Department of Community Safety Director-General Jim McGowan welcomed the result of the 2011 Reader’s Digest poll on Australia’s most trusted professions, and said paramedics and firefighters were very worthy recipients of the community’s trust.
“The community calls on emergency services in their darkest of hours. They undertake life-saving work, often in difficult and dangerous circumstances. They are courageous and selfless individuals who are on the frontline enhancing community safety,” Mr McGowan said.
Mr McGowan said it was not surprising that paramedics took the honours for most trusted profession.
“By their very nature paramedics are compassionate, professional and highly skilled people who have dedicated their working life to making the community a safer and healthier place,” he said.
“We stand by the public’s sentiments and celebrate this accolade for our hard working paramedics. They are an inspiration to us all.”
Mr McGowan also congratulated the state’s firefighters in placing second in the poll.
“Whether it’s freeing a person who’s entrapped in a car wreck, or saving someone from a burning building, Queensland’s firefighters often risk their lives to save others, and truly deserve recognition for the job they do. Like their counterparts in the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS), I take my hat off to them,” he said.
QAS Commissioner Russell Bowles joined the Director-General in congratulating the state’s paramedics in placing first for a record eight times.
“Day in and day out our paramedics work tirelessly to support all Queenslanders— on behalf of the service I congratulate them. Their dedication and commitment to their roles ensures the community is highly served in regard to emergency pre-hospital care,” Mr Bowles said.
Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) Commissioner Lee Johnson said the QFRS was made up of full-time, auxiliary and volunteer firefighters, all of whom work around the clock to protect fellow Queenslanders and enhance community safety.
“Earlier this year Queensland experienced some of its most devastating natural disasters on record and fire crews all around the state spent countless hours and days working tirelessly to save lives and help people during extremely difficult circumstances, often while the firefighters themselves had their own crises to deal with at home. They really went above and beyond the call of duty to protect fellow Queenslander’s,” he said.
“Not only do firefighters protect life and property on a daily basis, but they also do a lot of work behind the scenes to help ensure the community’s safety.
“Our crews regularly conduct building inspections and provide advice to householders on how best to safeguard their homes. They’re also committed to helping vulnerable groups such as seniors and children understand fire risks and are often out in the community supporting these groups. These are just two examples of the many ways they help to enhance community safety, on behalf of the service, I thank them for their diligence.”
