Mei-Lin Dean Kingaroy Ambulance officer nominated for prestigious award

The super mum in charge of a country Queensland ambulance station has shared the highs and confronting lows of her role as she humbly accepts a national nod to her incredible career.

The Officer in Charge at the Kingaroy Ambulance Station has celebrated her nomination for an award recognising her dedication to the community.

In just seven days Mei-Lin Dean saw seven lives lost on country roads.

The mother of three, who has worked as a paramedic since 2017 and is currently the Officer in Charge of the Kingaroy Ambulance Station, was no stranger to heartbreaking emergencies but this was next level.

“It is very sad and we’re often called to lots of road traffic accidents, but that particular week it was every day and most of them could have been prevented by seat belts and not speeding,” Mrs Lin said.

“It was the worst week of my career.”

The dedicated QAS boss reflected on her toughest and top moments in the job as she celebrated her nomination for a national award in recognition of her dedication to the community.

She’s in the running to be crowned QBANK’S Everyday Hero.

The 44-year-old relocated from Fiji to Australia when she was 16 and began her career in the South Burnett health sector in 2002, as an administrator.

Mrs Dean completed her paramedicine studies at the Central Queensland University in Rockhampton in 2017 after witnessing the unpredictable workday of a paramedic first-hand.

“It is very rewarding, I enjoy seeing the difference we can make to people while they are in their most vulnerable state,” Mrs Dean said

“I take pride in being that person who can take their pain away.

“We do have negative experiences and patients who can be aggressive, but I see that they’re obviously struggling and they’re calling us in their time of need.”

Mrs Lin said she accepts the QBANK Everyday Hero nomination on behalf of her supportive team.

Mrs Lin said regional ambulance stations were equipped with different medication to metro Queensland stations as her team could administer clot blocking drugs to compensate for extra time a patient may need to be flown or driven to the most appropriate hospital.

“If they’re having heart attacks in city centres they can be taken to a cardiac cath lab, but we carry those tools on us to assist with this,” Mrs Lin said.

“Virtual emergency departments have been set up where a patient can have face-to-face consultations with a doctor, or be flown by LifeFlight to Brisbane.

“Our biggest problem are facilities, most of the time the biggest problem is getting patients to a bigger hospital.”

Mrs Lin was “honoured and flattered” to have been nominated for the award.

“I am very happy about the nomination but I would like to recognise my whole Kingaroy team, I feel like this award is for all of us,” Mrs Lin said.

“I don’t believe I do anything by myself, I work with an amazing team and this is certainly not something I’ve achieved on my own,” she said.

Finalists will be announced in September and winners will be recognised at the annual awards dinner at the W Hotel Brisbane on October 27, 2023.