photograph was taken at the Powerhouse Yard, Kingston, 1925.

As time moved on, so too did the evolution of the Ambulance Service.

Federal Capital Commission Ambulance

This photo was probably taken at the Powerhouse Yards in Kingston during the late 1920s or early 1930s.

Canberra Community Ambulance

This photo was taken in 1939, outside Gric's Automobile Repair Shop, Summerhills in Sydney.

Until the early 1960s, ambulances for the NSW Ambulance Service and the ACT Ambulance Service were built and repaired here.

During the 1940s and 50s, the Ambulance Service was actually a part of the ACT Fire Brigade.

In 1955 the Canberra Ambulance Service was given its own identity, later changing its name to the ACT Ambulance Service.

First purpose-built Ambulance Station in the ACT

The first purpose-built Ambulance Station in the ACT was located at the rear of the Canberra Community Hospital (later known as the Royal Canberra Hospital) in Acton.

Before this station was built, a residential house was used as the Ambulance Service's base of operations.

Note the petrol bowser. Until the late 1980's, many ambulance stations had their own petrol bowsers.

Loading and unloading patients

Unloading a Patient at Canberra Community Hospital - 1957. The hospital was later renamed Royal Canberra Hospital.

Loading a patient during the day - 1960's. Simply a study on the uniform and, again, the use of the station wagon-type vehicle (c.1960s). Caps, in this style, are no longer worn by ACT Ambulance Service officers.

Vehicles and stations evolved over the next twenty years, however the role of the Ambulance "Driver" remained basically the same: basic first aid and transport of the sick and injured to hospital.

Loading a patient at night - 1970's.

Interesting photo of a patient being loaded into a station wagon-type vehicle at night.

Note the use of reflective clothing even during the 1970s. Today, most Emergency Services personnel will wear some form of reflective clothing at the scene of a motor vehicle accident. Indeed, the new Ambulance Service uniforms have reflective tape sown into the garments.

The profession started to change in the late 1970's to 1980s with the introduction of Advanced Life Support Officers in other states. In 1983, the ACTs first Advanced Life Support Officers hit the streets, bringing with them a steadily increasing range of treatments. There are now seven ambulance stations spread throughout Canberra.

Road traffic accidents

Road Traffic Accident with person trapped - 1983.

This car accident also demonstrates the change in uniform of the Ambulance Officers and the older style vehicle. Note that the design of the vehicle is becoming more like the current style of ambulance.

Road Traffic Accident at night - 1988

Quite a typical design of ambulance (with the back doors open). Although the general layout and design of the vehicle has changed, this was the basis for many ambulance vehicles since that time.

Note also the Fire Rescue Vehicle.

Intensive Care Paramedics now offer the community an even higher level of pre-hospital care, with a range of drugs and treatments to help maintain life and treat the sick. We still transport the sick and injured to hospital but now those people are provided a high level of prehospital care while enroute.

Wet roads and car accidents - early 1990's 

Speed, fatigue, alcohol, a vehicle not maintained correctly, or simply wet roads. It doesn't matter what the cause may be; the result can be devastating, as demonstrated by this car roll-over.

Launch of new Ford Ambulances - mid 1990's 

The launch took place at the Emergency Services Bureau, located in Curtin.

This launch also changed direction for the Service, publicly identifying all Ambulances within the fleet as being "Mobile Intensive Care", although the ambulances had already been "Intensive Care" for many years before. The Ambulance Service Headquarters and Communications Section co-located with a number of other emergency services in Curtin in 1994.

Snowy Hydro SouthCare on roadway with ambulance - 2000.

Note the differences in uniform. The Officer on the right is wearing the A.C.T. Ambulance Service uniform typical of the 1990's. The Flight Paramedic (middle) is wearing the Snowy Scheme SouthCare Flight Uniform.

The green uniform, similar to the one being worn by the Flight Paramedic, became standard ACT Ambulance Uniform in mid 2001.

In this new millennium, some things have changed. The uniform and vehicles are looking different (and helicopter!) but it's what is underneath that matters. Behind the uniform and the flashing lights is an Intensive Care Paramedic of clinical excellence. One who is providing both medical help and, just as importantly, care for their patients.